Quote:
Originally Posted by Jet
POC roles are often written by and presented by POC. Oprah Winfrey, Spike Jones, Forrest Whittaker, Steve McQueen, Alfre Woodard and other "POC" film makers who obviously feel we need to see years of plight from POCs points of view. These movies are the concepts of POC themselves and are either based on true stories in history or experiences portrayed in fiction. Nothing new...dates back to Alex Haley's Roots, Sounder with Cicely Tyson and Backstairs at The White House, to name a few. There's obviously a substantial and supportive audience—and as long as there is, these films will continue. On the flip side, several flicks come to mind, which have absolutely NOTHING to do with POC stereotypes such as Philadelphia with Denzel Washington, and about 20 films for actors Morgan Freeman, Laurence Fishburn, Samuel L. Jackson and Halle Barry, off hand. These actors have excelled in their craft without being cast in stereotypical roles based on race. It's based on their appeal across audience demographics. I'm a fan of all of these actors. The industry has provided ample opportunity.
|
I disagree with your views about POC and how they are portrayed and represented in Hollywood. I also strongly disagree about how the actors you mentioned above are portrayed. For example:
Halle Barry - she won her Oscar for her role in "Monster's Ball" where she played an abusive, poor, uneducated, uncaring black woman.
I personally believe she should of won that Oscar for "Losing Isiah" back in 1995 where she once AGAIN played a poor, uneducated, drug using, abusive parent.
Other than those two movies Halle Barry has been a sex kitten, fluffy, dumb, abused, angry etc (this does not include her portrayal as X-woman Storm)
Spike Jones- I am going to assume you meant
Spike Lee, cause Spike Jones is white and was born in 1911, Spike Lee ( Shelton Jackson Lee ) is a movie diretor.
"Do the Right Thing" was a movie that SHOULD OF been nominated for an Oscar, and it did not, it was passed over. Wanna take a guess who won "Picture of the Year"? "Driving Ms Daisy" a film about a white woman being drove around by her black chauffer.
Now I don't know about you, but I found that to be a slap in the face to what "Do The Right Thing" was is and will be about.
Denzel Washington - 2001 he won "Best Actor" in training day, once again, angry, drug using, womanizing, you can't trust him black man. If we go back to his film career he SHOULD of won an Oscar for his portrayal of Malcolm X, but no we don't want the world to see that.
Samuel L. Jackson - 1995 nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Pulp Fiction" which he DID NOT win, once again he portrayed an angry, vicious, killing, drug using black man.
Morgan Freeman - he's been nominated for 5 Oscars, he won for "Million Dollar Baby" thankfully he won for being a compassionate human being. 2010 he did NOT win for his role in "Invictus" where he portrayed the late Madiba, the other roles were stereotypical black man in prison, serving the white Master type of roles.
Laurence Fisburne - was nominated for his role in "What's Love Got To Do With It" he DID NOT win, and once again he played an angry, abusive, black man.
See the pattern? You, yourself could not even respectfully recognize that Spike Lee and Spike Jones are 2 different entities and 2 different races.
This years Oscar's is once AGAIN passing up other fine, talented, black/latino/a young actors.
"Fruitvale Station" wasn't even looked at, it has been passed up, and I have to guess it's because Oscar Grant was not an ANGRY, DRUG USING, ABUSIVE, CRIMINAL, he was just a kid, trying to make it in a world where his color, and lack of opportunity gave him obstacles that belong in war fare tactical rooms. Every actor who is not up there getting their name in a white envelope is being ERASED.
The message is very clear Jet, white America likes it when POC are kept down, are painted angry, violent, kicked down, and stupid. It makes all those fat white cats in Hollyweird feel better about themselves and their dicks. Tonight we will glorify a RAPIST (Wolf on Wall Street) and erase Oscar Grant.
That's what I meant by my first post, in regards to the misrepresentation of POC in film.