Dissecting Halle - The Rich Man's Wife / Jungle Fever

The Rich Man’s Wife, released in 1996, was another of Halle Berry’s earlier works.

Nothing much to say here.  Halle Berry showed up and did her job.  She played Josie Potenza, wife of… a rich man; a rich white man; a rich older, white man -- Tony Polenza (Christopher MacDonald).  This wasn’t the role to challenge Berry’s dramatic range.

There was some screaming, defiance, fear, blah blah blah.  And in some way, shape or form –- she was, yet again, undressed (there was a photograph of her in which she appeared partially clothed, covered by a sheet, I believe it was).  Not one –- but two -- white male lovers (MacDonald, and Clive Owen).  Same old.  Same old.

Jungle Fever -- Halle Berry’s first film role! 

Berry had three or four scenes in this 1991 release.  She played Vivian, a crackhead and girlfriend to Gator Purify (Samuel L. Jackson); fellow crackhead. 

Gator Purify??!!  Yeah, okay. 

Anyway, the pic…

I’ve seen the pic a few times and I have never liked Berry in the role.

My only comments about the portrayal:  “a little much… just a tad… juuuuuuust a tad.”

[I thoroughly enjoyed Samuel L. Jackson in this role!  He was perfectly cast; perfectly.  Good, Spike.]

Of course it wouldn’t be in keeping with Spike Lee’s um, other self(?), if in the film Vivian did not utter the words, “Eat my pussy!” – for no real reason.

Comments

[johnny wishbone]

nothing to see here folks.. in both cases.. move along now please

[theblackactor.com]

@ Johnny Wishbone

Yep. LOL.

[aulelia]

This is prescient; I literally had written on my blog just before checking on here that Sam L. Jackson put the performance of his life in JF!

I think Jungle Fever is a classic film. And I wholly disagree [politely] of course. I think Berry was very good in it considering she was not a main character. Sure, she could never touch Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis, the quintessiental black couple, especially @ that moment when Dee is in the kitchen and just claps lol, love that moment but I do think Berry was good for the part she was there.

But Gator ? Just classic!

Clint Eastwood has been slagging Spike Lee off in today's Guardian btw

[LaJane Galt]

*shuffles like Gator* BLAM *slumps to the ground*

I was wondering if you were going to address Vivian!

I never saw RMW, and I'll be honest, I probably won't.

But I'd do Clive Owen.

[invisiblewoman]

OMG! I NEVER knew that was Clive Owen! What the heck?

[theblackactor.com]

@ Aulelia

You can always disagree here, Aulelia. :) Re Samuel L. Jackson -- what a funny coincidence. LOL. Yeah, I saw some of that back and forth with Lee and Eastwood. I didn't tune into it too much but I read a paragraph or two. I guess my appreciation of Lee's talent and success is diluted by my contempt for his treatment of women in his films (which is well-documented in the Spike Lee category of this blog). Because of this, my view of him and anything that comes out of his mouth is jaundiced. So, I didn't give a shit about his yapping, bitching or moaning. I'm prolly being childish. So be it. LOL.

@ LaJane

Yeah, LaJane, I think it's the kinda thing you watch on a cable re-run while you're cooking or ironing or some ish. I wouldn't make a special effort to see it. It was okay. Clive Owen -- he is a cutie -- those eyes. :)

@ IW

I guess that was before he "blew up." LOL.

[Orville]

Both movies were whack nothing really to say. Next moving right along.

[regina]

I didn't see RMW, I love Bruce but I don't love Berry so my no love won out on this!
JF was funny, I hate Snipes and Spike so the movie was already tainted for me but Jackson and that little dance he did was hysterical and I think Halle was very good as a crack whore!

[luis]

halle berry can't act

[theblackactor.com]

@ Luis

LOL. I think many people share this sentiment.