PFunkjazz said:

Historical.

I think they're just making a big hype over a little somethin' something' that Angela commented on that was whirled around to make it seem like she's putting down Halle when first of all, Halle DOES NOT have anything on Angela Basset. Had Angela played that role, she would've gotten all the praise and then some that Halle got. But then again, on second thought, she doesn't crave for all the attention that Halle does, so she didn't even need that raunchy sex scene anyway.

I think Angela was just trying to make a point about the portrayal of Black women in films and it got all twisted up in the process just to entertain people once again.
[This message was edited Tue Jun 25 20:33:18 PDT 2002 by Starmist7]

June7 said:

Probably because that was a rape scene so it had to be brutal. This is a love scene that occurs in most movies and it shows how it is changing. Pretty soon, porno will be in theaters. About the racial stuff, Jodie is an established actress where many see her solely for her great acting-- not for her looks or sex appeal, unlike many other actresses who are only percieved and recognized for these attributes. I think that's why Jodie got away with it in 'The accused', in the same manner as when she became the first woman to play a detective in 'Silence of the lambs' who didn't have take all her clothes off. They lead the way first in Hollywood, (sadly I say this), then the other races follow, if you follow what I mean.
[This message was edited Tue Jun 25 20:27:01 PDT 2002 by Starmist7]

Thank you, Angela Bassett.
She's right a thousand times. Demeaning role, demeaning message. Stereotypical depiction of the black woman and man. Somebody's twisted fantasy.
If that's what it takes for a black person to get an Oscar, they can have it as far as I'm concerned.
And, she is not alone in her thinking. Others turned it down from likely the same reasons.
More food for thought.
http://athena.tbwt.com/co...asp?id=345

http://athena.tbwt.com/co....asp?id=82

Peace

Supernova said:

theC
i agree.i thought the role was kind of demeaning in a drivin miss daisy type of way.i thought halle got her oscar because of that role.she has done good work in the past just as denzel yet both portray characters that black people r tryin 2 get away from.i think denzel should have won 4 X.

blackwell1 said:

theC
thanks 4 the links.BLACKWELL yr on the money.

But besides all the sterotypes, what if it were just telling the tale of a Black woman and a White man just as it happened? Why hide the truth or a reality? Maybe sometimes people over do the meaning to things...just as Angela's comment>

The articles linked by blackwell r very interesting. The 2nd link especially. On that one I think the microscopic overly intense viewing of the movie is rather extreme! Eating from white plastic spoons and buying a white cowboy hat is product placement 4 racial empowerment??...please.

It's a movie about a white man with a kkk mentality at home, who happens 2 fall 4 a black woman.

It's about a black woman who's been dealt some very harsh cards and is coping the best way she knows how. She's not a prostitute, she's a waitress who's husband was executed after being on death row 4 some 11 years or so, and who's son dies after a tragic hit and run car accident.

The coincidence about the white man being the one who walks her convict husband 2 his execution is just that. When she finds the pictures her late husband drew of the man and his deceased son...IMO, it ends with her thinkin' this must b the way it was all supposed 2 b. The triangle of coincidences finally hits her.

Her life is better. His life is better. Love & maybe more-so, security, conquers all.

As 4 the sex scenes...please.

Lisa Bonet did more controversial action than that with Mickey Roarke in "Angel Heart", and NO famous black actresses made a fuss over that one.

'Course there was no Oscar on that one.

Remember the old saying, "Good press or bad press, as long as ur name is in the papers...there's no such thing as bad press".

Let me back this discussion up a bit:

Did Halle Berry actually play a prostitute in "Monster's Ball"? I thought she was just kind of a backwoods, down on her luck, single mother looking for work. I don't see her relationship with Billy Bob's character as prostituting herself. Maybe I missed something really important, or maybe a lot of other people are missing something.

What gives?

June7 said:

Polishing her Oscar alone. Where is her husband Eric? True, he has made the comment that he is proud of his wife, but do you think he would actually diss her in public? I did'nt see him sitting next to her when she went on stage to accept her award teary eyed a few weeks ago on BET. Neither any comments posted by his camp on comments by Eric in regards to Ms.Angela. Halle won't have to wait 10 yrs. from now to polish her oscar, how about daily think about yourself "was it truely worth it", then live with it. You made your bed, now lay in it. Peace.

Props to all those who read the article and saw the balance in what she was trying to say about Hollywood. This is not about trying to pit two great actors (and women of color) against each other.

and people shouldn't be dogged for doing movies in early in their career as they are trying to make it. Critters 4 keeps coming up, and to me thats like throwin' 94 East back in Prince's face.

props to two great actors for doing what they need to do to make it Hollywood.

Anxiety said:

no, i think we all understand that...i just pointed the issue out because it further shows how out of touch the Academy voters are...

and I think Angela used to term to explain the fact that Halle's character was prostituting her emotions.....
[This message was edited Wed Jun 26 9:09:02 PDT 2002 by SkletonKee]

This is really disturbing to me that Angela would say this about Halle, no matter how she couched it to appear that she wasn't saying it about Halle. I respect both of these black women a great deal. A lot of people didn't even go see the movie, as soon as they heard about the love scene with Billy Bob Thornton they made a thousand assumptions. I wanted to see it for myself and her role WAS NOT a prostitute so I don't know where this is coming from nor was she a whore. She simply was a poor(really poor) black woman who had lost both her son and her husband and damn she fell in love with someone who showed her compassion. Both of the characters, Billy Bob and undergo a transformation in the movie, that's pretty amazing. I think it took guts to play the role and speaking of roles in Rudy's Bucket of Blood, a movie that Bassett did on one of the premium channels she sleeps with a someone's husband and almost right under their nose. So she should be careful throwing stones while living in a glass house.

Go on Halle shine that Oscar, I'm still proud of you.

thechronic said:

Angela Bassett is part of the ensemble cast of THE SUNSHINE STATE. This is John Sayles latest film and he is one of my favorite directors/writers. His movies are clearly about race and life America, but he deals with these topics in a less polemical and more humanisitic way. Plus he usually deals with life in the South. Here are some of his films:

Men with Guns (1997/II) (written by) ... aka Hombres armados (1998) (USA: Spanish title)
Lone Star (1996) (written by)
Secret of Roan Irish, The (1994) (screenplay)
Passion Fish (1992) (written by)
City of Hope (1991) (written by)
Eight Men Out (1988) (screenplay)
Wild Thing (1987) (also story)
Matewan (1987)
Brother from Another Planet, The (1984).

Back to Angela:
Seems her point is one of seeking quality roles. I really have no opinion on MONSTER'S BALL as I have not seen it yet. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing either AB or HB butt-naked on the screen.



EDIT: (forgot the FRO thing...I oughta put it in my signature eh?)
[This message was edited Wed Jun 26 9:10:50 PDT 2002 by PFunkjazz]

PFunkjazz said:

LMAO@PFunkjazz!!!

I'm with u on that!!!

June7 said:

Dag! Don't ya have girlfriends???

PFunkjazz said:

Actually, it's The Secret of Roan Inish, the name of an Irish island (Roan Inish technically doesn't exist, but it's probably based on one ofthe Western Irish islands)

Starmist7 said:

Man, If u'd a read my previous shit posted over the last 6 years...u'd know my ass is married.

As Bill Clinton never learned, it don't hurt 2 look...just don't touch!

Anxiety said:

I think some would argue that with the limited roles black women have now as it is, roles that require performing doggy style sex is not a way to get to the promised land. With that type of role/scene, it is dangerous that black women may be relegated to those types of roles and myths etc.

and while we're on the subject, why did Denzel win for playing a crooked cop??? Why couldn't he have won for the positive roles he's played in the past???
[This message was edited Wed Jun 26 19:09:17 PDT 2002 by Janfriend]

Janfriend said:

"Positivity is pretty thought", but it's not significant in regards to classic dramatic structure. Dramatic performances tend to stand out more when the character has a greater character arc. While I agree he has had roles that were more "positive", this one in particular covered a greater range of pathos and ethos. Though I feel the ending was rather meldodramatic, the character's plight was quite a tragic one.

The role was demeaning. Its a disturbing unsettling scene. Eric Benet got up and left the theatre during the screening.

Whites have enough balance (a monopoly) in media, and can afford to play more diverse parts. Blacks dont have the luxury due to past media steroetyping and racism.

AB and HB are very good friends. Its being blown way out of proportion. Halle accepted the award on Angela's behalf.

June7 said:

Still that doesn't have anything to do with you being married.
[This message was edited Thu Jun 27 22:32:40 PDT 2002 by Starmist7]

Okay...then, uh. No, I don't have a girlfriend.

June7 said:

I finally saw this movie! Halle Berry is GREAT in it,and I'm shocked to be saying this but even Sean "P.Diddy" Combs gave a good performance in this film!! As for the controversial love scenes...I didn't find them to be all THAT shocking! Can't see why everyone is making such a big fuss over them.

I give the movie a thumbs-up:)

Adding more fuel to this fire; the president of the movie studio that produced Monster's Ball says that Bassett was never offered the role.

Now it makes me wonder if some of Bassett's comments were embellished in the press.

:::shaking head::: What has Bassett gotten herself into...

SkletonKee said:[quote]if u read the entire article, she doesnt sound bitter...she, just like a host of other actresses, Meryl Streep, Helen Hunt, Sally Fields (to name a few) who refuse to do gratuitous sex scenes..

"...make me feel good!" "MAKE ME FEEL GOOD!!!"

thechronic said:

I have a friend who was at at a party w/ halle and was in the bathroom w/ halle while she was poopin' and she said there wasn't a trace of the stench of feces that is typically human

well...i finally saw the film...and i was pleasantly suprised at Halle, Billy Bob and Heath's performance..what lost me was the script and direction...

i could easily see why Angela would pass on this film...Halle's character makes some really interesting choices..but, they all seemed natural to the character and Halle pulled off great performance.

I hate to say this though, Sissy Spacek did a better job in a similiar role...Both woman were awesome in very quiet yet expressive performances...maybe its because I related more to Spaceks situation..I dont know...

at anyrate...I could sooo see why Angela would use the phrase "prostituting" in relations to this role...I just think what we have are two generations of black woman..One who is dignified and reserved and another who is spunky and freespirited...

Thank God for diversity...

(oh and supernova...i dont believe that executive...he is trying to save face...for them to refer to other females who were offered the role, Vanessa Williams, ect...and for him to single out only Angela seems suspetious to me)...