In the months since Quentin Tarantino’s last film, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Bruce Lee’s appearance has been a hot topic of discussion. The veracity of Lee’s portrayal in the film has been a source of concern for many people, including Lee’s family. Now that Tarantino’s book of the same name has been released, the director has been publicly questioned about the blowback, igniting a new round of debate regarding the scene.
Tarantino was asked about the outrage that Tarantino didn’t capture the renowned actor’s personality and character effectively in a scene when he essentially challenges Brad Pitt’s character to a fight on Joe Rogan’s podcast this week. Tarantino previously stated that Lee’s daughter is allowed to be upset about it, but that everyone else is free to go.
Shannon Lee, who had previously instructed Tarantino to “shut up” when debating the representation, is reportedly still unhappy. When contacted by The Hollywood Reporter for comment on Tarantino’s latest statements, Lee reacted with a comprehensive opinion piece expressing her frustration with the ongoing dispute and the fact that others continue to back Tarantino and his perspective of Lee.
Why does Quentin Tarantino speak as if he knew and despised Bruce Lee? Isn’t it strange that he’s never met Bruce Lee? Not to mention that for Kill Bill, which many perceived as a love letter to Bruce Lee, Mr. Tarantino clothed the Bride in a knock-off of my father’s yellow jumpsuit and the Crazy 88s in Kato-style masks and clothes. However, love letters normally address the receiver by name, and from what I could tell at the time, Mr. Tarantino sought to avoid mentioning Bruce Lee as much as possible.
If only he’d stop mentioning Bruce Lee right now.
If you’re concerned about the historical accuracy of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, you should read the entire article. And given the persistent difficulties minorities have encountered in Hollywood in the decades after Lee retired, her frustrations are understandable. Shannon Lee characterizes the incident as a perfect illustration of how “white Hollywood” perceived her father and his work, and she goes on to explain how his impact on film has been diminished both during and after his career.
I’m tired of hearing white men in Hollywood say he was arrogant and a jerk when they have no idea and can’t imagine what it was like to try to get work in 1960s and 1970s Hollywood as a Chinese man with (God forbid) an accent, or to express an opinion on set as a perceived foreigner and person of color. I’m weary of white males in Hollywood misunderstanding his confidence, enthusiasm, and competence for arrogance, and then marginalizing him and his efforts as a result. I’m weary of white males in Hollywood refusing to believe that Bruce Lee was actually skilled at what he did, and that he might have even known how to do it better than them.
Shannon Lee’s major argument here is that Tarantino is utilizing Lee’s image and the issue to promote both his film and, now, a book, whether intentionally or not. And she seemed hoping that the story would end the cycle of news about the situation, concluding, “I think it’s time for both of us to walk on.” We’ll see if this is truly the end of the conversation. However, Lee’s message is well worth reading in its entirety to give her the last say.
