Jared Leto/Felicity Huffman

[mf_luder_xf]

I have a question. So, I've been seeing a lot of hate at Jared Leto for a) erasing/not acknowledging transpeople and b) not being a transwoman but cast in the role.

But here's what I am curious about...I wasn't old enough/into critical analysis/fandom when Transamerica came out. So, did Felicity Huffman get such arguments against her when she played a transwoman? And if not, what was the difference?

Comments

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

I don't remember a lot of controversy when Felicity did it. She was amazing in that role, btw, if you haven't seen it. I also may have not been hanging in the right places to have heard it, because I haven't heard anything negative about Jared except the usual homophobic garbage from the right wing. There wasn't much talk about trans people at all when Felicity did it and what there was came from the Crying Game. You have to take into account the my brain is pretty old, so I could be easily forgetting stuff, but what I remember from those days could be faulty. but transsexuals usually got lumped in with gay. I don't remember much differentiation between transsexuals and transvestites. I know there was some, because of the tennis player that had a sex change operation many years ago. I want to say some time in the 70s.

What I don't understand, and never have, is that the job of an actor is to act. Gender identity and gender orientation shouldn't even enter into to it. The best person for the role should get the role. I still think Matt Bomer should have had the role of Christian in Fifty Shades of Grey. It could be that he didn't want it, but I wonder if he was ever offered it He fits the description in the book. The guy who got the role does not. The actor they cast may blow it out of the water, but we'll have to see, but the idea that Matt couldn't play that part, because he's gay, which I heard a lot before it was being cast, just pisses me off. Acting is acting.

Have you ever seen The Year of Living Dangerously? If not, you should. Linda Hunt won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for playing a man. She was flawless. There was a lot of discussion at the time, because the Oscar buzz started when the film was released and no one knew what category to put the role in. If she gets a nomination should they nominate her as an actress or an actor. It sounds crazy now, but there wasn't any precedent back then.

I hope this helps.

[mf_luder_xf]

Yeah, that's partly why I'm curious about what discussion went on with Felicity's portrayal. I suspect part of it is the media access (twitter/tumblr) and the openness of transpeople right now. I think there's a generation of more people identifying (publicly, not to suggest more people are identifying than in the past) as non binary or as trans and I think that may be having a large effect on the comments coming out. Which, is awesome. I couldn't be happier for them.

And yeah, it's in most places I am. On tumblr, definitely, but I also have several queer-identified and trans positive friends who are making the same arguments. Here's a good review: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/03/jared-leto-oscar-transgender_n_4890061.html

And yeah, I agree with the acting part...but at the same time, that would suggest that all black roles could be played by white people if they were the "best actor". At the same time, then you do come up with the problem of "only gay can play gay"/etc. It's a fine line to acknowledge some roles need to be played by those people (women should be acted by women, transpeople by the respective FTM or MTF, no whitewashing) and stating acting can only be done by someone of that persuasion.

That said, oh yeah, Matt Bomer turned down that role LOUDLY before he could ever be offered the job. His fans (some) called for it and he was pretty disgusted by the thought. So they didn't turn him down because he was gay; he turned them down because he didn't like the source material.

And no, I haven't seen either of those movies. I'll have to check them out!

[mf_luder_xf]

Haha, excessive use of "and yeah". Oops.

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Matt turned them down then. I'd just read so much anti-gay slurs around him that it made me suspicious. I read a lot of them surround Ellen during the Oscars as well. Just when you think things are getting better.

I still haven't been able to watch Tropic of Thunder or whatever it's called with Robert Downey Jr. I've tried and tried and just couldn't do it. Even though I understand the point, the idea of a white person playing a black character in literal black face just disturbs me. And I found it completely unfunny. I don't feel the same way about orientation and identity. Maybe that stems from there just not being enough out actors and even less transgender actors. But, I really don't think most gay actors only want to play gay characters. It's very limiting. It's limiting for straight actors at well. Maybe it shouldn't be, but race is just different. I still cringe when I see some of the old movies where white people are playing Native Americans. I think Dances with Wolves proved that there are no shortage of Native American actors that just don't get to work. I'm also wondering if more gay actors had the courage to come out and stop worrying about their A-list careers, that all this social commentary about straight actors playing gay characters would end. As it stands, you don't see a lot of gay actors begging for gay roles, which I'm guessing is, because the out ones are few and far between, at least as far as mainstream film is concerned. I'd have to see if it's possible to research, but are there actually a lot of transgendered actors out there auditioning? It would be interesting to know what percentage of SAG is out whether that being gay, bi, trans, or other queer-identifying. I had a hard time typing queer. That word still bothers me even though I was working on a writing project years ago and talked to one of my gay friends about it and said it was fine, depending on the context. I still hate that word.

I should warn you about the ending to The Adventures of Sebastian Cole. It still disturbs me, because I can't decide what it means in a sub-textual way, but I think Clark Gregg's performance is important. You need to see Crying Game and The Year of Living Dangerously, because I think they add to the conversation. I take it you've seen Transamerica? I thought Felicity was better than the movie. I wonder what I'd think of it now versus how ground breaking it was then. I'd point you to a documentary if I could remember the name of it. It was about a real life, obviously since it was a documentary, transgender woman who is a doctor that does gender reassignment surgery. It is fascinating. I wish I could remember the name of it. I'm so tired and stressed out that I don't have two brain cells to rub together and of course I can't sleep. So I hope this is somewhat lucid. I'm going to read your link now. I'm curious.

I just went poking around. I'm not sure I buy the argument, but I found the list of trans actresses interesting.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/bent/10-trans-actors-who-werent-offered-jared-letos-role-in-dallas-buyers-club-20140220

[mf_luder_xf]

Yeah, I haven't seen that movie either, due to the satirical blackface and that it just didn't look funny. And yes, it would be interesting to see what percent is out, for research purposes (cause I'm a dork) but I doubt we'll ever know for sure, which role-wise, I'm okay with.

I saw Crying Game years ago, but no, I haven't actually seen Transamerica. I just remembered it when this stuff came up and it made me very curious.

I knew two of the women on that list! Candis Cayne and Laverne Cox. Candis was Ms Hudson in S1 of Elementary (I still keep hoping they bring her back!) and then I knew of Laverne from the media coverage Orange is the New Black gets (I haven't watched the show yet). I admit, those are the only two I knew, but thanks for sharing because I know more now. Also, Jamie Clayton? I'd kill for that hair! Interestingly enough, they include Calpernia Addams in this list, which, Soldier's Girl, is another movie where a cisman plays a transwoman. Yet, I, at least, have only ever seen praise for Lee Pace in that role. Hmm. Maybe being a indie production it just doesn't get the same level of notice that DBC did this year? Or maybe because Lee Pace isn't such a jerk. :/

Sorry you're super stressed and can't sleep. That's the worst. Work stuff?

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

You did better than me. I only recognized Calpernia Addams.

I loved The Crying Game. That was awesome. I don't know if I'd recommend Transamerica or not. I have a feeling it doesn't stand up well to time. Definitely see The Adventures of Sebastian Cole. Clark Gregg was so very good and believable. I feel terrible of Jared Leto. I think he's getting an ass-kicking that he so doesn't deserve. I liked that some of his defenders are actually making sense. I think a lot of his detractors must be very young and not taking into account when and where this film takes place. 1985 Texas was not going to be conducive to transsexuals looking like they do now. I've waited on them at work where unless I'm paying really close attention I don't even notice at first. Even as late as the early 90s, I knew a mtf that was very noticeable in the way Jared was in the movie. Not in mannerisms, but in ability to pass. I always worried about her. She delivered pizzas for a living and I was concerned for her physical safety. It seems crazy that even in this time those concerns are still valid. When is the modern world going to catch-up with reality?

Yep, but I feel marginally better now. I just got off the phone with the guy who was helping me navigate the Insurance Market Place that my employer hired. He was much better than the last guy and I am insured again. Well, not again. I'll have insurance when I lose mine at the end of the month and it's only costing me about 17 bucks more than my old insurance. So yay me. I think I'd rather just be Canadian. Things would be so much simpler. The other issue is that I just don't feel comfortable at my new job yet, for a myriad of reasons. I'm not comfortable around most people anyway, so new people take me awhile. I am a natural introvert even though most people wouldn't take me that way. And I'm a dork, as I'm sure won't surprise you, so fitting in the real world isn't something I do well. I guess that's why I love Phil. I don't have to imagine how tortured he must have been in junior high school. No wonder he went into a field where taking out jack-asses with a bags of flour is a possibility. ;-)

[mf_luder_xf]

I'm glad you've got continuing insurance! That's important.

Good luck with work! I certainly know how that goes. I hope you make some new friends eventually. :)

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

It is. I just wish the paperwork would come. I'm sure it's all fine, but it would be nice to see for myself.

I get to see a ton of people from my previous store. A bunch transferred to the same store I went to and there's a few who shop in this store even if they chose to go to a different one.

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

Something I should have mentioned, but forgot and didn't want it to get lost, you need to see The Adventures of Sebastian Cole. Clark Gregg does one of the most interesting portrayals of a mtf that I've ever seen. It's a very understated performance. I'd be curious about what you think of that one.