Ben Affleck's ARGO came out October 12 and it is already getting Oscar buzz. The movie, based on a 1979 CIA successful rescue of six American diplomats in Iran, is good. Very good. Affleck deserves the kudos, except for one thing: instead of casting a Latino actor to play the movie's main character, Tony Méndez, Affleck cast himself. Once again proving that Hollywood only worries about Hollywood.
We were going to provide our take on the casting decision, but when we read what RaceBending.com had to say about it, we just thought that their post said it all:
A 2006 UCLA study from the Chicano Studies Research Center found that only 1.2% of lead roles go to Latino actors (contrasted against 82% of lead roles going to white actors.) Under the guidance of director Ben Affleck, the role of Tony Mendez would have been a great opportunity for a Latino actor to star in a stereotype-defying, heroic lead role…
People of color made history in the CIA, participated in the Beat Generation, cured deadly diseases and played Vegas, but the average person familiar with these stories wouldn’t know it from watching the movies. The cumulative impact of this kind of casting: In Hollywood, white actors depict minorities credited with reaching monumental, historic achievements. Actors of color cannot even expect to be cast in roles inspired by people from their own communities, and minorities remain invisible in their own stories.
You would think that someone like Affleck would have seen this as an opportunity, especially since he spent parts of his teenage years in Mexico (see video below to see Affleck speaking in Spanish) and then, of course, spent a few years with Jennifer López. It would have sent a cool message to Hollywood. But hey, what were we thinking: it's Hollywood. Real change will only happen when Latinos—both inside AND outside of Hollywood—begin to drive and own the content process.
The whitewashing (no pun intended) of stories and history will always continue on the big screen. It has happened before and it will happen again. Here's hoping that other creatives begin to realize that taking a risk or two about casting (really, Benicio wasn't available?) will pay in the long run. Sure, ARGO will get its slew of honors and rave reviews, but for us it will always be known as "The Really Strong Movie That Should Have Had a Latino Play the Lead Character, Who Is Latino in Real Life."
[…] These guys said it best. […]
[…] By Latino Rebels […]
[…] to the real life figures being dramatized, which is certainly not true in the case of the Latino CIA agent whom Affleck is playing). His usual stiffness arguably works at moments, suiting a myopically focused government agent, but […]
I totally agree with the fact that this could have been an opportunity to cast a great Latin/Latin American actor in the role…but there is one piece here not considered…this movie cost ALOT of $$ “suppose” the studio only agreed to make this movie is Affleck starred in it? It’s happened before and it will happen again….and before anyone says…he’s a Hollywood big shot he can call the shots….he doesn’t have that much power….at the end of the day unfortunately films are big business and the studios/investors are going to go with what “they” think is a sure bet, what will get them the major buzz….blah blah blah….Benicio would have been great (Academy Award winner…etc.) ….#my2cents
Like, we said, Hollywood is still Hollywood, so this doesn’t surprise us. Thanks for the comments!
[…] play the movie’s main character, Tony Méndez, Affleck cast himself.” READ MORE HERE: https://www.latinorebels.com//2012/10/14/now-ben-affleck-is-latino-another-lost-opportunity-for-hollyw… It is important to look at the production of images in the media and how filmmakers make specific […]
As a Latino I agree that not only are there not enough leading Latino/a roles but there also aren’t enough Latino/a films and television shows, but this is Ben Affleck’s film. He is the director. He can cast anybody he wants to in the lead role.
[…] Hero in ARGODecember 11, 2012 By Rebeldes Leave a CommentTweet In October, we ran a piece called "Now Ben Affleck Is Latino: Another Lost Opportunity for Hollywood." As we tried to stray away from the "we're offended" line that many of our […]
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[…] October, there was a little controversy as to why Affleck, a non-Latino (nope, dating JLo doesn’t instantly make you Latino), played […]
[…] Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and especially Affleck, pushed the concept of creativity too far. They say Affleck missed an opportunity to put more Latinos on screen. Moreover, they say, Affleck improperly claimed, for himself, the choice role of Mendez when he should have cast a Latino actor instead. They insist that the director didn’t just cheat a Latino out of an acting job but the Latino community out of a feel-good story about one of their own who won acclaim for a heroic deed. […]
[…] Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and especially Affleck, pushed the concept of creativity too far. They say Affleck missed an opportunity to put more Latinos on screen. Moreover, they say, Affleck improperly claimed, for himself, the choice role of Mendez when he should have cast a Latino actor instead. They insist that the director didn’t just cheat a Latino out of an acting job but the Latino community out of a feel-good story about one of their own who won acclaim for a heroic deed. […]
[…] Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and especially Affleck, pushed the concept of creativity too far. They say Affleck missed an opportunity to put more Latinos on screen. Moreover, they say, Affleck improperly claimed, for himself, the choice role of Mendez when he should have cast a Latino actor instead. They insist that the director didn’t just cheat a Latino out of an acting job but the Latino community out of a feel-good story about one of their own who won acclaim for a heroic deed. […]
[…] not a documentary. It’s meant to be taken with a grain of salt, and to be entertaining.Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and […]
[…] Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and especially Affleck, pushed the concept of creativity too far. They say Affleck missed an opportunity to put more Latinos on screen. Moreover, they say, Affleck improperly claimed, for himself, the choice role of Mendez when he should have cast a Latino actor instead. They insist that the director didn’t just cheat a Latino out of an acting job but the Latino community out of a feel-good story about one of their own who won acclaim for a heroic deed. […]
[…] Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and especially Affleck, pushed the concept of creativity too far. They say Affleck missed an opportunity to put more Latinos on screen. Moreover, they say, Affleck improperly claimed, for himself, the choice role of Mendez when he should have cast a Latino actor instead. They insist that the director didn’t just cheat a Latino out of an acting job but the Latino community out of a feel-good story about one of their own who won acclaim for a heroic deed. […]
[…] Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and especially Affleck, pushed the concept of creativity too far. They say Affleck missed an opportunity to put more Latinos on screen. Moreover, they say, Affleck improperly claimed, for himself, the choice role of Mendez when he should have cast a Latino actor instead. They insist that the director didn’t just cheat a Latino out of an acting job but the Latino community out of a feel-good story about one of their own who won acclaim for a heroic deed. […]
[…] Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and especially Affleck, pushed the concept of creativity too far. They say Affleck missed an opportunity to put more Latinos on screen. Moreover, they say, Affleck improperly claimed, for himself, the choice role of Mendez when he should have cast a Latino actor instead. They insist that the director didn’t just cheat a Latino out of an acting job but the Latino community out of a feel-good story about one of their own who won acclaim for a heroic deed. […]
[…] Still, there are some Latinos — in and out of Hollywood — who think that, in this case, the filmmakers, and especially Affleck, pushed the concept of creativity too far. They say Affleck missed an opportunity to put more Latinos on screen. Moreover, they say, Affleck improperly claimed, for himself, the choice role of Mendez when he should have cast a Latino actor instead. They insist that the director didn’t just cheat a Latino out of an acting job but the Latino community out of a feel-good story about one of their own who won acclaim for a heroic deed. […]
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