Originally, Samuel L. Jackson was credited as "Black Guy." If you have a VHS copy or taped the movie off cable or broadcast, you might see that credit. The credit was changed to "Criminal" for the DVD.
"Criminal" isn't much better. Everybody in the Yankees breakfast scene could be described thusly.
At an end your reign is, and not short enough it was.
it says "black guy" on my dvd
- May the Force be with you...
Samuel L Jackson is "Black" and a "Guy". He is also the coolest actor in Hollywood. Is "Black Guy" an insult now? I can't keep up with the Politically correct. "African-American" is probably the accepted term in the USA but The Guy is still Black.
time flies like an arrow-fruit flies like a banana
Do you think Al PAcino should have been credited as "White Guy?" Pacino is "White" and a "Guy."
At an end your reign is, and not short enough it was.
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I believe that is exactly the point that is trying to be made. I know that at the time, Samuel Jackson wasn't a household name and that his role in this film was essentially a "glorified extra with a few lines", I'm quite certain that the producers could have come up with a better "title" for him other than "Black Guy". Perhaps "Assembly Convict #1" or something along those lines.
Simply dismissing this as over-sensitive political correctness illustrates one's naivete and/or ignorance. Who in their right mind wants to only be thought of as "Black Guy", "Hispanic Woman", or "Asian boy" when no one seems fit to name the Al Pacinos or even white extras as "White Man" or "White Guy"?
See the difference?
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"Assembly Convict #1" would not work because that could easily be confused with the guys who were talking to Al before Sam came in. And it's not (always) the credits editor who comes up the names, but the script. If that's how he was referred to in the script, that's what he'll be credited as. Being a total stereotype didn't help either. I mean "homeboy"? Come on!
I'm going to shove coal so far up your stocking you'll be coughing up diamonds!
I don't know, but to me it just sounds kinda stupid to give any character the label of "Black Guy", but the reason they do, is the saddest part, is because no one would know who the *beep* they're talking about if they did call him Criminal #5.
shareOkay, for all of those people who have taken offense to how Samuel Jackson was credited as Black Guy, take a look at the list of credits for the movie 'American Gangster.' They have the actor Eric Silver listed as White Kid. Hmmmm, am I sensing a "turn about is fair play" moment here? Let's see, Sea of Love was produced in '89, and this movie was produced recently.
Folks, two wrongs do not make a right. Noone is necessarily justified in calling attention to another person because of their color, no matter how many years of oppression someone's people have suffered. Now, if the producers of 'American Gangster' want to avenge past atrocities, black exploitation episodes, then THIS is no way to resolve anything.
yeah well can YOU see the difference in a bit part with like, two lines to the LEAD ACTOR? saying that if sam jackson got credit as "black guy" then pacino shoulda been credited as "white guy" is a stupid argument, im sorry.
shareSLJackson don`t want to be thought of as a black guy? Going to have a race change operation, is he? Better watch out that the nose and ears will not fall off the way it happened to the other wannabe white dude Michael Jackson.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
no , becuase Pacino was the main leading actor in the film
Pacino was the male lead in the film so he wouldn't be credited as "White Guy".
Sam Jackson was in the film for a few minutes.
Arthur
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johngeemartin2003:
Take note of the credits listed on IMDb for Sea of Love:
Patricia Barry---Older Woman
Mark Phelan---Murdered Man
Michael Fischetti---Doorman
Christofer de Oni---Supermarket Manager
Dwayne McClary---Supermarket cashier
Larry Mullane---Clipboard Guy #2
Nowhere do you find the adjective "White" anywhere after these actors names. To simply call Sam Jackson "Black Guy" is an act of laziness on the part of the producers.
Again, "Assembly Convict #1" would have been along the same lines as the above credits.
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Honestly this is some kind of joke... stop being so damn politically correct! Did SLJ's character have a NAME in the film? No. Does he have a special part which is easily recognisable? No. There was dozens of 'criminals'. Therefore he can only go down as "Black Guy". Jesus, I doubt the creators of this film had that down as an insult. Come on people...
shareGunblad3 made a very good point when he said "Did SLJ's character have a NAME in the film? No. Does he have a special part which is easily recognisable? No. There was dozens of 'criminals'. Therefore he can only go down as 'Black Guy'."
You have to realize and understand that this film was technically produced in the 1980's, a time in which Hollywood, the media, and America in general was attempting to understand and use political correctness. The 1990's to the present time has everyone constantly bending over backwards to be as politically correct as possible in order to not offend anyone. Now, had there been numerous black criminals in the movie script, then Jackson would have likely been referred to in the credits as Criminal #2, or Thug in black jacket, or .... whatever. Most people who saw the movie in 1989 saw Jackson's character, and, when viewing the credits, saw his name as black guy, which then they would recall the black guy in the movie and his role.
So yes, to judge this movie's portrayal of Samuel Jackson's character as just 'Black Guy' would be considered very un-PC by 21st Century standards. However, as the movie portrayed it, Jackson's character was very minor as compared to Pacino's. I don't believe the producers had any malcontent towards black people in any way by referring to him by that name.
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I saw Jackson talking about his role in Sea of Love on Jay Leno and he didn't seem offended by it. He just said with a chuckle: "I'm actually called 'Black Guy' in the credits."
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I think you guys need to chill out about this. Why does everyone have to read into this race thing, i'm sure a lot of women that aren't big don't want to be "hooker #1" or slut #2 but i've seen it in credits. That's why race is an issue in this country, because like the person above me said, Samuel L. Jackson himself could care less about it but everyone else has to go out and fight for him anyway. It's just really frustrating to me.... Why can't everyone just do what they do, who cares what people call you, it means nothing, just take care of your business and everything will be alright regardless of what other morons call ya.
shareI think it's just a reflex by white filmmakers, or white people in general. The guy whipping up the credits obviously sat at the keyboard and went, "Uhhh, how do I label this guy....um, sheez, 'Black Guy' I guess." As a white person, it's just a thing we have of describing someone black, latino, Asian, whatever, because we aren't. "Oh, I know him, he's that Asian guy...." I don't think any racism/offense was inferred by the SOL makers.
I'd expect a film that was predominantly starring black people to label a misc. white guy w/o a name "White Guy" in the credits.
For what it's worth, last night I spotted that several actors were credited simply as "White guys" at the end of Michael Mann's "Collateral".
shareguy with red shirt
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"johngeemartin2003:
Take note of the credits listed on IMDb for Sea of Love:
Patricia Barry---Older Woman
Mark Phelan---Murdered Man
Michael Fischetti---Doorman
Christofer de Oni---Supermarket Manager
Dwayne McClary---Supermarket cashier
Larry Mullane---Clipboard Guy #2
Nowhere do you find the adjective "White" anywhere after these actors names. To simply call Sam Jackson "Black Guy" is an act of laziness on the part of the producers.
Again, "Assembly Convict #1" would have been along the same lines as the above credits. "
I agree with you, but you can probably find the same sort of discrepancy in a movie that features primarily African-American characters. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the only white guys in the movie (especially an extra with one line) labeled as "White Guy". I also wouldn't be the least little bit offended. People are so PC these days...
Mine too.
"I am the ultimate badass, you do not wanna *beep* wit' me!" Hudson in Aliens.
it's obvious to anyone with any common sense that having a character labeled "Black guy" is just plain dumb. The best evidence is when you look at some non-white guy who always plays bit parts and see his credits.
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i think its hilarious, SLJ is in EVERY movie it seems, and his appearance seems like a joke, so thus, crediting him as Black Guy is even funnier.
shareYou know what I'm upset about.....creepy zombie number 4 in dawn of the dead.......whose fighting for Zombie's rights???They need to get credit where credit is due!!how racist!!...lol
shareThe correct term is brown skinned fellow
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ok i agree with alot of ppl here...
you dont have to be so politically correct
if there was a guy in the movie credited as white guy.. u wouldnt give a *beep* if u were white
its just a credit because it was really the only way the producers could think of to label him
they rnt being lazy its not that much harder to type criminal than it is to type black guy
Possibly, "Black Guy" is better than "Mrs. Ni**er" - that's how Samuel Jackson's mother was addressed by a Caucasian playmate of Jackson, it was in a 'mixed' neighborhood he grew up in.
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sam jackson talked about this very same thing tonite during the airing of the afi tribute to pacino. maybe it will show up on youtube.
shareI think they shoud just go ahead and rename ALL the characters from this movie with simple monikers! Like Walter Hill's The Driver. How sweet would that be?
Al Pacino....White Guy
Ellen Barkin...Freaky White Bitch
John Goodman...Fat White Guy
Michael Rooker...Angst Ridden Cracker
Samuel L. Jackson...Black Guy
William Hickey...Old White Guy
Paul Cauldron...?
haha yeah i just saw it on youtube. funny stuff
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Sam took the part so he obviously didn't mind the character's name (or lack thereof.) He even joked about it at a recent tribute to Pacino.
shareyeah, the only reason why it said "Black Guy" is because he didn't have a name. and no, not all of the criminals were black. but yeah, he is black and hees a guy.
shareman i just watched this movie and when i saw Samuel Jackson walk in I was like "wtf why isn't his name in the opening credits??" i find it's hard to believe that nineteen years ago, Jackson had to play roles like the "Black guy" in Sea of Love. I find it even more hard to believe that just five years later, he would play one of the most recognizable characters in movie history as Jules in Pulp fiction. in just five years he went from "black guy" to the famous Jules.
How am I funny?
I find it even more hard to believe that just five years later, he would play one of the most recognizable characters in movie history as Jules in Pulp fiction.