In all of the world's modern accomplishments, and as far as we've come over the last 100 years, there's still a long way to go, especially with race and culture, and cinema is a perfect example of that. It's still noteworthy when an African American actor or actress wins an Oscar. Films are still being whitewashed. No matter how many progressive ideas hit the waves, Hollywood relies on their fear-induced blanket of stereotypes and marginalized roles for a large group of talented, charismatic, and diverse actors.

In the case of a movie like 21, it's just downright laughable. Why change the race of these actors so that Jim Sturgess & company could grab the roles. No offense to Jim, who I really enjoyed in Across the Universe, but is he going to pull in bigger numbers than, say, John Cho?

One, Hollywood needs to stop fearing minority stars. Two, they need to recognize the diverse multi-racial talent that has managed to break through narrow casting waters, and how many more are out there, undiscovered. Three, they need to make use of them! Take a look just at this list. It's not only a list of talented people, but I bet you at least a few of the names would surprise you. They're out there, and there's more where they came from.

In honor of a few films that have hit it big in the states, starring talented actors who are not white, I give you Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Bend It Like Beckham.

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle



That trailer does oh, so little for the movie. I avoided this puppy like the plague when it came out, until everyone kept trying to convince me to go see it, and well, it was so very, delightfully worth it. It's simple funniness -- two dudes like to get high, and head out for White Castle, but their night brings them everything from jail time to a raunchy Neil Patrick Harris instead. And hey, John Cho and Kal Penn are recognizable, talented, and not white!

Yeah, it's goofy, but it says a lot that this film got so big, and had such a huge following after such initial apprehension. Soon, we'll get to see how Cho handles Sulu, but for now, if you enjoy Kal Penn and want to see him in more serious work, try The Namesake.

TRIVIA: Would you have liked the movie as much if it wasn't NPH, but Ralph Macchio?


This scene is the biggest reason I love the film, and the only scene, ever, to make me fall off my seat laughing.

Saun Majumder! and Ryan Reynolds

That hitchhiker on the side of the road might just be Neil Patrick Harris.


Bend It Like Beckham



What's really nice about Bend It Like Beckham's success is not just that it starred Parminder Nagra, but that the film merged a highly marketable concept -- soccer -- with a traditional Indian family. Nagra's Jess is a young girl who loves the world of soccer, worships David Beckham, and dreams of being a professional soccer player. Unfortunately, her parents are completely against the idea.

The film is feel-good and sappy, but also charming and diverse. Really, that's writer/director Gurinda Chadha's specialty. You can see it in a number of her films, from her short in Paris je t'aime, called Quais de Seine, to her foodie film, What's Cooking?

TRIVIA: The film was so big that FIFA gave Nagra the 2002 International Football Personality of the Year Presidential award, the first woman to ever receive the honor.

Joe checks Jess' ankle.

Clubbing

A doc about the making of the film.