Robert Downey Jr. a small appearance as Iron Man's alter ego Tony Stark in the 2008 film "The Incredible Hulk", as a part of Marvel Studios' depicting the same Marvel Universe on film by providing continuity among the movies. After "Iron Man", Downey appeared alongside Ben Stiller and Jack Black in the Stiller-directed "Tropic Thunder". The three actors play a Hollywood archetype—with Downey playing self-absorbed multi-Oscar-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus—as they star in an extremely expensive Vietnam-era film called "Tropic Thunder". Lazarus undergoes a "controversial skin pigmentation procedure" in order to take on the role of African-American platoon sergeant Lincoln Osiris, which
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2008 and "I've Loved You So Long" • France/Germany Runners-Up: "Doubt" – John Patrick Shanley and "Frost/Nixon" – Peter Morgan Runners-Up: Josh Brolin – "Milk", Robert Downey Jr. – "Tropic Thunder" and Philip Seymour Hoffman – "Doubt" Runners-Up: Penélope Cruz – "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and Viola Davis – "Doubt" Runners-Up: "Continental, a Film Without Guns (Continental, un film sans fusil)" and "Up the Yangtze" Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2008 The 12th Toronto Film Critics Association Awards, honoring the best in film for 2008, were given on December 17, 2008. Runners-Up: Sean Penn – "Milk" and Jean-Claude Van Damme – "JCVD"