As the granddaughter of one of Pancho Villa soldiers (and I met one of his kids), I have to say that Johnny Depp as Pancho Villa is wrong!!!
(and I really like JD)
@Little Green Frog (Wise Latina): As another granddaughter of a Villista soldier, former student of one of his granddaughters, fellow chihuahuense, etc, I say is more than wrong!
Also, I love Depp, but he's more of a "tortured mumbler" type. I really don't see how that fits at all.
@Little Green Frog (Wise Latina): I adore Johnny Depp as well but I must agree with your assessment that he would not make a good Pancho Villa. Hey, this might be crazy, but what about someone of MEXICAN descent? Picking an actor with brown hair/brown eyes and having them play hispanics/native americans/indians/whathaveyou is at best misguided. At worst, a form of blackface.
@Little Green Frog (Wise Latina): Then who would be a good Villa? From the pictures I've seen, maybe Daniel Day Lewis? Already has the big mustache, after all
@GreyCat: Depp isn't Mexican but he is Native American. So, him playing native wouldn't be him playing against his ancestory. Many Native American's don't look "Native" because of the mixed ancestry, that doesn't mean that they aren't tribal members or don't still culturally hold themselves as natives. Johnny Depp has talked about his cultural ties to the Cherokee tribe in many interviews. I do agree with your contention that Mexican people should probably be played by someone of Mexican descent.
@Jenloveshercurves: Having 1/200ths of native american blood does not make a native american. I won't even go into how many whites seem to have some mythical (great) grandmother who was a native american princess (usually Sioux or Cherokee). It takes away roles from full blooded native american actors who never get a chance.
@AndPreciousLittleofThat: Yeah, I don't know what pictures you've seen but Villa was very brown. Lewis would probably have to have a very deep tan to play Villa.
@Evie Havok: His grandfather was a Cherokee Indian. Many people have noted that he benefits from having the exotic features of a native person without having to face the discrimination other native people do in Hollywood because of his lighter complexion. Just because someone can pass as white doesn't mean that they aren't Native American. Many tribal members that don't look Native American are full members of the tribe. I lived on the reservation for two years when I was a toddler and then moved just across the river from the reservation where I stayed until I left for college. About 1/2 of my native friends didn't look native at all but they are full tribal members. I have one really good family friend, full blood Blackfoot Indian who had one dark, black haired child and one blonde blue-eyed baby. Just as black people all come in different shades, so do native peoples. The politics of skin tone in native culture can be just as contentious as the politics of skin tone in African-American circles. Not to mention the blood line difficulties. I had one good friend in highschool who was a mix of Blackfoot, Crow, Flathead, and Nez Perce and Souix. While he was all native, he wasn't a member of the tribe because he lacked enough blood percentage of every tribe to be considered a tribal member. So, skin tone in native cultures is a little more sticky than what you're saying here, but I respect your sentiment.
@dumblonde: He can totally do what Benicio Del Toro did in Traffic, which is "act" as if he speaks it, mangle what he's saying, make people in Spanish-speaking countries wonder "what the fuck is he saying?" and then be lauded by non-Spanish speaking people for his great job pretending to be fluent in the language. That's how it works, apparently.
@Casquivana: Benicio del Toro IS fluent in Spanish. Born and raised in Puerto Rico. Honestly I just think his problem is that he takes issue with opening his mouth when he speaks. But his Spanish? Native speaker.
@cletar: It'll definitely help. My knowledge of Spanish helped me learn French. But it's different. And on top of that a Mexican accent and on top of that to actually be a convincing Mexican!
He has been hanging out in Puerto Rico a lot lately (filming Rum Diary, hanging out with buddy Benicio) but still...
@sayah: I understand that, but the situation described in the item would be equally troubling to me if the age difference was 40 weeks instead of 40 years.
@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit): The age difference makes it extra-creepy, though. Don't guys like this go for much younger women in the hopes that they'll be easier to dominate/control etc?
The overtone of 'abuser' is bad enough, add the two together and it's creepy overload.
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(and I really like JD)
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Also, I love Depp, but he's more of a "tortured mumbler" type. I really don't see how that fits at all.
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He has been hanging out in Puerto Rico a lot lately (filming Rum Diary, hanging out with buddy Benicio) but still...
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I should work in PR.
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Ronnie Woods is 62. His GF is 21!
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The overtone of 'abuser' is bad enough, add the two together and it's creepy overload.
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