The Man’s keepin’ him down

M.I.A.’s ‘10 Dollar’ plays in a writhing Asian topless club in the silly Jason Statham - Jet Li action flick War. A song about Third World sexual exploitation — it’s either ironic or apropos:

China girl was a little girl…
She clocked him looking right at her
And sucked on a lollipop…

Dial-a-bride from Sri Lanka
Found herself a Yorkshire banker

Need a visa? Got with a geeza
Need some money? Paid him with her knees up…

Yea, what can I get for 10 dollar?
Anything you want [Link]

So far, Mathangi’s work has been used for a Honda Civic ad and a third-string action flick. Who’s licensing these things? The last time I heard a classic desi theme was in another gunrunner, Lord of War.

Even I could tell that nisei Devon Aoki’s Japanese is terrible:

Born in New York but raised in California, Devon is no stranger to the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Her father is former Olympic wrestler and Benihana Steakhouse magnate Rocky Aoki, and her mother is Pamela Hilburger, a jewelry designer… Her brother is DJ Steve Aoki Kid Millionaire and also owns and operates Dim Mak records. [Link]

Her dad is a real character — this New York mag profile is a must-read. This creaky, stereotypical action flick has an interesting Face/Off-like twist, but it has little else going for it even by genre standards. You can briefly see the club scene at the beginning of the trailer:

Related post: War as mental illness