That "think differently" thing was made abundantly clear Sunday night as I watched (sort of) the Oscars. More than watching the show, I watched the comments from folks on Twitter. Here were some of the issues where people simply could NOT agree to disagree:
Mo'Nique: Some people felt she deserved to win the Oscar, others thought she did not. There was a belief that "we" (African Americans) only win Oscars if we are pimps, abusers, victims or monsters. (I counter with Whoopi Goldberg and Sidney Poitier). There was also irritation that she mentioned Hattie McDaniel in her acceptance speech. Not sure what was wrong with that.
Tyler Perry: They panned on Tyler Perry in the audience and the Twitterverse erupted. Seriously we have to agree to disagree on TP. Some of us will never like his films, his TV shows, or him. Some of us think he walks on water. Dude is either Step-N-Fetchit in Armani or Moses reincarnated. He's either bringing us together or bringing us down. We are never going to agree.
Precious: I'll admit I have not seen it. I probably will at some point. I'm one of those people who takes movies and TV shows into my spirit… literally. I have to be careful what I watch because I will dream myself into the plot for weeks and months to follow. It's the primary reason I can't watch horror films. I've no need to run from hatchets in the middle of the night. So you can understand my reluctance to watch Precious. Yet I was told that the reason I don't want to watch it is because I cannot embrace the full scope of the African American experience and realize that life is not all Huxtables. I could counter by saying we could use more Huxtable-esque movies but I'll just say let's agree to disagree about the impact of the film and book and whether they accurately represent the African-American condition. (which cannot be defined in a single film anyway)…
Big girls: I hate that fat jokes seem to be the last acceptable prejudice in America. Even when Mo'Nique was walking up to get her award someone was tweeting "why is this big b*tch sauntering to the stage, she needs to move all that along." Someone complained that Cameron Diaz was getting thick. Give me a break, she may be in a 6 instead of a 4. I won't even share the comments on Gabby Sidibe. But I unfollowed 6 people for their complete lack of tact or couth. People please. Get off the playground and recognize the value in people beyond their waist to hip ratio.
The Oscars: They either rocked or sucked. They were either the best ever or the worst in history. Sarah Jessica Parker was either fabulous or in serious need of a biscuit and some hair gel. Gabby was either robbed or Sandra totally deserved it. Avatar was over-rated or Hurt Locker was this year's Slumdog Millionaire.
All right, BougieLand – let's get it in. Go on ahead and air your Oscar views so we can put it to bed. Who looked good? Who deserved to win? Who needs a new stylist? Do you even watch the Oscars anymore? Random thoughts, comments, observations?
25 comments:
I watched all of the Oscars sort of. I muted what I didn't care about or wanted to see/hear. I thought Monique looked good and deserved her award. I like Sandra Bullock and have seen just about every film she has been in. That said I'm glad she won over the others, except for Gabby of course! Gabby should take the kudos she got for being nominated as a first time actress and run with it. Yes it would have been crazy outrageous if she had won. But I think the academy was more worried about offending the other stars, as opposed to giving a true star, 1st time out, her just due!!! Great job Gabby. I'm sure we will be seeing more of you...literally!
Jennifer Lopez and Penelope Cruz were the best dressed. All the "Precious" cast looked regal in blue, Mo'Nique was my fav. Everyone who I expected to win actually won this time. SJP, Molly Ringwald and Miley Cyrus need to have their stylist beaten with a cane. Miley needs some calcium because osteoporosis is hitting her at young age. SJP, just becasue it is couture doesn't mean it looks great and Molly Ringwald had those weird gold accents. I watch the beginning and I watch the end so I can see supporting awards and the mojor ones at the end. I loved the fact that Woody Harrison(?) had on a Hemp tuxedo. Talk about reduce, reuse, recycle, lol. And George Clooney had to sew his girlfriend into her dress at the Oscars because the zipper broke, that's why we love ya George, multi tasker. I loved Gaborney saying it was like a prom, she was so happy to be there. And um Keanu and Antonio Banderas please cut the beards, love ya both, but cut the beards.
Tiffany
http://liferequiresmorechocolate.blogspot.com/
Did not watch Oscars, but I was so happy for Monique. I did not watch precious until after the holidays; subject material was to heavy for my heart. Case in point, i volunteer at abused women home near my city and the stories I hear are mind blowing. So yes, there are many precious around the world and we can chose to ignore them but that will not make them go away.
I have a very soft place for TP for the things he has done with his position and I know he will continue to do more great things. Like Taraji Henson said after her oscar nomination, Steve Spielberg or Martin Sorcesse did not call her but TP did. As a matter of fact Forest Whitaker alluded to the same thing on another interview, his phone is not ringing after the his Oscar nominations.
I watched MoNique's post oscar interview - all the sugah's, honeys, bay-bays she left out of her speech reight there. Good for her. I watched Precious but it was uber-depressing. I tend to prefer moview for entertainment. That doesn't mean I don't know those stories exist I just don't choose to view them in entertainment form.
I have watched every TP play and film thanks to my family and I just don't find myself entertained by him. Again like you said I know this is something not all of us will agree on.
Gabourey Sidibe has a wonderful smile. That's all I have. I ain't got no more.
Well I'll agree with you on one thing - the big girl bashing is the last cool thing. And it's ugly.
I thought Mo'Nique was great. What was with Samuel L Jackson and the eye-rolling? George Clooney looked pissed off all night long.
I'm not going to debate Tyler Perry - it always dissolves into an us versus them thing. Looking forward to the day when people of color can win and it's no big deal, happens all the time.
To me, Precious was more about being poor and underserved than about being Black. As far as Monique's performance, it was great because I forgot I was watching a movie. It was not like I was just watching a comedienne scream and act crazy. It was like this was real, I was witnessing abuse. It felt like a documentary, not a theatrical film. And this is why I think she is deserving of an Oscar. It is disappointing that African-American Oscar winners seem to win for unflattering roles. I'm still mad about Denzel in Training Day and I've never even wanted to see Monster's Ball. BUT NONE OF THAT IS MONIQUE'S FAULT. Maybe her and other African-American actors will develop projects that show positive images of African-Americans like Denzel in The Great Debaters. Tyler Perry-I enjoy his movies. I don't think they are oscar-worthy, but so what. I remember the first time I saw one of his plays on video. I thought it was ghetto for lack of a better word-just horrible. Why can't we have different type of black movies? I love Spike Lee, too. There doesn't need to be one type of black movie. I think Gabourey Sidibe is pretty. However, I want her to lose some weight for her health (I'm a size 14 since high school). She doesn't have to be thin but I do want her to come down some. Hope that doesn't make me a hater. I get Sam Jackson about the rappers & comedians etc. But I think most performing arts-dancing, singing, acting, etc require some sort of acting, anyway. And we all know some singers who can't act. And I love, love, love Beyonce, but her acting doesn't blow me away.
I'm the same way about movies--internalizing them, which is why I haven't yet seen the film--but I did read the book in preparation for it months ago. I dont know why I'm stalling.
I didn't see The Blind Side but I like Sandra, so I'm happy for her. I kinda wanted Meryl Streep to win--I enjoyed Julie & Julia and I love Meryl in general. I saw The Hurt Locker and wasn't impressed with it--I was actually really bored. But I don't really like many war movies. I'm glad a woman won Best Director for the first time! I'm all for firsts!
I didn't have a lot of comments in my twitter timeline about their weight. Lots of folks thought Gabby was robbed but I was pretty cool on her not winning. I was shocked MoNique won to be honest, but lots of folks mentioned that the winners mimicked those that had already won Golden Globes, so it shouldn't have been a shock.
that is all I have to add. I enjoyed the awards, but I love films and I love to see folks dressed up.
I can't think of anyone who thinks Beyonce is a talented actress. Bless her heart. Entertainer - yes. Actress - not so much. ;-)
When was the last time Sam Jackson was in anything Oscar-worthy? Maybe that's what the side-eye was about.
Oh, deep sigh Precious. I get it's import it's just not for me. And I have been shouted down about it enough to recognize people have very strong reactions to it one way or the other. Nuff said.
What did we think of Zoe Saldana's dress last night?
FTW - Simple diplomacy is such a lost art.
Trthfully - the Oscars are rarely representative of the movies I enjoy so I treat them accordingly. Good for Mo'Nique though - that's a come up.
Her post interview was awful. It will be interesting to see what she does next. The post-Oscar films are always a challenge for everyone except Denzel.
This gets at the meat of why I will support TP for the foreseeable future.
He's going after talented black actors and actresses -- the ones that the mainstream doesn't seem to want. ::shrug::
I was not a fan of Zoe's purple rainbow creation. There was too much going on.
It looked better on TV than in photos, I think. The pics made it look a ruffled mess, but it was stunning when I saw it on her on TV
I enjoyed watching the Oscars last night; Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were hilarious and Ben Stiller dressed as an Avatar creature. ROTFL I would love to be in a room with them.
Congratulations to Monique, Geoffrey Fletcher (1st black screen writer), Gabby and Lee Daniels for being nominated, Kathryn Bigelow (1st woman best director) and Sandra Bullock. I am happy for all of them and I wish them continue success in the endeavors.
For those who did not have anything nice to say about "Big Girls", I am not even going meet you at your level, which is soooooooo low it might hurt my back. Sign
I congratulate the winners and wish (and wish) more of "our" stories were represented and recognized.
"People please. Get off the playground and recognize the value in people beyond their waist to hip ratio." <<<THIS. My older sister is full-figured but she has always been beautiful, dressed impeccably, in great health and kept a man. I get insulted on her behalf when people make comments or offer "suggestions" on how she would be "so much prettier" if she lost a little weight. I agree with you - it's the last "acceptable" thing to make fun of. And both men and women do it. I say - a big girl can lose weight - what's gonna cure your small-minded stupidity?
I'm of the age that I'm happy to see us represented anywhere in Hollywood. So it was a good night as far as I was concerned.
" didn't have a lot of comments in my twitter timeline about their weight. Lots of folks thought Gabby was robbed but I was pretty cool on her not winning. I was shocked MoNique won to be honest, but lots of folks mentioned that the winners mimicked those that had already won Golden Globes, so it shouldn't have been a shock."
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I would agree that Gabourney did an excellent job in her first movie role, but I agree, in no way was she "robbed". Each actress in that category has a greater volume of work, and with one movie, she will either come out of this as a respected actor for her future work, or we will not hear about her again in six months. I both read the book and saw the movie, and for this year, Mo Nique eclipsed all the others nominated. She deserved to win. She has played a variety of roles over the years, and she definitely reached deep within to play this monster. Those are the people who win Academy Awards. I am glad she was not up there crying and getting al sentimental, she made a great statement, and what she said needed to be heard. Minoirities still don't get the respect in Hollywood that we deserve, but I think Mo Nique put the Academy on notice that we are prepared to blast that door down, no matter what it takes. Gabby will get her chance ( if she is up to it).
I loved Mo’Nique’s speech. It was equal parts emotional, political, and appreciative. Absent was the waterworks, so often displayed during such moments. See Halle Berry’s 2002 teary Oscar acceptance speech, in which she was so overcome with emotion she could barely speak and when she did it was erratic, inarticulate, and just plain too weepy for my taste. Sure her win represented a 74 year barrier being broken, as she became the first woman of color to win the Best Actress Oscar. But I would have been please to see her display slightly more dignity and poise—call it pride of craft. She did after all earn the award? Right? In contrast, while Mo’Nique was clearly touched and honored; she stood tall, strong, and took the win, as an opportunity to reply to her critics.
The Kabosh
http://thekabosh.wordpress.com/
And you know what, that is SO true. I don't know if anyone caught his speech at the NAACP Image Awards but he did mention how he did not wait for his projects to get "green-lighted." He created opportunity. I've said about TP that he saw an ignored market and decided to capitalize off of that. I cannot knock his hustle!
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