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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bradley Cooper and 'Jewface'

275 replies

Shimto · 18/08/2023 01:22

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.

OP posts:
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16
Merseymum992 · 18/08/2023 08:29

The majority of the Jewish community are not offended, nor are Bernstein's family.

Your white knight saviour complex isn't needed here

forgotmyusername1 · 18/08/2023 08:30

Plenty of people now complain about the use of fat suits in films - emma thompson was on the recieving end of that in Matilda

ComradeTrostsky · 18/08/2023 08:30

panko · 18/08/2023 08:24

Jewish people aren't one homogenous group though.

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Obviously not? But if a majority of a community of people are saying, as they are here, please don’t be offended on our behalf then I feel it’s right to take that lead.

willWillSmithsmith · 18/08/2023 08:32

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.

As someone else said would it be a good portrayal of Freddie Mercury if the teeth were perfect? One of the biggest criticisms when portraying a real life person is when the actor doesn’t look enough like the person they’re playing. Not saying about this particular film as I don’t know what LB looks like or if BC looks anything like but there has to be some similarities.

AlanGrantsNeckerchief · 18/08/2023 08:33

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.

Bradley Cooper is also the director! and the producer! i think he wanted to wear a fake nose 🤷‍♀️

CloudyMcCloudy · 18/08/2023 08:34

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.

Yes I think they did this

JanieEyre · 18/08/2023 08:35

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.

The photos of Bernstein used in these stories seem to have been curiously selective. The one upthread, for instance, almost doesn't look like the same person as the picture on Wikipedia -

Bradley Cooper and 'Jewface'
AlanGrantsNeckerchief · 18/08/2023 08:37

i think Bradley Cooper is great - very talented. i think it’s a shame that what looks like a really interesting film (and his performance) is being overshadowed by a misjudged fake nose. if you watch the trailer the shots of Bradley when he is an older LB the nose looks much more natural - so i agree with the PP that perhaps the nose looks odder in the younger BC bits. shame they can’t go and reshoot those bits with a slightly less pointy nose!

knitnerd90 · 18/08/2023 08:37

I'm Jewish. I'm divided on this one. It does matter that it's the nose, all the antisemitic caricatures involve giant noses. I think the prosthetic is actually a bit much. But "Jewface" is a touch extreme. I've seen a better point made that Hollywood is surprisingly shy about casting Jews for Jewish roles or making them "too Jewish" but that's an aggregate problem that's harder to handle.

willWillSmithsmith · 18/08/2023 08:37

BigFatLiar · 18/08/2023 07:14

Would it have helped if they'd cast a black actor as Bernstein or a woman?
It's acting, I've watched Shakespeare played by a black actors and by women, it didn't matter to me I was there to watch the play. A black Hamlet or female Macbeth doesn't bother me provided they draw me into the story.

TV and film is much more visual and I can understand them wanting to try and make him look a bit more like the character and it takes time to do the makeup and prosthetics so he's not going to be taking it off while not on set during filming.

Don’t think MacBeth was a real person. Do you not think that makes a difference or is it ok if Danny DeVito plays Marilyn Monroe because it’s acting?

panko · 18/08/2023 08:38

willWillSmithsmith · 18/08/2023 08:37

Don’t think MacBeth was a real person. Do you not think that makes a difference or is it ok if Danny DeVito plays Marilyn Monroe because it’s acting?

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That would be an interesting take but sure why not. As long as he wasn't mocking her

boobot1 · 18/08/2023 08:40

Cappucino23 · 18/08/2023 07:30

Shall we bring up white chicks? Ahh no sorry, white people have to just sit and take it

Speaking as a white chick, I wasnt offended. Why is everyone so offended?and usually for other people. Its bizarre.

Heronwatcher · 18/08/2023 08:40

Yes I agree, this isn’t someone playing a random and putting on a nose to make him look more Jewish (which would signify the incorrect bias that big nose = Jewish person), he’s trying to look more like the actual person he’s playing, and I think it’s pretty accurate. Maybe he didn’t need it (not sure how many people really knew what Bernstein looked like) but the same could be said for Kidman etc.

forgotmyusername1 · 18/08/2023 08:41

I dont think anyone can argue that the prosthetic nose isn't quite right as it looks a bit too pointy

However it has gone from they used the wrong nose to it being offensive to use a prosthetic nose at all as it is reinforcing a stereotype (although leonard bernstein did have a large nose) and that bradley cooper shouldn't have played the part at all because he isn't jewish.

MXVIT · 18/08/2023 08:45

so strange that all those who cry "womanface" at drag don't think this is a thing...

...interesting.

JanieEyre · 18/08/2023 08:46

willWillSmithsmith · 18/08/2023 08:37

Don’t think MacBeth was a real person. Do you not think that makes a difference or is it ok if Danny DeVito plays Marilyn Monroe because it’s acting?

Show quote history

MacBeth was real -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth,_King_of_Scotland

Macbeth, King of Scotland - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth,_King_of_Scotland

ScribblingPixie · 18/08/2023 08:51

I wish he hadn't done it. It looks a bit much and I don't think it was necessary at all.

Clutterbugsmum · 18/08/2023 08:51

Merseymum992 · 18/08/2023 08:29

The majority of the Jewish community are not offended, nor are Bernstein's family.

Your white knight saviour complex isn't needed here

This.

Listening and reading all reports around this it seems the non Jewish people are getting their knickers and making issue over this. When the actual Jewish population and more importantly LB family do not have an issue with it.

user1492757084 · 18/08/2023 08:53

It is acting. Dress ups and make up etc are expected.
Mrs Doubtfire wore a fat suit.. Is that offensive to middle aged women? No.

Flyinggeesei234 · 18/08/2023 08:55

Ariadnel · 18/08/2023 02:47

If you voted yabu, why are Jewish actors and media people speaking out (not the family)? Are they just being a bit silly about it all?

If it's all a big nothing, why is it not a big nothing to the Jewish people who find it an issue?

Because different people have different opinions. Whether Jewish or not.

Mirabai · 18/08/2023 08:56

It wasn’t needed. Actors look ridiculous with prosthetic noses anyway. Nosing up to play a Jewish man was an easily avoidable fail. 0/3.

Greenwitchhorse · 18/08/2023 08:57

This is so daft.

Actors wear wigs, make up and prosthetics all the time when playing a real life characters to make themselves look as similar as possible to the person.

Some people seem to delight in being professionally offended these days...

JudgeAnderson · 18/08/2023 08:59

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

This is a bit of slippery slope though as do we then exclude Jewish people from playing non-Jewish roles? I mean obviously not but you can see where the thinking could potentially lead.

Spywoman · 18/08/2023 09:00

I think the portrayal of a generic Jewish person with a big nose would be problematic. Or a person who is deemed ugly or unpleasant and then just giving them a big nose as a specifier of that (Nanny McFee being a prime example).

But this doesn't seem to be such an issue.