Embattled filmmaker Cameron Crowe took to his official website June 2 to respond to the growing complaints about Emma Stone's character in his newest film Aloha, which released May 29.
The film, centered around Hawaiian culture if you couldn't tell by the name, features Stone as a native tour guide of sorts to the asian and native beauty of the Rainbow State. Unfortunately, her sheer brilliant skin town doesn't exactly speak well to respecting the racial and cultural heritage the film tries so hard to respect.
Crowe tried to respond in the usual public apology way saying he was glad to have the conversation, but really, we just really didn't understand the character:
Thank you so much for all the impassioned comments regarding the casting of the wonderful Emma Stone in the part of Allison Ng. I have heard your words and your disappointment, and I offer you a heart-felt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice. As far back as 2007, Captain Allison Ng was written to be a super-proud ¼ Hawaiian who was frustrated that, by all outward appearances, she looked nothing like one. A half-Chinese father was meant to show the surprising mix of cultures often prevalent in Hawaii. Extremely proud of her unlikely heritage, she feels personally compelled to over-explain every chance she gets. The character was based on a real-life, red-headed local who did just that.
Whether that story point felt hurtful or humorous has been, of course, the topic of much discussion. However I am so proud that in the same movie, we employed many Asian-American, Native-Hawaiian and Pacific-Islanders, both before and behind the camera… including Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele, and his village, and many other locals who worked closely in our crew and with our script to help ensure authenticity.
This apology comes after a pretty terrible opening according to Rotten Tomatoes, earning less than $10 million in the first weekend. That website also has it at an 18% positive review scores.
So, you very probably didn't see it. And, if you go by reviews, you probably shouldn't.