Shia LaBeouf’s new film The Tax Collector drew critical criticism when it was released on Friday.
But the 34-year-old artist / actor didn’t seem to be worried when he headed for his daily jog in his Pasadena neighborhood on Monday.
Shia was dressed to sweat, wearing her usual t-shirt and leggings for the run.
Chin up: Shia LaBeouf didn’t let bad reviews for her new movie The Tax Collector bring it down on Monday
His hair was slicked back and a beard spiked on his jaw. While the star usually opts for sunglasses, he seems to have forgotten his sunglasses, seen squinting in the sun.
After a few curls, the former Disney Channel star returned home to relax.
Shia’s film The Tax Collector opened to stinging reviews this weekend, with the LA Times calling the action / drama directed by David Ayer “ one of the most excruciating viewing experiences in year ” in the title.
Moviegoers were equally disappointed with one social media user tweeting :; That hasn’t stopped the film from dominating box offices, however.
Get a head start: Shia was dressed to sweat, wearing her usual t-shirt and leggings for the run
Bright idea: While the star usually opts for sunglasses, he seemed to have forgotten his sunglasses, seen squinting in the sun
According to Variety, the film grossed $ 317,000 when screened in 129 theaters across the United States, compared to runner-up The Rental, which grossed $ 123,744 on 187 screens.
At Vineland Drive-In in Los Angeles, the project distributed by RLJE Films generated the highest amount in one day since the theater reopened.
There are currently 1,195 movie theaters operating in North America, of which 229 are drive-ins.
The tax collector is also said to have made around $ 1 million through video-on-demand platforms such as Google, iTunes, Amazon and FandangoNow.
The film was the center of controversy even before it made its debut.
Mixed bag: The tax collector was criticized by critics, but he was the best box office income of the weekend
Director David Ayer recently had to defend the project after accusations that LaBeouf’s character was an example of brownface.
Ayer’s latest film tells the story of a crime lord’s “ tax collector ” that’s Los Angeles and how his life is turned upside down when a rival boss comes to town.
The cast is almost exclusively Latinx POC, with the exception of LaBeouf, 34, who donned dark hair and a “ barrio accent. ”
Several social media users accused LaBeouf of taking on a cholo character in Los Angeles and looking “ Mexican ” for entertainment purposes.
In two interviews with LA Times, Ayer doubled down on his stance and didn’t give up on his choice to cast LaBeouf as “ Creeper. ”
“It’s a white who plays a white. He doesn’t take anybody’s work, ” the director told the publication.
Controversy: Director David Ayer defended the film against criticism that Shia was “brownface”. The film tells the story of a crime lord’s ‘tax collector’ and features a predominantly Latin cast
Surface level: Critics pointed out LaBeof’s appearance in The Tax Collector, as well as an apparent ‘barrio accent’
Ayer first hit back at brownface’s allegations on Twitter on July 1, where he again insisted that LaBeouf played a white man in the film.
‘Really important answer – Shia plays a white boy who grew up in the neighborhood. He’s a Jewish guy playing a white character. Also the only white guy in the movie, ”he wrote.
Ayer, a white man who grew up in California, added in a series of follow-up tweets that he grew up around Chicano culture.
“I grew up in the neighborhood and I’m a white boy. Chicano culture is inclusive – I have seen Whites, Asians, Blacks, Filipinos all get down to work for the neighborhood. It’s part of the street culture, ”he wrote.
It has been noted that The Tax Collector does not specifically establish the ethnicity of LaBeouf’s character.
Director David Ayer, a white man who moved to Los Angeles as a teenager, has denied claims that he made it easier to brown face in his film.
The 52-year-old filmmaker explained, “ Shia plays a white boy who grew up in the neighborhood. He’s a Jewish guy playing a white character. Also the only white guy in the movie ‘
Ayer: “I grew up in the neighborhood and I’m a white boy. Chicano culture is inclusive – I have seen Whites, Asians, Blacks, Filipinos all get down to work for the neighborhood. It’s part of the street culture ” Pictured: Shia LaBeof in The Tax Collector
“I understand the complexity of issues of historical representation in film and brownface. … It’s also like American Me, Blood In Blood Out. It’s a “hood culture thing,” Ayer added.
Critics of The Tax Collector also said the film applies harmful and violent stereotypes associated with the Mexican-American Mafia.
“ My first impression was, ‘Oh look, a cool movie with Shia LaBeouf,’ and technically that’s what it is, ” Lalo Alcaraz, the cartoonist and editorial satirist told the LA Times. “There isn’t literally a brownface, but it’s definitely a cultural brownface.
Some members of the Tax Collector’s cast have since spoken out in defense of both Ayer’s ability to cover Latin American communities and LaBeouf.
Chelsea Rendon, who played Lupe in The Tax Collector, called the film a “ very good story. ”
Stereotypical: Critics of The Tax Collector also said the film applies harmful and violent stereotypes associated with the Mexican-American Mafia
“ I think it’s just a really good story, showing the gritty streets, and that’s what David does best, when you think of Training Day and Harsh Times and End of Watch they have that granularity to them. she said.
‘In all these films, [Ayer] included the Chicano culture, he did that in ‘Suicide Squad’ where he had first Latino superhero Jay Hernandez play in the Diablo, he put the brunettes in front of the camera more than anyone else, ” said Bobby Soto, the protagonist of the film.
“He’s Chicano on the inside, he’s 100,000%, it’s crazy.
Regarding the brownface claims, Rendon added that LaBeof’s character is recognizable to those who grew up in the area anyway.
“Shia plays a white boy who grew up around Mexicans, and if you grew up in the neighborhood, you know that white boy! she says.
It’s time to pay: the movie is out now, shown in select theaters, and streamed from your couch via video on demand
