Tobey Maguire recalls a funny comment Kate Winslet made to him about his performance in Tropic Thunder. Released in 2008, Tropic Thunder stars Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel, and Brandon T. Jackson as a group of high-maintenance actors trying to make a Vietnam War film. Stiller, who wrote and directed the film, stars as Tugg Speedman, whose washed-up acting career relies on the fictional movie-within-a-movie, Tropic Thunder's, success. A parody of many famous war films, the group is dropped in a real-world conflict in the middle of the jungle by their fed-up director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan). The satire features an ensemble cast of Hollywood A-listers that includes Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey, and Bill Hader, with a cameo made by Spider-Man's Tobey Maguire. Maguire, who had performed in more dramatic roles up to that point, now reveals the hilarious feedback he got from an Academy Award-Winning actress on his performance.
While answering fan questions on Reddit, Tobey Maguire recalls actress Kate Winslet's funny Tropic Thunder comment. When asked by a fan what film of his he wishes he could preserve for prosperity, Maguire responds with Tropic Thunder. He then goes on to explain that after running into Winslet, she told him the film was his "crowning achievement". While not sure if that was a compliment, Maguire took the comment in good spirits. Read his full answer below:
Tobey Maguire's Tropic Thunder Role Explained
While Maguire's role in Tropic Thunder was brief, it still managed to leave a hilarious mark on the film. Maguire's cameo comes when Robert Downey Jr.'s Kirk Lazarus' fictional trailer appears on-screen. RDJ, who arguably stole the show as Australian method actor Lazarus, premieres his trailer for his new film, Satan's Alley. The movie is about two gay monks in a 12th-century Irish monastery, parodying Brokeback Mountain and Downey's Wonder Boys. Maguire stars as himself, opposite Lazarus as his lover. A snippet of the faux trailer also references Maguire's MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss, which Maguire actually won for his iconic upside-down kiss in Spider-Man.
Why Tropic Thunder Was A Surprise Hit
Tropic Thunder was a major success in theaters, surpassing Star Wars: The Clone Wars at the box office, which was released the same weekend. It dethroned The Dark Knight as the top earner, too, which previously held the position for four consecutive weeks prior to Tropic Thunder's release. In addition to amassing a large audience, critics also responded positively to the film, with an above 80% score on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes. Viewed as RDJ's comeback role alongside his performance in 2008's Iron Man, Tropic Thunder was praised for its performances, with Downey, Stiller, Black, and Cruise receiving acclamation for their work. Making $195 million worldwide, the film also earned RDJ his second Oscar Nomination (which his fictional character had five of).
Still, Tropic Thunder's success did not come without backlash. Several controversies surrounded the film's release, including Downey's use of blackface which his character dons as part of his method acting routine. However, over the years, Stiller has responded to the backlash, saying it was self-aware due to the film's satirical nature. Because viewers are made aware of the problematic and outrageous nature of its actors, the use of blackface is not promoted or supported, but rather as social commentary on its use in Hollywood. However, part of Tropic Thunder's success is also because it is so controversial. It's clear a film like that would not be made today, but it's good to know that even top Hollywood talent like Winslet, still view it as a classic.
Source: Reddit