Hollywood’s ‘Slanted’ view of the Asian man

It may rarely occur to most moviegoers that Asian men tend to appear in a limited spectrum of roles, when they appear at all. And that’s the problem. For those who do think about such things, “The Slanted Screen” contains little new information. But to the presumed majority, this slick, intelligent documentary may be a revelation.

Jeff Adachi’s film presents a litany of outrages: white actors in yellowface; Asian American actors locked into kung-fu or nerd roles; the sexlessness of Asian men on screen. Adachi supports his thesis with jaw-droppingly racist clips such as Mickey Rooney’s turn as the buck-toothed Japanese neighbor in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the bane of so many Asian American teenage boys’ existences, Gedde Watanabe’s ultra-geek Long Duk Dong in “Sixteen Candles.”

The struggle against stereotype is traced from the silent-film career of surprising sex symbol Sessue Hayakawa to the present, in testimonials from accomplished actors such as James Shigeta, the late Mako and young performers like the very funny Bobby Lee (of MADtv). Interviewees tell damning stories of current Hollywood attitudes, including a neutered ending for the Jet Li hit “Romeo Must Die” and radical script revisions on TV’s “The O.C.”

Objective data and more sound bites from others besides male Asian Americans might have helped make the case. It’s ironic to talk about needing more participants who are not Asian American men, but this well-researched film’s influence can only increase as it reaches beyond that circle -- to those who never thought there was a problem.

The documentary’s most egregious fault, however, is occasionally taking clips out of context to prove its point, such as an unfairly used scene from “Fargo.”

“The Slanted Screen” is entertaining, its concerns are current and it may empower viewers in its target community.

The documentary is accompanied during its current theatrical run by Linda Lee’s hilarious short “Screen Test,” in which an actress of Korean descent (Judy Lee) slyly describes nightmarish auditions.

*

‘The Slanted Screen’

MPAA rating: Unrated

Distributed by AAMM Productions, Director-writer Jeff Adachi. Producers Adachi, Alex Yeung. Director of photography Ann Kaneko. Editor Yeung. Running time: 1 hour, 9 minutes, including eight-minute short “Screen Test.”

Exclusively at Laemmle’s Grande, 345 S. Figueroa St., Downtown L.A. (213) 617-0268.