Robert Downey Jr and Ben Stiller improvising a scene from Tropic Thunder

[@GelAKASonny]

1:12 "Stop looking at me with them Illuminati eyes" was perfect! Should've made the final cut.

[@northwestalternativemedia2125]

Yup!

[@xxevilellisonxx]

I blame the Illuminati

[@juggles5474]

That little break is hilarious 😂

[@ausinasmith96]

Same one that got me lmfao that cadence in saying it was perfect

[@photonsnphonons9349]

I stopped for this. Thanks for the validation

[@cable7152]

I just witnessed how exhausting acting must truly be. These two make it look easy, but damn just imagine having to do this for several hours a day.

[@unrealnews]

Keep in mind that Stiller is also a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude. He's acting and directing at the same time. This is transcendent. If you put this on a loop, with monitors facing each other and reflected by adjacent mirrors, it would be at home in a Nam June Paik exhibition.

[@bemboing4338]

​@@unrealnews and RDJ should play Blade dude now to really save MCU sitcom

[@rocknu55]

You think this is exhausting? You have clearly never hauled 90 lb bags of concrete mix up a flight of stairs all day. You have clearly never done roofing in july. You have clearly never spent all day unclogging human hair and feces from from the pipes in someones home. I can think of literally a hundred jobs that more exhausting than this off of the top of my head.

[@theogl7643]

@@rocknu55 Mental exhaustion is no different from physical. I've done landscaping under terrible conditions, had to get dirty in unsanitary areas, but I've also spent years as a developer for startups. Years handling support to different ethnicities for web development. Honestly, it's all very similar by the end of the day.

[@cable7152]

@rocknu55 actually I work for a sign company, I dig holes and mix concrete for a living, nice try though. You've never dug through 2 feet of snow just to dig through 2 feet of frozen ground to put in a directional in the middle of December in CT. You're not special.

[@milessolomon3324]

Don’t forget Stiller was directing this movie too!

[@spextrekid9410]

I love how Downey Jr. responds to his directing in character. "FROM THE TOP!"

[@jg2722]

Meet the fockers paid very well

[@jada90]

How can we forget when we're literally seeing him direct in this clip?

[@Diortelon]

​@@jada90 Some might interpret it as Stiller being a diva and calling the scene cuts or something if they don't know? Just spitballin'.

[@Randy_Reacts]

and don't forget that Still also wrote it AND produced it! He's literally producing it at the same time as directing AND acting! CRAAAAAZY!

[@wilfredoriverajr.]

This looks harder than I thought it might be.

[@ryswick1064]

I never imagined the amount of talent this required. The scene is so intense they're missing their beats, missing lines, Stiller even just straight up used Downey's line. It's method acting and improv comedy, but in a scene where the characters are going through an intense existential crisis. Every take ended up varying wildly with the delivery of their lines. It's like watching them paint a picture in real time trying to figure out how the scene will look. I can't imagine how exhausting this was for RDJ, simulating a complete mental crash-out and trying to be funny about it as well. I watched this movie when I was very young, and it just did not click with me at all (besides this one scene, I thought the triple "dude" line was hilairous). I might give it another watch.

[@eswift8318]

Comedy is hard. A lot of people think some people are just funny and that's all it takes. But there's a ton more to it than that, especially when it's just two guys in closeup doing a batshit insane scene.

[@maltheman96]

Yeah it seems so effortless in the actual movie

[@stanyeeast3508]

People don't really understand how difficult comedy can be, especially if it's actually funny...they expend so much energy just trying to keep from breaking

[@1chaka]

@@stanyeeast3508that’s the thing people know what makes bad comedy but good comedy is so much harder to do

[@Okinawatrip]

Such a master class on several levels. Remember, this is a comedy. And they're giving it all, like it was an existential thriller or something. Stiller so focused on doing his bit at the same time he's watching to be able to direct, all the while trying his best not to break in front of a very powerful Downey Jr, he's really impressive.

[@ColinAverill]

They have to act like it's any serious movie. If the characters are laughing, it takes the onus off of the audience to do so. If they play it straight, it's funny, but if they busted up laughing in every scene, the audience would get bored of it very quickly. The same goes for crying in many instances. If you can portray the depth of sadness in a scene without needing tears (not saying they don't have their place in films, they certainly do, it depends what the scene calls for), your audience will be bawling.

[@aleksisuuronen5969]

Altough they both are trying not to laugh. Robert contorts his face in so many takes into a some version of a smile (but it's a smile) for almost breaking. Not suprised this take took time since you kinda have to get the rhytm of the convo on point for it to work 😁 I'm a dude disquised a dude playing another dude and all that makes it tongue twistery. Hops from mad to scared to sad for Robert.

[@vittorioderisi2655]

That's why they call him Ben Thriller

[@inthecloudz1272]

Wait this is comedy!?????

[@trapez77]

@@ColinAverillI disagree, it’s funnier when you can tell that they are about to break.

[@griffinnunnelee7236]

Legend has it that Ben Stiller is still saying “okay, just one more” to this day

[@IBmaster4]

And Robert has to keep slapping himself

[@ausinasmith96]

"STOP LOOKING AT ME WITH THEM ILLUMINATI EYES" perfect lmfao

[@Domms]

I can't imagine having to stare at RDJ during this scene, Stiller held on for dear life 😂

[@LoneStarRay]

Thats what i was thinking 😂

[@homiefromfl]

0:44 is the take they used for RDJ, and 6:41 is the take they used for Stiller.

[@4589dude]

and they used this part of the take at 4:12 for the climax of their conversation

[@domwilson2505]

I feel like stiller knew that climax hit too after they were done

[@shakinwakin35]

Was wondering. Thanks!

[@sergiodelrioreyes7655]

How many times have you watched the movie dude

[@RSpracticalshooting]

i'd know that "i know who i am!" anywhere

[@astrorobinson3716]

Acting is such a fascinating dance.

[@Forgan_Mreeman]

a lottt harder than I thought too

[@TigerSquriell]

Them dropping the accent at 6:00 fucked me up

[@dinglemccringleberry9019]

Now that's THE dude who's plays the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude.

[@AlexDelarge1990]

Lol, that part is bizarre hearing RDJ drop the voice while in the gettup😂 I guess he did drop it slightly before that DVD commentary lol

[@cagneybillingsley2165]

he sounds like the hodge twins

[@BillJones-h7h]

@@cagneybillingsley2165I knew it sounded familiar!

[@tonyshazam6271]

He’s asking the script supervisor for a line. I’m sure he just couldn’t remember and broke character for a sec on a serious question that could cost them time and money

[@OdinsForgeEnt]

Masterclass on so many levels. Stiller is not only acting and directing but he is making mental notes of the edit. He is completely aware of the lines they need to get and once they are "in the can" he doesn't push for them anymore. This is a perfect example of why learning and understanding editing is one of the best things an actor can learn.

[@LionelBercovich]

On point, knowing about editing makes you take better decisions while acting

[@blakegandalf8753]

Stiller as a director/writer/actor is one of the greats. Any one of those roles he kicks ass in and is always a good time. Has never not brought a smile to my face or a tickle to my ribs

[@maltheman96]

Ben Stiller has the talent everyone thinks Adam Sandler has. And yes of course Sandler is also talented, but Stiller is just another level imo.

[@nTrylo]

"illuminati eyes" was spontaneous genius. that shit killed me

[@JakeRanney]

It's so weird to hear RDJ's actual voice come out when he's got the Lincoln Osiris face on @6:00

[@Emet.V]

Same

[@aspeckt1]

@@JakeRanney "Lincoln Osiris face"

[@TehUltimateSnake]

I thought he didn't drop character until he did DVD commentary 😆

[@TheBlackBox_YouTube]

I've never seen this before. It's crazy watching Stiller direct while he's on the screen improvising. He really is a genius.

[@delkahchop3612]

Still say Downey should have won the oscar.

[@pepperidgefarm1003]

Who actually won that year?

[@rokblinov5641]

Heath Ledger for the Dark Knight

[@souvikmondal6161]

Naah dawg! Downey was amazing but heath was on another level as the joker.

[@lukeshoo]

Heath was better though, hands down. This is a ballsy move from Robert Downey Jr but the performance isn't worthy of an award.

[@souvikmondal6161]

@@lukeshoo not oscar worthy?! Think for a sec man! If that controversial role was done incorrectly or half-assed the actor would have probably gotten cancelled and never work for the rest of his life. Because of downey’s amazing portrayal of Hollywood’s absurdity and sometimes just stupid decisions, we still remember and laugh at that movie. Pffh! And you say he was not oscar-worthy . Oscar nominated performances are not always sad or heavy or emotional stuff you know! That was gold tier comedy which can’t be produced again in this day and age.

[@Skrenja]

The amount of 35mm film used here alone would be insanely expensive -- let alone for the whole movie.

[@Megamain6]

Whoa never thought of this

[@benf1111]

Whoa...thats surreal when RDJ speaks in his voice...it looks like a voice over

[@jesseodonnell7844]

He wasn't lying. He really Does Not drop character until he does the DVD commentary. Even around 6:12 mark he does a perfect impersonation of Tony Stark. He should of definitely won the highly coveted Crying Monkey Award for his role.

[@JakeG]

Top comment right here lol

[@shenanigoon2K]

Fuck me, edited the comment but didn't correct 'should of'. Right on

[@RicardoZambrana]

You seriously don't know??? Everyone knows you never go FULL NEGRO. Don't believe me? Ask RDJ. Tropic Thunder, 2008, went full negro... he came home empty handed.

[@daniellovesosrs]

That wasnt an impersonation on Tony Stark thats how he talks...

[@ricardochristie1]

I have a whole new appreciation for this movie. Maybe all movies...

[@cvg101]

I know, right? Definitely time for a re-watch. The improv is what makes it so 👍 IMO.

[@mzattzila89]

I love that the take they use in the movie is damn near the first one @ 0:45 - true professionals. YOU THE DUDE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT DUDE HE IS!

[@flask9712]

The me? i know who i am! part at 0:51 is the exact audio from RDJ. I know it so well caus i listen to a song that samples that scene all the time and the beat played in my head when i heard that lol

[@dmc2008]

​@@flask9712 Ooh, what song?

[@flask9712]

@@dmc2008 I'm a dude by Yuri Wong

[@harveyalmond2252]

For people that don’t realise, this is meisner acting, asking each other questions repeatedly trying to get a genuine reaction off each other, great exercise and creates some hilarious genuine moments between both actors :)

[@theyshouldhavenevergivenme5439]

no it is not. It is literally a comedy bit Stiller wrote. The lines are scripted! please.

[@noThankyou-g5c]

@@theyshouldhavenevergivenme5439clearly a lot of them aren’t. since theyre different from take to take

[@JstJensen]

So.. like he said, that’s Meisner acting.

[@Lore-x2k]

@@theyshouldhavenevergivenme5439yet it’s still improvised, they’re loosely following the script and adding their own comedic twists

[@chrisfartlett]

​@@theyshouldhavenevergivenme5439 improved around a premise

[@dmaharry7976]

RDJ flawless in every single one. Underrated.

[@AHTOtv]

Yeah. He's so underrated that he put the MCU on the map, is a trillionaire, and never has to look for work again. He's so underrated. Makes me sad. Such a tragedy.

[@kmensah2375]

Didn't he get nominated for an oscar for this performance?

[@prabhu786]

I'm a dude watching two dudes, one of those dudes is playing another dude who's disguised as another dude.

[@TheoGarza]

Dude…

[@methridge]

@@TheoGarza Who?

[@Spiff52]

@@methridgeThe Dude. Pay attention

[@IgoTpaynus69]

RDJ the only man who can play blackface and still be loved 😂

[@r_y_a_n_j3431]

Damn I'm trippin on them M&M's😅

[@LDwiggs]

RDJ is the absolute man. No one else can put forth this kind of performance. For all those out there who play like acting is easy, imagine doing this for hours at a time, for months on end.

[@MrMisanthrope84]

This is just insanity, genius, hilarious and masterful all at once. Two comedy geniuses at the top of their game.

[@calcariachimera]

Great example of Jr great acting skills

[@anachronisticon]

I can see why actors often prefer theatre than film.

[@calcariachimera]

Honestly one of the funniest movies created, each time I watch I find something else even funnier

[@Oldskoolraver-OG]

Wow shows just how much goes into doing one small take .. Downey is just an incredible professional actor even stiller breaks eventually.. still one best movies ever made

[@FauxWock]

Ben softly saying “take it from the top” for Rob to scream yes took me tf out

[@ZefTillDeath8878]

To have that level of nuance to this character for each improvised take makes it seem like rdj has been preparing for this role his whole life. No wonder he was nominated for an Oscar.

[@SovonHalder]

"Choose a dude' 🤣

[@IfBatmanHadAParrot]

How was this more entertaining than anything I’ve watched in the last 10 years

[@ubercoo]

This movie and the Blu-ray is next level.

[@iammondo1870]

This is an awesome snippet!

[@maltheman96]

I absolutely love this part of the movie feels like a lightning in the bottle moment, and now i know why, it was slowly but masterfully crafted by two acting legends!

[@NRG2]

I genuinely didn’t realize actors were allowed to try a scene this many times. Now all my respect goes to the editors!!

[@ownedbymykitty270]

The actors don’t decide that. The director does. In this case Stiller was also the director.

[@katlis]

It took Marilyn Monroe 47 takes to nail the line "It's me, sugar" for Some Like It Hot. And the famous "Here's Johnny" scene from The Shining took 127 takes. Definitely props to the editors back then working with film and no editing software. Some films are still shot on film of course, but now they can just scan it all in and fiddle with it on a computer.

[@cronezone787]

You kind of want as many good takes as possible, so you have options later.

[@ProphetOfDoubt]

Anyone else notice we haven’t had a movie like this in YEARS?

[@FloridaDIYer]

We woke now.

[@bilbobeuli]

Hollywood and their creativity is dead. Prepare for more sequels/prequels and remakes. And especially more cape shit.

[@nickymill]

it doesnt fit their agenda

[@alexbaum2204]

@@bilbobeuliessentially, prepare for more insult

[@tyednz]

Cancel culture man, live laugh love..

[@jandro8370]

Stiller directing at the same time. An actor like Downey Jr ad libbing lines over and over. Cool to see the actual process. Acting is a job at the end of the day, they do work hard and have talent.

[@LifeOfRy]

1:12 the way Downey says this line is just unreal

[@lennyy1211]

Robert smashed this role.

[@Taibete]

Illuminati eye part should’ve stayed in the movie that was perfect !!!!😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣

[@kuakilyissombroguwi]

Best comedy of all time, never gets old.

[@smosmo4617]

Downey is a fkn alien. Amazing.

[@loganwallace5854]

When he said "tugboat" I lost it 😂 Wish they would've left that in.

[@meteorjuice4088]

Ben Stiller also being the director directing the scene and RDJ through this adds a cool layer to the whole thing

[@johanmayz]

Beautiful display of art being made in real time, the crafted talent, control of creativity , fast thinking with intelligence is mind blowing

[@LeoRikimaru]

"You're a powerful, magic muthafuka."

[@kirkaranha5653]

00:30s He really doesn't drop character till the DVD commentary

[@twoine526]

I paused it at that exact moment to laugh and say the same. I really love this movie.

[@seanjackson6440]

Facts 💯 and never go full re***d

[@OddSumo]

That script supervisor deserves a raise - absolutely on the ball @ 2:50

[@karmicbreath]

That's their job. If she wasn't on the ball, what the hell is she doing on a huge studio project

[@loganhurley4764]

@ Oh cool, so you’re picking fights with other people *too* for absolutely no reason. Jeez you’re pathetic.

[@emgeejay]

@@karmicbreath it’s impressive that she even detected with confidence that he’d asked a question out of character, let alone that she jumped in so quickly

[@tastymorsel]

What did Ben Stiller say to get the script supervisor to feed him the line? Are they speaking in code or something?

[@emgeejay]

@ He said: - What is it, “You’re scared”?

[@M113Inc]

This is gold.

[@FortifiedEnhancements]

Crazy that they both had the shortest times of most SNL cast members but still showed amazing chops in this.

[@JohnGaltHasArrived]

SNL is not the benchmark and is overrated.

[@FortifiedEnhancements]

@ not sure how you got that from my comment but go off, Queen. I meant it to be they have high caliber improv chops and it shows that they didn’t need SNL longevity to show people.

[@JohnGaltHasArrived]

@@FortifiedEnhancements Sorry, I was in a mood yesterday, princess. But I agree, they have amazing chops.

[@griffinh21]

Knowing how the scene plays out, it’s cool to see them slowly get the different takes that made it into the final edit.

[@andronovm]

oh boy! That was hilarious. Thanks for sharing this spark of brilliant acting and hilarious humor

[@Stopitpls]

2:11 is perfect

[@grimm256]

Was just about to say this

[@thomaslastname3070]

WHAT DE FACK

[@AxeMan562]

I love watching improvised stuff like this, especially when you see the parts that made the final cut

[@luckystarpiano]

The interesting thing was that not one single take was like the other ❤ incredible work ethic to just stick with it and keep at it to see just how many different versions come out

[@pm820]

I remember our cinematography lecturer showed us a Malcom in the middle VHS dailies. It was thirty minutes of the same scene from 3-4 cameras doing the same scene. Over and over again and they made each one seem like it was the first one and matched the exact same movements and lines. Super impressive talent but also crazy repetitive and kinda took out the shine of acting

[@bmefilms6879]

"them eyes is crazy style man" hilarious!!!

[@WigganNuG]

7:50 RDJ "you don't blink; you like Alec Guiness in a screen test, getting me all kinds of fucked up" Stiller: losing his shit breaking character.

[@adamcogan211]

This will forever be one of my favourite movies! It never gets old!

[@stevenmonte7397]

Such a brilliant movie! Ben Stiller is a great director! And now he's directing Severance. Amazing talent!

[@motorheadridermotorheadrid8181]

Hearing Tony Starks voice come out of a black man is damn wild! 6:07

[@TheHorrorFactory]

My inner dialog every day

[@Mufasanchez]

Acting is just a sophisticated form of play but when you keep in mind the amount of concentration necessary to make something look organic but “controlled” and sustain it, it isn’t a walk in the park. These are 2 pros

[@CreativoErratico]

Masterclass. Front and behind the lens. Script sup was on point.

[@TheAdrenaline85]

RDJ is wild af😂

[@GerardBeaubrun]

One of the greatest movies I've seen. I still have the DVD case just to remind me of this level of awesomeness that will never again be reached

[@aspeckt1]

So HE DID drop character before the dvd commentary

[@AL__EX]

just a reminder... .RDJ was nominated for an Oscar for this. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johannesschmitz6370]

back when the world was still alright

[@holycrab6316]

Robert Downey Jr will forever be goated

[@metfan099]

The patience it must require to keep doing takes jeez

[@WizardOfCheese]

jees, even in bloopers their acting is STRONG, new appreciation for the craft

[@timkourbo3196]

Downey is acting, Stiller is being his rl self.

[@KyleVoices]

This is a performance Downey deserved hundreds of millions for.

[@acb9896]

Now RDJ is the dude playing Stark disguised as Doomsday. Be here till Chinese New Year figuring that one out.

[@alperyldrm6385]

7:50 it's amazing that they managed to keep it together considering the comedic talent they both possess

[@koolerpure]

Rdj staying in character even between takes is jokes

[@Optics21]

Downey is a master at this shit

[@ashleymarks3726]

I've been looking for this for forever! I had this whole exchange memorized, and I've annoyed my whole family cause I repeat it so much 🤣🤣

[@crazimax]

OMG I would subscribe to a fucking service if they did this for every movie

[@spextrekid9410]

this is incredible!

[@mushylog]

They make it look so fun and easy. Great performances

[@Officialmryuck]

I’m so glad we got to experience tropic thunder before pc era

[@Robbe1984]

This movie is a masterpiece, absolute legends

[@WaxanmoRfiend]

Thank you so much this is Gold.

[@doniscoming]

❤Oh snap, that's some golden cinema archive you got there my dude watching another dudes, playing some other dudes

[@SuperCanonshooter]

Good gracious… I had no idea this scene could’ve been so exhausting!! Playing Olympic level ping pong while staying in the exact same spot for lighting and keeping track of tone, character and different emphasis!! Holy heck!!

[@Hacienda_27]

He doesn't break character until after the goddamn dvd commentary

[@swissayy]

Bring back pre 2010 where movies like this can be released and loved by most

[@ShaneJoshua1980]

RDJ should have got an Oscar for this!

[@koammudo43]

Lmao the way he stays in character he doesn't break character till after the dvd commentary and bloopers 😂

[@poepplays4489]

Might as well be a master class

[@Half_Man_Half_Bearpig]

This movie is probably the goat for comedies.

[@quetzal3000]

Really impressed. Didn't know comedy could be so serious.

[@castle4640]

“Or are you a dude who doesn’t know what dude he is, but claims to know what duty is” 😂 bars

[@DrewWillson]

I work in film & advertising and this comment section reminds me how amazed I was finding out how long takes usually drag on,. The work that goes into making these dialogue scenes feel right is truly insane.