Reel Bad Arabs
Encyclopedia
Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (ISBN 1-56656-388-7, Olive Branch Press) is a 2001 book by Jack Shaheen
where he surveyed more than 900 film appearances of Arab
characters. Of those, only a dozen were positive and 50 were balanced. Shaheen writes "Seen through Hollywood's distorted lenses, Arabs look different and threatening.".
He contends that the movies with the most anti-Arab content are: Rules of Engagement
(2000), The Delta Force
(1986) Death Before Dishonor
(1987) and True Lies
(1994).
Included on the "worst list" are:
Inspired by the "worst list", a 9-minute-long trailer called "Planet of the Arabs" was assembled. This short was an Official Selection at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival
.
Sut Jhally
directed a 2006 video called Reel Bad Arabs about Jack Shaheen's thesis.
The much smaller "Best" list includes Hollywood films that give a balanced heroic portrayal of Arab characters. Included on this list were:
Jack Shaheen
Jack G. Shaheen is Professor Emeritus of Mass Communication at Southern Illinois University. He was also a consultant on Middle East affairs for CBS News....
where he surveyed more than 900 film appearances of Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
characters. Of those, only a dozen were positive and 50 were balanced. Shaheen writes "Seen through Hollywood's distorted lenses, Arabs look different and threatening.".
He contends that the movies with the most anti-Arab content are: Rules of Engagement
Rules of Engagement (film)
Rules of Engagement is a 2000 American film directed by William Friedkin and starring Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson plays Marine Colonel Terry Childers, who is brought to court-martial on charges of disobeying the rules of engagement in a military incident at an American embassy...
(2000), The Delta Force
The Delta Force (film)
The Delta Force is a 1986 American action film starring Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin as leaders of an elite squad of Special Forces troops based on the real life U.S. Army Delta Force unit. It was directed by Menahem Golan and featured Martin Balsam, Joey Bishop, Robert Vaughn, Steve James, Robert...
(1986) Death Before Dishonor
Death Before Dishonor
Death Before Dishonor is a 1987 American action film directed by Terry Leonard.-Plot:Gunnery Sergeant Burns is in charge of the Marine Security Guard detachment at a United States embassy in the Middle East...
(1987) and True Lies
True Lies
True Lies is a 1994 American action-comedy film directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, Charlton Heston, and Art Malik. Eliza Dushku also appears in the film in one of her first major film roles...
(1994).
Included on the "worst list" are:
|
The Bonfire of the Vanities (film) The Bonfire of the Vanities is a 1990 American film adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name by Tom Wolfe. The film was directed by Brian De Palma and stars Tom Hanks as Sherman McCoy, Bruce Willis as Peter Fallow, Melanie Griffith as Maria Ruskin, and Kim Cattrall as Judy McCoy,... (1990) Navy SEALs (film) Navy SEALs is a 1990 action film, directed by Lewis Teague, written by Chuck Pfarrer and Gary Goldman, and produced by Brenda Feigen and Bernard Williams with consultant William Bradley.-Plot:... (1990) Chain of Command (film) Chain of Command is a 2000 action/adventure film starring Roy Scheider and Patrick Muldoon.-Plot:New Secret Service agent Mike Connelly, assigned to protect President-elect Jack Cahill, becomes uneasy in having to protect a President who is having an affair with a friend's wife... (1993) Bloodfist VI: Ground Zero Bloodfist VI: Ground Zero is a 1995 action film starring Don Wilson, Marcus Aurelius, Michael Blanks and Anthony Boyer. It was directed by Rick Jacobson and written by Brendan Broderick and Rob Kerchner.-Plot:... (1994) True Lies True Lies is a 1994 American action-comedy film directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, Charlton Heston, and Art Malik. Eliza Dushku also appears in the film in one of her first major film roles... (1994) Operation Condor Operation Condor , was a campaign of political repression involving assassination and intelligence operations officially implemented in 1975 by the right-wing dictatorships of the Southern Cone of South America... (1997) Rules of Engagement (film) Rules of Engagement is a 2000 American film directed by William Friedkin and starring Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson plays Marine Colonel Terry Childers, who is brought to court-martial on charges of disobeying the rules of engagement in a military incident at an American embassy... (2000) |
Inspired by the "worst list", a 9-minute-long trailer called "Planet of the Arabs" was assembled. This short was an Official Selection at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
Sut Jhally
Sut Jhally
Satvinder "Sut" Jhally , is a professor of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is one of the world’s leading experts on cultural studies, advertising, media, and consumption. He is the producer of 40+ documentaries on media literacy topics and the founder and executive...
directed a 2006 video called Reel Bad Arabs about Jack Shaheen's thesis.
The much smaller "Best" list includes Hollywood films that give a balanced heroic portrayal of Arab characters. Included on this list were:
- The 13th WarriorThe 13th WarriorThe 13th Warrior is a 1999 historical fiction action film starring Antonio Banderas as Ahmad ibn Fadlan and Vladimir Kulich as Buliwyf; it is based on the novel Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton. It was directed by John McTiernan and an uncredited Crichton.The 13th Warrior is regarded as a...
- Robin Hood: Prince of ThievesRobin Hood: Prince of ThievesRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Kevin Costner heads the cast list as Robin Hood...
- Three Kings
- Kingdom of HeavenKingdom of Heaven (film)Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 epic action film directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. It stars Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Marton Csokas, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin McKidd, Alexander Siddig, Ghassan Massoud, Edward Norton, Jon Finch, Michael Sheen and Liam...
External links
- "Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People", a documentary featuring Dr. Jack Shaheen produced in 2004