Don Cheadle Admits His Most Controversial Film Has Problems
The acclaimed actor opens up about his divisive performances and defends a polarizing Oscar winner that sparked heated debates about race in America.
Don Cheadle's name triggers an instant reaction. For many viewers, it conjures memories of that cringe-worthy cockney accent from Ocean's Eleven. The performance was so jarring, so utterly bewildering, that it overshadows everything else the actor has accomplished. That fake British accent as 'Basher Tarr' becomes a mental roadblock, erasing decades of solid work across multiple genres.
The actor has built an impressive resume though. Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys, and an Oscar nomination prove his range. From Iron Man 2 to Hotel Rwanda, Cheadle has tackled vastly different roles with skill. Maybe judging him based on one questionable accent choice isn't fair.
Early Career Breakthrough
Cheadle started small with TV appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The 1990s marked his breakthrough period. He caught attention alongside Denzel Washington in Devil in a Blue Dress in 1995. Two years later, Paul Thomas Anderson cast him in Boogie Nights. His collaboration with Steven Soderbergh began with Out of Sight, starring George Clooney.
His Golden Globe win came from portraying Sammy Davis Jr in The Rat Pack. Soderbergh brought him back for the gritty Traffic in 2000. Then came that infamous Ocean's Eleven role in 2001, followed by Swordfish with Halle Berry.
Oscar Recognition and Controversy
Hotel Rwanda earned Cheadle an Oscar nomination in 2005 for his powerful portrayal during the 1994 genocide. That same year brought Crash, which he starred in and co-produced. The crime thriller swept the Oscars, including Best Picture for director Paul Haggis.
Haggis based the film on his personal experience when two Black men carjacked his Porsche. Critics later attacked the movie for oversimplifying racial tensions in Los Angeles. The backlash has been intense and persistent.
Cheadle addressed the criticism directly: "If you're looking to a movie to speak in a way that is all-encompassing about what that's supposed to be… The movie was an allegory. The movie is a fable." He continued, "I don't think the movie's a perfect movie, I have issues with the movie, but I do think that, on balance, it was a very entertaining movie, but if it starts that conversation and gets people talking about that (race relations), even if it gets them saying, 'This shit's bullshit,' I'm like, 'Cool.'"
Behind-the-Scenes Chaos
Production faced major setbacks. Heath Ledger and John Cusack both dropped out last minute, slashing the film's commercial appeal and budget. Haggis mortgaged his house three times to keep filming alive. The remaining cast took pay cuts to make it work.
The stress took its toll. Haggis suffered a heart attack during production. Despite the chaos, the film got made and won big at the Academy Awards.
Cheadle found success later with House of Lies and multiple Marvel movies as Iron Patriot. Unfortunately, he's set to return as Basher Tarr in the upcoming Ocean's 14. He also has Armor Wars, another Marvel project, in development.