I was pretty excited to rip open my mail this morning and get the DVD Trailer for Tropic Thunder. I’ve been hearing about this movie for years through Justin Theroux, who slaved away writing probably one of the funniest scripts with Ben Stiller. Before you read any further, you MUST watch this trailer RIGHT NOW — Tropic Thunder Trailer.
The premise of the story is basically a jab at formulaic war films. It’s a movie about making a movie! Sort of like Living in Oblivion except these characters are trying to make Apocalypse Now. It’s a bit un-P.C I realize with the “War” theme and all, but when you see Robert Downey Jr. playing a method actor playing an African-American Sargeant, you’ll get over it. Add Jack Black to the “self-absorbed” ensemble of actors trying to shoot an overbudget war film. I cannot WAIT to see this.
The film was shot in Kuai. I did a “drive-by” through Hawaii on a personal vacation and did some hangtime with Heidi, Justin’s girlfriend and New York based Stylist (see Shipley & Halmos Fashion Week post). If you don’t know much about Justin, it’s because he such a damn good chameleon actor. Consider the classic Type “A” Business Card Scene in American Psycho to David Lynch’s Mullholland Dr. where he played that enigmatic film director (“This is the Girl”).

(Justin in Lynch’s Mullholland Dr.)
Then there’s acting appearances in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, HBO’s Six Feet Under, and tons of indie cred films…Don’t forget a cameo appearance of the “Evil DJ” in Zoolander (the one with the “Relax” trigger song for the killing machine). The list goes on. Onto some more chops, Justin directed his first film which was released last year called Dedication (Starring Billy Crudup and Mandy Moore). That makes him a triple threat — acting, writing, and now directing.
Keep an eye open for Tropic Thunder which will be released theatrically nationwide on August 15th, 2008.
Film Photo (Lynch) found on IMDB
Hawaii photos by Jauretsi



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