Back in 2003, I mentioned Justin Lin's independent film "Better Luck Tomorrow" as it was one of the first, if not the first Asian-American indie films. It was praised by many for breaking stereotypes about Asian-Americans and portrayed them in a way that mainstream media had not done to date.
Today, I see that Lin is scheduled to direct "Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo" - what looks to be a horrible film likely to reinforce stereotypes about Asian-Americans and Japanese people.
Finn Hiller Casting (Crash, Coach Carter) is seeking male actors of any ethnicity for the lead in the Universal Pictures feature film, “Fast and Furious 3: Tokyo.” The film is about an obsessive street racer named SHAUN who is exiled to Tokyo after annoying the local police once too often.
SHAUN is treated like an outsider and mocked for being a gai-jin, He is drawn to the subculture of drift racing, a dangerous and sometimes deadly sport that he masters with startling speed. In the process, Shaun makes a deadly enemy and meets the love of his life, Tani.
TANI is a stunning Japanese girl who attends the same school as Shaun in Tokyo. When they interact at first, she dismisses him until she realizes that he is an obsessive street racer as well. Chaos arises when Shaun finds out that she is in fact D.K.’s girlfriend (the “Drift King” of Tokyo). Shaun enrages D.K. by challenging him to a drift race, while at the same time forming a friendship with Tani, which eventually evolves into a forbidden romance.
REEVISE (A.K.A TWINKIE) is a fellow classmate of Shaun, who is the first to befriend him in Tokyo. He too is car-crazy and drives a Nissan S15 Silvia. Initially Shaun is rude to Reevise, claiming “he doesn’t need friends”, but soon they develop a friendship as Reevise tutors Shaun on Japanese culture as well drift racing.
I think it's great that drifting is getting popular in the US and it's great to have a movie to feature drifting and Japan, but here are the things that scream out at me. "Tani" as the name of a Japanese girl? Maybe the last name. First name? Not ever. "Reevise"? That is no Japanese name that I have ever heard of. And of being "exiled to Tokyo"? Well if "Shaun" was a Japanese citizen, that might be possible, but certainly unexplainable by any other plausible manner other than very rich Japanese parents perhaps.
Here's the key question that I don't see answered. Is the lead role, the Shaun character, Asian or Caucasian? There's a big, big difference in the tone of the film if the male lead is white vs. Asian. If "Shaun" is Japanese-American, there might be a plausible reason for his "exile to Tokyo," but as a white guy- there's no reason unless mom & dad worked for a big multinational or the US Embassy.
I don't even know why I care about this film other than that I predict it will reinforce unrealistic/negative stereotypes about Japan and Asia. Justin, prove me wrong. Make an awesome film that will show Tokyo urban culture in a realistic manner.
Other relevant links:
fastandfurious.html [finnhiller.com]
Better Luck Tomorrow [betterlucktomorrow.com]
Better Luck Tomorrow [rottentomatoes.com]
Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) [imdb.com]
AsiaSource Interview with Justin Lin, Director of Better Luck Tomorrow [asiasource.org]
Asian Americans In Three Dimensions: Justin Lin Talks About "Better Luck Tomorrow" [indiewire.com]
PopMatters Film Interview | Justin Lin - Better Luck Tomorrow [popmatters.com]
Gen, you wish the director to "show Tokyo urban culture in a realistic manner." I think there is room for movies like this that are essentially cartoons with live "actors" rather than animation. I am NOT hoping for gritty realism, but rather some exciting, non-CG images of highly modified 2-litre-engine cars spitting flames from their tailpipes on GaienHigashi Dori. Maybe this cartoonish movie and "Memoirs of a Geisha" should be held to different standards when it comes to casting, sterotyping, etc.
already done... and done well!
http://www.initialdthemovie.com/
'nuff said.
Gen, I'm just going to shake my head in wonder at the trivialities that concern you sometimes.
cdg
> ...and drives a Nissan S15 Silvia
I object! Everybody knows it's all about the S-13.
The classic approach would be to take an old, rusted 2000GT body and have it sitting on a tube-frame custom thing. Granted, you might give yourself away with the neon underbody that I'm envisioning, but in terms of a riced-up sleeper, that would be cool as heck.