Rye Silverman
Stand-up comedian, blogger and gender rebel
Being Transgender Is Scarier Than Being a Pirate
Posted: 01/14/2014 10:41 am
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rye-silverman/post_6629_b_4591543.htmlBefore I say anything else, I want to get one thing established right away: I thought Jared Leto was very good in Dallas Buyers Club. In fact, I felt he was so good in the movie that despite all the warranted criticism about how problematic it is to consistently cast straight cis actors to play transgender or gay roles, and then laud them with statues -- and despite the fact that he definitely wasn't my first or second choice -- I wasn't that upset that he won the Golden Globe. I think that merits inclusion right up front here, because while attempting to have a more casual conversation on my Facebook page, I immediately had people responding defending his performance. That is not really the issue here.
Like I said, I don't hate that he won the award, but I hate the reason why he won the award. I hate that the knee-jerk response I've already gotten from people who think I'm criticizing him as an actor is that he was, as they say, "so brave." Do you really, in this decade, in this century, even, not understand how incredibly insulting and condescending that statement is? And hey, also, pretty much a load of bull. Jared Leto has played a character who is punched in the face so hard, with such fury, rage and brutality, that it left that character permanently disfigured. But this movie is the one he gets called brave for, because he's wearing a dress and makeup? Have we all forgotten those corn rows from Panic Room?
I do not think it is unfair to say that the fact that Rayon is transgender is entirely why Leto was nominated and awarded for Dallas Buyers Club. While Leto has talked about the challenges of playing around the physical aspects inherent in portraying a woman, he does seem to focus on mostly costuming and wardrobe details, such as tights and lipstick. But while Leto discusses not letting those things get in the way, I would argue the contrary, that if anything, they are contributions to his performance.
