This argument brings up a rarely discussed topic in California culture: the presence of non-Latinos integrating in real life among ethnic Mexicans in the state’s urban and rural barrios. It’s also like ‘American Me,’ ‘Blood In Blood Out.’ It’s a ’hood culture thing.” “I get the complexities of the issues of historical representation in film and brownface. Though it should be added that the film doesn’t expressly establish the ethnic identity of LaBeouf’s character. He’s not taking anyone’s work away,” said the director. LaBeouf plays a supporting role to lead Bobby Soto as David, in a cast that is otherwise entirely Latino or Black. LaBeouf, said the filmmaker who often talks about growing up in South L.A., is not playing a Latino character but rather an Anglo steeped in Mexican American culture - “a Jewish dude playing a white character.” Therefore, Ayer said, LaBeouf’s turn as the gangster enforcer “Creeper” couldn’t be brownface.Ĭase closed? Over the course of two interviews with The Times, during which the director sometimes switched between English and Spanish, Ayer described “The Tax Collector” as a family crime drama about love and loyalty. The film’s director, David Ayer, quickly responded on Twitter. cholo.Īmid the spark of this spring’s George Floyd protests, and the sweep of reparative action that has taken place in Hollywood and other branches of society - including apologies from Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon for past blackface comedy routines and the removal of “30 Rock” episodes with blackface scenes - accusations of brownface rained down on “The Tax Collector.” At one point he says, “Come on, foo’!,” certified barrio slang for “fool.” LaBeouf, the sometimes troublemaking Hollywood star who won wide praise for last year’s autobiographical drama “ Honey Boy,” appears to have taken on the persona of the L.A. He wears a goatee and sounds like a Latino guy from the ’hood. In it, LaBeouf looks “Mexican,” at least by stereotypical standards. The question has elicited conflicted online responses and awkward-smiled emojis since the trailer’s release and run-up to “ The Tax Collector,” which opens Friday.