theblackactor.com

Black Hollywood: It's almost 2008 - NOT 1938!!!

Since I started this blog, I’ve come across many wonderful black blogs. I’m so glad the afrosphere (cute, huh?  :) I read that somewhere.) exists. I feel very fortunate to be in the company of clever, intelligent black minds. It’s a beautiful thing.

From time to time, I will be highlighting some of these other voices.

I figure, if you know my blog exists, you are more than likely know of this other blog, Invisible Woman: Black Cinema at Large. The Invisible Woman runs a wonderful blog. 

She published an insightful, thought provoking post last week.  In it, she highlights the “Top 10 Worst Black Films of 2007.”  Check it out.

IW said something that was particularly interesting. Actually, it’s more than particularly interesting. It’s a BIG DEAL. She wrote:

“… I was going to do one of those standard end of the year "Top 10 Best Films of 2007" lists for black film, but guess what? Surprise, surprise, I couldn't think of ten. The really sad part is I couldn't even think of five.”

She went on to mention she had no problem coming up with her “Top 10 Worst films.” 

We should marinate on this people, and consider what it really means. This is not the 1930s!

Randle, Williams, Johns and Lee - Who?

What do these four women have in common? 

 

    

They were all in Spike Lee Films.

 

   

Unlike many other Spike Lee film grads, these women’s careers went nowhere.

 

      

Why?  I dunno.

 

 

This is all I know.      

 

 

 

 

 

I kinda liked Theresa Randle in Girl 6. This is the  only film I’ve ever seen Theresa Randle in. Randle really hasn’t worked much at all since 1996’s Girl 6 and has only made three films since then.

 

    

Tracy Camilla Johns appeared in Spike Lee’s first film, She’s Gotta Have It (1986). I haven’t seen her since that film and she hasn’t been in a movie in 16 years. Maybe she left the business. I don’t remember her performance in that film. It was years ago when I saw that movie. 

 

    

Cynda Williams was absolutely awful in Mo Better Blues (1990). It’s the only film I ever remember seeing her in. I have forgotten her character in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (TV, 1999) I saw the movie but must've missed something. LOL. She has appeared in several films since 1990’s Mo Better Blues, but most of the films I’ve never heard of.

 

    

Joie Lee was equally as terrible in Mo Better Blues.

    

Some make it. Some don't. Some have talent. Others (one in particular on this list), do not have acting talent AT ALL. 

Show Me The Mammy

Who is our modern day mammy?

Or...    

Who are our modern day mammies?

[Exception:  We can include TV personalities]

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE:  SEE FOLLOW UP POST...

The Readers Spoke - The Mammy Post

 

Image Source

Zoe Kravitz

Newcomer Zoe Kravitz seems to be slowly carving out a name for herself as a motion picture actress. A good showing in The Brave One (2007), I thought. 

 

    

Unlike her counterparts, she’s not in the gossip rags much and though as beautiful as the others, I don’t think that’s her selling point. They (her “people,” or her parents, or Ms. Kravitz herself) are positioning her differently, it seems. 

 

    

Good.

 

    

Let’s keep an eye on Zoe Kravitz.

It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp Won!

I still ain’t over this.

    

To this day, I still can’t believe Jordan Houston, Cedric Colemand and Paul Beauregard (a/k/a Three 6 Mafia) won an Oscar for best Original Song for “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow (2005).

    

A snippet of the lyrics of the song follows. These lyrics… this song… this is what we receive praise for, what we are rewarded for, what we are led to believe is valuable and what is recognized as good…

 

    

“a whole lot of bitches talkin shit”

 

“Gotta couple hoes workin on the changes”

 

“Niggaz hatin on me cause I got, hoes on the tray”

    

I am appalled not because it’s a rap song or because I feel that rap songs lack creativity or are otherwise unworthy of Academy Award recognition.

    

But this song? This song?

    

I’m laughing to myself now, recalling when they announced this song had won. I was absolutely mortified. I still am.

    

The blame goes on those who decided to award this award. I don't blame Three 6 Mafia. They merely wrote a song –- a song that was perfectly in line with the content and atmosphere of the film. They must have been shocked when they were nominated. They had to be floored when they won. I think this clearly was a mockery of us as a race. 

    

I definitely believe the award was racist and mean-spirited and was meant to secretly, silently taunt and ridicule us.

 

    

I don’t mean to get conspiracy-theorist on you, but I’m just sayin’.

Coon? Buffoon? Or John Witherspoon?

Is this man?

a.  a coon

b.  a buffoon

c.  a jackass

d.  all of the above

e.  none of the above 

Happy Holidays Y'all

Best wishes to all of you for peaceful happy holidays.

theblackactor.com will be posting throughout the holidays, but the posts will be very short and very basic.  I'm visiting fam and have friends coming in.

Queen Latifah and that 2003 Oscar Nomination

I was quite surprised when, in 2003, King Queen Latifah was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Matron Mama Morton in Chicago. It was unbelievable, really. She did her job. Nothing more. Her performance was neither great nor Oscar-worthy.

Excrement, Flatulence & Crappin' in Black Movies

What is it with some black comedic films?

 

    

What is so funny about taking a dump or experiencing diarrhea or flatulence?

 

This crap is inserted into films for no reason whatsoever, except to elicit laughter.

 

    

And it may have been funny the first or second time; but not the 9 millionth time!

 

I continue to be outraged by this pre-school, asinine stupidity!

    

Why are we so fixated on this? 

    

Why?

    

This is something that kids do; making fun of flatulence, crappin’ and burping.

 

This ish ain’t funny.  It’s stupid. 

    

For Godssakes.

    

YOU EMBARRASS US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

    

Some films come to mind:

 

    

Friday

    

Are We There Yet?

    

The Nutty Professor

    

Big Momma’s House I

 

    

YOU EXPECT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS FILMMAKERS!??

 

PLEASE.

Black Actresses - Over 40 / Under 50

Today’s post is about the other actresses –- those in their 40s, aged 40–49.

    

We’re not going to compare accolades like we did in the Black Actresses aged 30-39 article. We’re just looking at the numbers here. The idea with this post was to make a list of ten black actresses and ten of their non-black counterparts -- and compare the amount of films they have made in the last five years, 2003 – 2007.

    

The findings were determined with no regard to whether or not the films were any good or, as in the case of Monica Bellucci, if they included a few foreign films. Voice acting was not included, only onscreen appearances.

 

    

I tried to list some of the most popular actresses in this age range.

    

    

 

The disparity is not significant. What do I deduce from this? I figure since this chart shows that the other actresses make only two more films, on average, than their black counterparts then it must be true… it’s hard out here for actresses in their 40s.

    

Actresses in their 40s have had a little more time to snag Oscar awards than their 20 and 30 year-old peers. With that said, how did they do?

    

The black actresses have been Oscar-nominated:            2 times

The black actresses have won an Oscar:                          1 time

    

The other actresses have been Oscar-nominated:            15 times

The other actresses have won an Oscar:                         3 times

    

I haven’t done any scientific analysis or anything but I figure the disparity in nominations suggests that the other actresses have better roles and thus, more opportunities to do quality work... more opportunities to shine.

    

Information sourced from imdb.com.