Hallö.
        I am German born filmmaker Jan Jürgen. I am writing to you from Vietnam, after documenting the making of a Hollywood classic called, Tropic Thunder.” While the actors and filmmakers try to tell their story of heroism set in the chaos of the Vietnam War, I too will be telling a story. One that has never, until now, been told. A story that I have wanted to tell since I was a child.
        Like all of you, I have for many year been fascinated by that most magicalest of all places; "Hollywood." As a boy, I would go to the cinema, and marvel at the people on the silver screen. But even as a boy I remember thinking; "Is there a more forbidding, more sinister side than the glittering facade held up by the powerful arms of the Studio System?”
        Of course, this is the question of a child, but that question still follows me today. Imagine my surprise when Damien Cockburn, my former classmate from University, called me on the telephone and asked me to travel to Vietnam and aim my camera at him as he directed his first Hollywood movie. He claimed it will be “the greatest war movie ever” in which many movie stars, including Tugg Speedman, would appear. Could he really be talking about the Tugg Speedman? Could Damien, the awkward theater student I once knew, now be the speak of the town?
       This blog, and the documentary I am working on, will address not just these questions, but more. What will follow is a raw, unedited, look behind the fetid flesh curtain known to you and me as simply "Hollywood."

Danke you for taking this journey with me.

 Sincerely,
 J. Jürgen
 Ho Chi Minh 2008.

 

 

METHOD TO THE MADNESS

I was finally granted an interview with Kirk Lazarus. He has been living in Saigon for over 4 months prior to shooting. Much has been made about his transformation from a white man to an African American, and for the first time a documentary crew was allowed to see behind the curtain of his deep method style of acting. I was told never to address him as Kirk Lazarus, but by his character name, Sergeant Lincoln Osiris. Furthermore, I was told that even if I did address him by his actual name, he genuinely would not know who I was referring to. This indeed proved correct.

I arrived and was utterly stunned. There was no way I could have prepared for the transformation, There was no trace of Kirk Lazarus, the blonde, Australian tough we have all come to know from his films and the tabloids… Instead he had transformed into a African American, Vietnam Veteran. It was as if I was looking into the eyes of another man altogether. It took me several moments to get my bearing before I could begin the interview.

My first question was how he began this process of transformation.

Kirk Lazarus Official Website
Make Pretty Skin Clinic Website

"You have something to say about Rain of Madness? Post your thoughts here! Compliments, complaints, poetry, or prose are all welcome. Or just let us know that you were here and that you care!"
Julie

I can’t wait to see the Madness and the Thunder. Both look absolutely amazing!

Sterling

That was a fun night!

Aicha Lasfar

Okay, I dont know if you guys will actually read this but here goes : THIS ROCKS. I thought Tropic Thunder was just going to be one of those funny action movies but you guys obviously created a whole virtual world around it. I absolutely cannot recognize Robert at all, it’s simply…insane. I will deffinitely go see TT the day it comes out.
Love from Canada!
Aicha

Pensive

Kirk Lazarus’ dedication to his craft has inspired my life. He has rightly won 20 awards!

Nick Johnson

Some people have said that darkness refers only to a place deep within a man’s soul.

Mr. Lazarus has proven that darkness spills out from a man’s heart… onto his face.

Erika

RDJ is the best actor ever. There is no doubt in my mind.

Rebecka

I cant claim to be surprised, because I’ve always known what an excellent actor Robert is: but seeing him truly embody this character so professionally and at the same time, be absolutely hilarious; is just amazing to me. Kudos to RDJ. Definitely looking forward to his performance =]

I wonder if there are any funny bloopers, I’m sure there must be a few hilarious ones… that should def be included in the movies end credits… =]

Samantha Scott

Kirk Lazarus is an inspiration to us all. Whether he’s playing a black man, a lascivious monsignor, or himself, his method is pure philosophy. And what fashion! No doubt those Espadrilles will be gracing the cover of Vogue any day now.

Final word? Amazing. Or… excitement. Oh! How about two words? ‘By jingoes’ should suffice.

Google it, kids.

Jason

If Downey doesn’t get an Oscar for this role the world is a place I don’t want to live in.
I’ve seen it, and it’s the funniest movie “ever.” I used to have dreams of writing the funniest comedy script ever, but those dreams have been shattered.
This movie is like the first guy to figure out the Rubik’s Cube. We all were loving it, but at the same time we all hated him with a passion.
Thanks Ben, thanks a lot. Thanks for crushing my dreams.

Hazimir Fenring

Kirk Lazarus really awesome! He’s my best favorite actor after Edward Norton!!!

Maddy

I can’t wait for Kirk’s next movie! He’s great at whatever he does. XOXO Maddy

Lois

Kirk Lazarus is so sexy. Even more sexy as a black man. I hope he never undergoes surgery again.

joe pino

I LOVE KIRK …HE´S FUCKIN AWESOME!!!!!!
I LOVE SATAN´S ALLEY !!!! XD XD!!!
CANT WAIT TO SEE TROPIC THUNDER!!!!!!!

Champ

Kirk Lazarus never ceases to amaze. since I was young, I wanted to emulate the roles Kirk has played in his lifetime, since he became Neil Armstrong in “Moonshot.” I found it difficult showing the same admiration for his role in “Back of the Bus” as a Klan leader-but such is the complexity of my-our-relationship with Kirk Lazarus.

Like him. Hate him. Love him.

Kirk Lazarus.

Very Funny Videos

I heart Downey - and I don’t heart lightly.

Citizen Dildo

Yes, tropic thunder is going to be the greatest ever!!!!!

Mike

Lazarus’ commitment to the role is truly staggering. Brando wasn’t shit.

Scarlet

Oh. My. Goodness.

When I first saw the TROPIC THUNDER movie poster, I immediately knew something was out of place. It took me a while to notice that blond-haired, blue-eyed tanned Aussie Kirk Lazarus was transformed into a dark-skinned, brown-eyed African-American. Wow. The man truly disappears into his roles. 5 Oscars? Feh. Between TT and the upcoming SATAN’S ALLEY (which I SO want to see), if he doesn’t at least pick up another Oscar for his collection this year, there is no justice in the world.

=====

(Now, back in the so-called “real” world…)

OMG, RDJ is just amazing. That story about the movie poster? Absolutely true. His name is on the poster, and he’s 3rd-billed, and yet I had to stare at the poster for about 15 minutes before I finally realized what they’d done: With spectacular makeup/prostheses, RDJ almost magically turns into a stereotypical method actor who literally loses himself in the role.

RDJ is THE MAN, he OWNS this year with two critically-acclaimed performances (IRON MAN, TROPIC THUNDER) playing characters who could not be more different (Tony Stark, Kirk Lazarus). If RDJ does not pick up an Oscar nod for at least one of these, somebody needs to take the Academy voters out back for a good whippin’. If I had a vote, he’d get two nods: Best Actor in IRON MAN and Best Supporting Actor in TROPIC THUNDER. (He’d also get my vote to win both.)

This site is amazing. Love it.

Nicole Gordon

My heart stops when Kirk opens his mouth in every movie.
The presence he brings to the films is amazing.
No matter what happens, he will always be a star.
His movies will never fade nor die.

Tropic Thunder, the best movie ever made.

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