For many years, Hollywood was not considered a friendly place for Asian and Asian-American actors. It was nearly impossible for Asian actors to book any leading roles in films, as they were mostly handed to Caucasian actors deemed more desirable and appropriate for those roles. Asian actors were mainly only able to land supporting or minor roles, most of which were stereotypical or caricatured characters.
In light of the recent buzz around the Oscar-winning film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, it seems fitting to honor the recognizable shift in Asian representation in recent years. Films such as Minari and The Farewell are more than just stories on the silver screen; their films represent a beam of hope for the Asian community.
10 ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ (2018)
Crazy Rich Asians is perhaps the most monumental and life-changing film for Asian actors and the Asian community. The film starred some of the most prominent Asian names in Hollywood: Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chen, Stephani Hsu, Jimmy O.Yang, Ronny Chieng, Harry Shum Jr., and many more.
While many have praised the film for paving the way for Asian representation and avoiding racist roles and stereotypes, some have unfortunately criticized it for its lack of accuracy. For instance, a Singaporean journalist, Kirsten Han, pointed out that the film “obscur[ed] the Malay, Indian, and Eurasian (and more) populations who make the country [Singapore] the culturally rich and unique place that it is.” Some Singaporean viewers also disapproved of the film’s exclusion of Singaporean English as most of the film’s characters only spoke American or British English. Despite the criticisms, the film was a big win and a good step forward for Asian communities worldwide.
9 ‘Gook’ (2017)
Gook is a movie that tells the story of two siblings, the Korean-American brothers, Eli (Justin…
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