Page 5 | Bradley Cooper and 'Jewface'

Shimto · 2023-08-18T00:22:35+00:00

His biopic of Leonard Bernstein, and the release of the trailer show BC wearing a prosthetic nose to play Bernstein. Leonard Bernstein's family have issued a warm, supportive and beautiful statement supporting BC's commitment to the role and rejecting the criticism. I was really surprised to see the prosthetic. I understand the cries of Jewface. I think BC is an intelligent, talented actor and producer. My initial reaction was 'what was he ^thinking^?' while also finding the family's statement so heartfelt. Sorry if there's another thread - my quick search didn't find one. I guess my AIBU is whether BC was right or wrong here - I've been pondering it today.

forgotmyusername1 · 18/08/2023 07:50

I mean he did have a prominent nose?

I agree with what people are saying - using a prosthetic nose for a fictional jewish person - playing to stereotype. Biopics would be shite if the person looked nothing like the person they were trying to portray. Imagine raymi malek playing freddie with perfect teeth

legrandcolbert · 18/08/2023 07:51

PinkFrogss · 18/08/2023 07:44

I haven’t said Jewish people have large noses, you’ve said yourself there’s no scientific evidence of this. I’ve said it’s a classic antisemitic trope, so seems like we’re in agreement there 🤷🏾‍♀️

Yes! I'm agreeing and pointing out it's a trope because of the Nazi party perpetrating it.

Lavenderflower · 18/08/2023 07:51

I don't think Bradley needs it to be fair.

LovelyGirlsCompetition · 18/08/2023 07:51

Tiredalwaystired · 18/08/2023 07:04

Interesting. Thread posters in the trot are Jewish and have said they dont care.

Non Jewish community, please chill out. If we’re not offended then you really don’t need to be on our behalf.

I think this voice of reason wins the argument for me. Thank you.

CloudyMcCloudy · 18/08/2023 07:54

Tiredalwaystired · 18/08/2023 07:04

Interesting. Thread posters in the trot are Jewish and have said they dont care.

Non Jewish community, please chill out. If we’re not offended then you really don’t need to be on our behalf.

I‘m not offended on your behalf but I do think they’ve done a particularly bad job with it

He was close enough before anyway

MBailey99 · 18/08/2023 07:56

DMRCFNEGC · 18/08/2023 01:33

It doesn't even look like an accurate representation from the pictures I've seen

This must be the ONLY picture you've seen then....

ScottishIceCream · 18/08/2023 07:57

qazxc · 18/08/2023 07:50

If BC had been playing a Jewish character and decided to wear a prosthetic to make himself look "more Jewish", it would be a problem, it would be "Jewface".
But that isn't what he is doing, he is using makeup and prosthetic nose to make himself look like a specific person (who happens to be Jewish).
There's a huge difference between the 2 scenarios. I do not find that the nose is exaggerated, it looks very much like LB's nose.

This.

panko · 18/08/2023 07:58

He doesn't need it. The whole point of acting is that we suspend our disbelief and see the actor as the person.

Unless there's a scene involving his nose where he gets punched or something there's no need.

Quartz2208 · 18/08/2023 07:58

Shimto · 18/08/2023 02:32

Because the family don't represent all Jewish people? Their statement really was lovely, but I also hear the Jewish actors and journalists/etc speaking about their disappointment in BC and his decision to wear a prosthetic nose to play a Jewish man, which I give equal weight to.

Anyway - I started the thread too late - I've going to have to turn in, but I'll catch up with the comments in the morning.

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But neither does Leonard Bernstein on that logic.

he is making a biopic of one man, he has been made to look with clothing, hair, make up and prosthetics like the man he is portraying - something when it is a biopic (as opposed to a more sensational fiction film) very common.

he isn’t playing a Jewish man, he is playing Leonard Bernstein

panko · 18/08/2023 08:00

Quartz2208 · 18/08/2023 07:58

But neither does Leonard Bernstein on that logic.

he is making a biopic of one man, he has been made to look with clothing, hair, make up and prosthetics like the man he is portraying - something when it is a biopic (as opposed to a more sensational fiction film) very common.

he isn’t playing a Jewish man, he is playing Leonard Bernstein

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It makes him look less like him though!

Peddlefaster · 18/08/2023 08:05

Ariadnel · 18/08/2023 02:10

Take Jewish out of it? That comment might well underpin the whole issue.

A colleague talked about this today. He said that a good yardstick was kid's school plays. If a child playing a Jewish character had a big fake nose in a school play, it would be considered fairly problematic.

What's the difference between blackface and Jewface? Why is one outrageous and the other fine?

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This isn’t the same. The above would be anti semitic and very very wrong.

Bradkey Cooper is playing a real person who had a big nose. He is trying to look like Bernstein.

I think it’s good to be aware of potential anti semitism as it’s on the rise but I don’t think this is the case here

Matronic6 · 18/08/2023 08:06

I was on the ridiculous over reaction when I read about it. But having seen photos of the actor with the nose in comparison to the man, it doesn't look anything like his nose. I actually think BC's own nose would have been better. Probably more down to bad makeup department than intentional anti-semitism but I can see why some people have taken offence.

calmcoco · 18/08/2023 08:08

CurlewKate · 18/08/2023 06:52

I'm pretty sure Cooper wasn't intending to be anti semitic. It just would have been so much better NOT!

Yes this is my view too. I don't understand why they did it, it was an obvious error.

ComradeTrostsky · 18/08/2023 08:10

I’ve been reading on Twitter about this (I know) but it seems as though a lot of the Jewish community are saying they aren’t offended. I am not Jewish so can’t comment, but I guess I would be following their lead about what they find offensive and what they need support in, if that makes sense.

Quartz2208 · 18/08/2023 08:11

panko · 18/08/2023 08:00

It makes him look less like him though!

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I don’t think the plastic surgery has helped on that front

Floppyelf · 18/08/2023 08:13

lovewoola · 18/08/2023 01:38

I have often thought he is morphing into Barry Manilow

i've thought this, too much tweaking

This

KimberleyClark · 18/08/2023 08:14

There have been complaints about Cillian Murphy - not Jewish - playing Robert Oppenheimer who was. I’m not without sympathy for them.

Caprisunny · 18/08/2023 08:14

On the subject of the nose being a good prosthetic or not.

It’s odd, because there’s loads of online photos where it doesn’t look so pointy.

I am Inclined to think news outlets are being very selective in the comparison photos to try and say it doesn’t look like his nose. Because there’s lots of photos where it’s very similar.

forgotmyusername1 · 18/08/2023 08:21

panko · 18/08/2023 07:58

He doesn't need it. The whole point of acting is that we suspend our disbelief and see the actor as the person.

Unless there's a scene involving his nose where he gets punched or something there's no need.

This is rubbish

So they shouldnt make people look like the people they are portraying in biopic movies?

Marilyn munroe was played by spanish actress Ana De Armas in Blonde. Should she have not worn a blonde wig and kept her dark brown long hair?

Raymi malek playing freddie mercury with perfect straight teeth?

Gary oldman as a skinny winston churchill?

People complained that they changed the look of a fictional mermaid and she looked nothing like the original ariel - what would they do if actors in biopics bore no resemblance to the person they were portraying?

panko · 18/08/2023 08:23

forgotmyusername1 · 18/08/2023 08:21

This is rubbish

So they shouldnt make people look like the people they are portraying in biopic movies?

Marilyn munroe was played by spanish actress Ana De Armas in Blonde. Should she have not worn a blonde wig and kept her dark brown long hair?

Raymi malek playing freddie mercury with perfect straight teeth?

Gary oldman as a skinny winston churchill?

People complained that they changed the look of a fictional mermaid and she looked nothing like the original ariel - what would they do if actors in biopics bore no resemblance to the person they were portraying?

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But he didn't need a different nose. And frankly yes within reason we should be able to suspend our disbelief. A defining feature like body shape or hair colour fine. But his nose was just a nose.

panko · 18/08/2023 08:24

ComradeTrostsky · 18/08/2023 08:10

I’ve been reading on Twitter about this (I know) but it seems as though a lot of the Jewish community are saying they aren’t offended. I am not Jewish so can’t comment, but I guess I would be following their lead about what they find offensive and what they need support in, if that makes sense.

Jewish people aren't one homogenous group though.

AlwaysJumping · 18/08/2023 08:27

DifficultBloodyWoman · 18/08/2023 01:47

Naomi Watts wore a prosthetic nose to play Princess Diana. Also wigs and possibly contact lenses.

Clearly, she should be cancelled and banished! 🙄

(you can tell that was sarcasm, right? I don’t trust people to use common sense anymore)

This.
Of course people can wear makeup and wigs and prosthetics. It’s called acting. Just like you don’t need to be gay/straight to play that in a character

JanieEyre · 18/08/2023 08:27

No-one was bothered when Helen Mirren altered the shape of her nose to play Golda Meir.

HRTQueen · 18/08/2023 08:27

I am surprised that BC and the studio went along with this

how could they have not expected a backlash firstly why not have an actor who is actually Jewish play the part and secondly the use of prosthetics was it necessary

im not surprised these questions have been raised

Eleganz · 18/08/2023 08:29

Men's noses tend to appear more prominent as they age and I think that that has influenced a lot of what Bradley Cooper and the director chose to do with the prosthetics. We all remember Bernstein as an older man with a larger nose, but as pictures show it was not as prominent when he was younger and I do think that BC could have performed the role without the prosthetic. It looks to me like they were trying to portray a de-aged but recognisable version of Bernstein rather than what he actually looked like when he was younger.