
Of course, Djimon Hounsou is being typecast. We can talk about race, or about Mr. Hounsou’s dark skin, or his African heritage, but we won’t.
We’ll talk about an actor who is known the world over; an actor who is the recipient of widespread industry praise and recognition for his talent; an actor who, on three occasions, has accepted the same role. The first time; okay. The second time; maybe. The third time; why?
Which role is this? It is the role of the African Native enslaved [or imprisoned] who is set free in large part, due to the efforts of a white man (Anthony Hopkins, Amistad (1997); Russell Crowe, Gladiator (2000); Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond (2006).
Does money and fame, principle and integrity, injustice, age (he’s no spring chicken at 42) figure into the answer? Has he ever questioned his choices? Is he questioning his choices? If so, what has he told himself? I wonder.
At the end of the day, typecasting involves complicity on the actor’s part.
Naked. Sweating. Screaming. Oh My.
Whenever I see him he is naked, half naked or at the very least, shirtless. In Amistad, he was full body naked. He was half naked in Gladiator. And again in Blood Diamond, he was full body naked at a point in the film. In the pic, In America (2002) his bare chest was there for us to see. In all those films he was screaming or sweating at one point or another. In his first onscreen appearance in In America his first utterance of dialog was wordless. Instead, he was screaming his head off.
Yes; I know the roles called for him to be screaming… or sweating… or enslaved… or separated from his family. I understand this. When you consider each role individually, it makes sense. But when you look at these roles collectively, a disturbing pattern emerges.
Amistad
African Native enslaved and imprisoned, Sweating, Screaming
Separated from his family
Gladiator
African Native enslaved and imprisoned, Sweating, Screaming
Separated from his family
In America
Sweating, Screaming
Blood Diamond
African Native enslaved and imprisoned, Sweating, Screaming
Separated from his famiy
Does Djimon Hounsou have a responsibility to stop playing this character? I don’t know the answer to the question. I am, however, tiring of these images of this actor. That I do know. I really like this guy, though. And I hope In the future, he has better offers and makes better choices.
You may also want to read:

Now in the case of Djimon Hounsou, I do believe he is being offered the same role over & over ... & accepting them for financial reasons.
I have no proof of this ... just a feeling, primarily because he is not American & I think Hollyweird probably feels they are doing him a favor by letting him work at all.
This may sound crazy but I can excuse Djimon for that because his opportunities are more limited than that of an average African-Amerian.
I'd love to see a Spike Lee or a Tyler Perry offer him an entirely different role & showcase his range, but I NEED the obligatory half-naked scene LOL!
Posted by: Kimi | October 26, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Girl, you ain't crazy. It's true. You're right. He is limited. Moving forward though, I hope he is done with this. After all, surely he's a millionaire.
Posted by: theblackactor.com | October 26, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Yes; he definitaly has a perfect body. Definitely easy on the eyes. LOL.
Posted by: theblackactor.com | October 26, 2007 at 12:07 PM
True by now, he must have enough loot to be more choosy with his roles ... & realistically, how many more of these type of movies can Hollyweird churn out?
Posted by: Kimi | October 26, 2007 at 01:14 PM
aaaaahhhh
the Noble African.....
Posted by: LaJane Galt | November 15, 2007 at 03:36 PM
@ LaJane
:)
Posted by: theblackactor.com | November 15, 2007 at 05:20 PM