The Oscars are over and as per usual, the blogosphere has chimed in with their personal reflections on the show. One of my favourite posts is from Alex (from And So It Begins...), who highlighted some of the drawbacks to the modern idea of the "awards season". Check out his article below, as well as other interesting reads from the past week:
Alex wrote a great piece about The Problem with Liking the Oscars Too Much.
Andrew assembled some fine articles for his Motifs in Cinema blogathon.
Jason had nice things to say about the Saudi film Wadjda, calling it a stunning, moving debut.
Rich refuses to be fooled by the hoopla of awards season, daring Hollywood to Make Nyong'o a star.
Wow man, thanks so much for the double link, that's really kind of you. I'm glad you enjoyed that post!
ReplyDeleteNo problem, I really liked the post.
DeleteThe way the powers that be have rallied around Lupita is nice in a way but I can't deny that to some degree it makes me discomfited. When people proclaim that the trajectory of her career will prove Hollywood's wisdom or indict the for their folly is it because they sincerely think she is the BEST under 35 working black actress? (After a single performance? Or because she has an Oscar?).
ReplyDeleteWhat of Adepero Oduye, admittedly PARIAH was not as much seen but then after comes a few films, 12 YEARS included and it's as if she's a non-entity. I worry at the way the one-size fits all mentality goes. Lupita shouldn't be the barometer we judge the success of young black actresses.* Even if Lupita gets good roles people of her class like Adepero are still being failed at the moment.
(Although if she does find success it will be a positive. Sorry: word vomit.)
PS. Thanks for the link.
I understand what you're saying but I'm on Rich's side on this one. I don't think it's a matter of her being the best black actress. It's just that the kind of overwhelming buzz, likability and respect that she's earned is something that would easily garner future roles for a similar white actress. Yes, there are perhaps other better young actress but we acknowledge that Hollywood doesn't see the marketability in them. That's not the case with Lupita, so we're just asking for her to get a fair shot at a successful career.
DeleteI think we'd all be equally supportive of someone like Adepero if she managed to capture the hearts of the public. Unfortunately, it's not enough for a black actress to be talented, you have to have that star power too.
That's a very fair response actually, Shane :) And I guess maybe that's what rankles slightly, which has nothing to do with Lupita or even black actresses but the swell of emotion has little to do with her performance (so many haven't even seen the movie who are her new rabid fans) and more to just do with how she looks and how gregarious she is which says so much about what's needed for an actor (specifically a female one) to become someone worth of overwhelming attention.
ReplyDeleteI admit my slight not-a-grouse perhaps runs deeper and is pitched specifically towards Adepero in some regard but I'm sceptical of the way black bodies and critics who are devoted to praising talent that Hollywood often ignores for ostensible race reasons are rallying around Lupita in a way they did not for previous black actors who had not achieved that Hollywood success (and needed their kudos even more).
Also, considering how much everyone seemed to love 12 YEARS A SLAVE I still haven't let go of Adepero not getting a NAACP nomination.
(I know, I know I get incensed about the weirdest things.)