Loren Anthony, a member of the Navajo Nation, who walked off the set of The Ridiculous Six in protest of its depiction of Native people. Photo from Instagram
Remember all the fuss about the depictions of Native people in The Ridiculous 6? Stephanie Merry of The Washington Post watched the film so you don't have to:
One reason Netflix may have kept the movie’s release somewhat under wraps is the brouhaha that occurred during filming. A handful of extras, portraying Native American characters, walked off the set because they were disgusted by grotesque or stereotypical portrayals. Netflix ended up defending Sandler, saying, “The movie has ridiculous in the title for a reason: because it is ridiculous. It is a broad satire of Western movies and the stereotypes they popularized, featuring a diverse cast that is not only part of — but in on — the joke.” In the end, the Native American characters turn out to be the only redeeming personalities in the movie. The Apache tribe comes off better than anyone else, even beloved writer Mark Twain, who, in a bizarre bit of casting is brought to life by Vanilla Ice. That being said, you can understand why some of the extras were put off by characters named Wears No Bra and Beaver Breath. The truth is that the movie is less offensive than simply stupid. It’s a mess of ill-conceived sketches patchworked together, including a fable explaining how the inventor of baseball came up with all those crazy rules, a recurring bit with a flatulent donkey, some stomach-churning imagery involving eyeballs and hot spoons and a lot of jokes that viewers will very clearly see coming.Get the Story:
Turns out Adam Sandler’s ‘The Ridiculous 6′ is more stupid than offensive (The Washington Post 12/14) Also Today:
Adam Sandler's Ridiculous 6 reviewed by indigenous women (CBC 12/14) Related Stories:
Brian Young: Why I promise never to play Hollywood Indian again (06/12)
Andre Cramblit: Let's see some real Indian actors on the screen (05/25)
Column: Stereotypes of Native people can't pass as humor (05/11)
Column: Stereotypes of Native people can't pass as humor (05/11)
Native actors not finding many roles in Hollywood productions (5/5)
Amalia Rubin: Adam Sandler portrays Native people as savages (5/4)
Brian Young: This Navajo filmmaker won't be walking off Netflix (4/30)
Choctaw Nation citizens slam Vanilla Ice's shaky ancestry claim (4/27)
Navajo actress was put in darker makeup for Adam Sandler film (4/24)
Native actors storm off set of Adam Sandler film in New Mexico (4/23)
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