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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 519
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 10:40 am: | 
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Well, it looks like Halle Berry's Catwoman is choking on a massive hairball. The film has been roundly panned by virtually all of the major movie critics. And its weekend box-office returns were an abysmal $17M (by comparison, other recent releases Will Smith's "I, Robot" and Matt Damon's "The Bourne Supremacy" both scored over $50M during their inaugural weekend.). In fact, if Catwoman's woeful ticket receipts hold to form, it will be available for DVD/VHS by Labor Day.
Berry may be about to learn a hard lesson (one that Demi Moore was painfully made to discover about a decade prior): She is only as good as her male co-star.
Yes, she has an Academy Award for Monster's Ball. But then so does Cuba ("Not Really Very") Gooding, Jr. And she benefited ENORMOUSLY from acting alongside Billy Bob Thorton who, along with Morgan Freeman, is arguably the best major American male movie star NOT to be awarded a Best Male Actor Oscar working today.
And really, does Berry have any discernable quality that enchants moviegoers attention beyond the first blush they experience from observing her beauty? |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 445
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 11:07 am: |
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Abm:
I am a Big Berry Basher but I think that a big problem that all Black actors have is that Hollywierd just doesn't know what to do with them--they put them into movies in roles that they think the public would like and they turn out awful--they put them into good roles and don't push and nobody sees the movies.
Let's face it, if America had it's way all of them would be grinning, eating watermelon and telling jokes and wearing handkerchiefs on their heads and the movies would be smashing boxoffice records.
It ain't cool these days, though. For instance, I think a black Three Stooges would tear the roof off the sucker. You can't do it, though. |
Bleekindigo
Regular Poster
Username: Bleekindigo
Post Number: 33
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 11:13 am: |
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Halle can play the heck out of a crackhead! She was a memorable Vivian to Samuel Jackson's Gator Purify in Jungle Fever. Her Khaila Richards character in Losing Isaiah wasn't terribly disappointing and she wasn't a very disappointing Dorothy Dandridge either.
I think that she takes the wrong roles. She is not a Cat Woman, X-men-caliber actress. Her caliber is much more demanding. Halle taking such roles is like Tracey Chapman recording a song with Lil'Kim. ???? Trivial. She's being Hoodwinked!! Bamboozled!! by her beauty, her image, her oscar, her 20 million a pic, the folks who influence her to take the rolls that she does and by herself i'm sure.
I think that she has the ability to be a lot heavier as an actress than she's able to exhibit in the roles that she takes.
I think that she may still have a powerfully, memorable role in her, providing she does not sell herself out before then. She is already on that sell yourself out track though-- Swordfish (breast display), Monster's Ball!!! While I am not a major Halle fan I am pulling for her.
We shall see.
OH!!! AND LET US NOT FORGET HER PORTRAYAL OF ALEX HAILEY'S--QUEEN! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 522
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 12:27 pm: |
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Chris,
I share much of your opinion about how racial bias denies and distorts Black progress in film. But I don't full embrace with your opinion that "Hollywierd just doesn't know what to do with [Black actors]"
Tell me. How often has Morgan Freeman stunk in a film? What about Denzel? What about Angela Bassett? Or Laurence Fishburne? And their esteemed predecessors Sidney Poiter, Cicerly Tyson, Ester Rolle, Ozzie Davis, etc.?
Almost NEVER! And why is that...because they were GOOD actors.
And further more, I assert the following:
@ Berry is NOT a very skilled or versatile actress. (ala Angela Bassett)
@ She is not especially charismatic. (ala Queen Latifa)
@ She does not enjoy any particularly unique forte (e.g., humor, accents, multiple personas, etc). (ala Whoopi Goldberg)
@ In fact, even the lure of her beauty is as much a function of her blended breeding as it is anything else.
Bleekindigo,
Berry highwater acting mark was a 10 minute cameo in Jungle Fever. And, again, she was with Sam ("The Man") L. Jackson who I bet school her tail all the way. Everything else she's done, sorry, I ain't feeling it!
Don't misunderstand, I give her kudos for achieving what she has (in spite of her shortcomings). But Berry's fame (accented greatly by her Oscar) proves just how esthetically mediocre Hollywood really is. |
A_womon
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 338
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 06:01 pm: |
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Sam Jackson's acting is like watching a cardboard box, and just as boring!!!!! He is just as over-rated as Ms.Berry!! Believe That! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 527
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 08:35 pm: |
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A_womon,
I agree that even Samuel L. Jackson has his limits (I mostly think he spreads himself too thinly). But girl you are about to crack me up if you are trying to suggest that Samuel L. Jackson is no better than Halle Berry. |
A_womon
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 339
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 09:26 pm: |
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ABM,
Start cracking up!! I hate Sam Jackson's acting. He is so stiff and always acts as if he is ACTING! In other words, his characters are never believable,usually one dimensional.
It's like in drama class, some people, the good people, know how to become the person they are portraying, others can only read the lines..... Sam Jackson always does the latter. Look at Morgan Freeman, Don Cheadle or of course, Denzel, or Lawrence Fishburne ect.. when you are watching any one of these men act, you mostly forget who they are and see the person they are portraying...With Sam Jackson, I only see him Trying to convince the audience that he is portraying someone other than himself trying to be an actor....feel me? He sucks! Of course HE doesn't think so!
I laugh when I think of him comparing himself to denzel!!! what a laugh!! I feel like Thumper "oh sam, Hahhahhaaaha!!! Please don't do it to me!!! Hahhahhahahaha !denzel...wait I gotta catch my breath..." |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 528
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 03:06 am: |
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A_womon,
HAHAHA! That was funny!
But even if I believed EVERYTHING you say about Jackson, I would still assert that he can act "circles around" Berry. Halle reminds me of someone who failed to ever play the lead female character in any of her high school plays. |
A_womon
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 340
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 08:01 am: |
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Well, I don't know about circles, but ok, Halle aint no Angela B as you say, but she has had her moments: I believed her portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge, actually I liked it. I never thought she was academey award caliber though. They should have given it to Lawrence F and Angela B for their Ike and Tina Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It)
Speaking of which,(I know I know, I shouldve searched the archives cuz yall have probably discussed this a million times!) I thought it was funny that when they finally did give the award to AAs they chose to give it to them for their portrayal of a AA woman having sex with a white man (their secret guilty fantasy) and one of the best actors of our time, Denzel portraying a thug, crooked, lying cheating, conniving, hustling, no good, don't care about his own child, type dude. (also their not so secret fanatasy about all black men) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 858
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 12:25 pm: |
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Yes, a_womon, most agreed with your take on the Oscars won by Halle and Denzel, when this subject was previously discussed.
Abm, aside from her impersonation of Tina Turner, what is so outstanding about Angela's Basset's body of work???? |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 530
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 12:34 pm: |
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A_womon,
I think SLJ is a decidedly better actor than Berry. And he has more raw, real, almost palpable screen presence. But I agree with some of what you say about SLJ. I often get the impression that he has settled into this very comfortable/lucrative role of being Hollywood’s favorite "Cool Black Guy" to insert into any movie.
Ditto on the Fishburne/Bassett Oscars. Those were two of the best (and funniest) leading cinematic performances of the 90’s. When my wife (frequently) tries to give me her unsolicited assistance, often I can’t help quipping, "Yu trynah help IKE! Yu trynah help IKE!"
Well, I think the Hollywood scuttlebutt was that Denzel was awarded the Oscar in part because he was jilted on the award for Malcolm X (which was awarded instead to Al Pacino for "Scent of A Woman", who himself was awarded the Oscar largely because he was utterly jobbed a generation ago for not getting the award for either of his utterly ascendant Michael Coleone portrayals in The Godfather I & II).
Also, at the time, Russell Crowe was considered the prohibitive favorite for "A Beautiful Mind". But dude was showin’ his red, Australian a$$ around the entertain haunts something kinda awful. So, the Academy didn’t want to give the award to the arrogant, rebellious, hell-raising Aussie, especially since he had already won the award a year prior for "The Gladiator". So, instead, they gave it to the more affable Denzel.
Also think Denzel got the nod because the Academy had already decided to give the award to Berry (Yeah. Face it: Halle fake-f@#$ed her way to an Oscar.) and they were also honoring the 40 anniversary of Sidney Poiter being awarded the Oscar for "Lilies in the Field". So basically Denzel was in part tossed into the mix so that they could turn the whole night into sort of a sappy, faux Civil Rights, "See! We DO love Black foks!" event.
However, I have never quite understood the criticism of Denzel getting the award for his Training Day portrayal. I would concede it certainly isn’t his finest performance. But still, I dig his being willing to do it.
I love it when a movie star has the cajones to play against the boilerplate "hero" type. In fact, many of my favorite screen portrayals are villains or those who have villainous urge. "Devil in a Blue Dress" "Mouse", eurocentrically sophisticated bad guy in "Die Hard", James Earl Jones voice for "Star Wars" "Darth Vader", Jack Nicolson’s "Batman" "The Joker", the creepy/perspiring Nazi in "Raiders of the Lost Arc" are all some my all-time favorites.
So, when I consider those fine performance, in my mind, Training Day’s "Alonzo ???" places Denzel in august company.
Cynique,
If you bundled together all of Halle Berry's cinematic, TV, Cable...hell...even high school theater performances; they wouldn't rate with Bassett's Tina Turner. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 859
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 12:42 pm: |
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I don't share the opinion you expressed in response to my question, Abm. Not surprising, huh? |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 533
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 12:45 pm: |
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Cynique,
One of the great delights of my existence is that I often get to enjoy the utter pleasure of disagreeing with one such as you.
("HEHE!") |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 860
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 01:08 pm: |
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Doesn't take much to satisfy you, does it? |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 535
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 01:49 pm: |
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Cynique,
I adjust my gauge to whatever someone has to offer.
If you have a lot to give, I'm gonna stock up.
But if you don't, I can make do. |
A_womon
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 341
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 02:18 pm: |
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I don't know ABM, I guess its just the fact that he won for that particular role, not that he chose to play the role, cause he played the hell out of it. It just irritates me that out of all the great performances he's given, he will be remembered most for the black male stereotypical Training Day in 20 years when he's Sidney Poitier's age. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 541
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 04:40 pm: |
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A_womon,
I wouldn’t sweat it.
I think his Malcolm X, his Hurricane Carter performances will, among others, be more fondly remembered, if for no other reason but that that his convincing portrayals were warmly regarded/lauded by people whom actually knew the subjects of his performances.
One of my favorite Washington performances is his nuanced portrayal of a troubled military officer in the lesser-known "Courage Under Fire" (with Meg Ryan). Man! Every time I see that scene where he’s plaintively explains to the mourning parents of one of his deceased friends that it was he who accidentally killed their son in battle I always get a slight lump in my throat.
There are many renowned performances that were not awarded Oscars (Whoop Goldberg’s performance in "The Color Purple") and many others that were forget almost the moment they were granted (Cuba Gooding Jr’s performance in "Jerry McGuire").
And as a mentioned before, Pacino was denied Oscars for both of his stellar performances in Godfather I & II yet he got the Oscar for "Scent of a Woman.
Do you think Pacino will be remember for any more than his unforgettable Michael Corleone? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 866
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 04:51 pm: |
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Denzel also gives a very compelling performance opposite Gene Hackman in "Crimson Tide," a movie I've been regularly checking on because - Viggo is in it. |
Bleekindigo
Regular Poster
Username: Bleekindigo
Post Number: 42
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 05:13 pm: |
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ABM:
I know the scene you speak of in Courage Under Fire!! I ball eeeeverytime I see it!!! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 547
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 05:49 pm: |
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Cynique,
Ditto on the Crimson Tide. That is a favorite as well. I knew Denzel was strong when he proved he could go mano-o-mano with the great Gene Hackman.
Bleekindigo,
Yeah, I get a little 'misty' there too. But do me a fave: Don't tell anybody. I wouldn't want Chris, Carey, Thumper or any of the other guys around here thinking I was going soft or something. |
Thumper
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 219
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 08:53 pm: |
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Hello all,
I saw Catwoman this past weekend, and I have to admit that the movie had problems. First the script was bad. I thought that the movie would be based on the Catwoman comic books, which began in 1993, I think. Instead the movie tried to give Catwoman the same alter ego thang of Superman/Clark Kent and Batman/Bruce Wayne. It failed horribly. In both the Batman comics and Catwoman's as well, Catwoman is primarily a thief. In the Catwoman comics, Catwoman runs her outfit like an organization. She didn't take any mess from anybody either as Selena or Catwoman. So, the moviemakers messed up on that tip.
Next, Halle broke, what should be a cardinal rule, an actor is only entitled to play one superhero. Halle already plays Storm in the X-Men series (a part that should have went to Iman, who looks more the part and has the attitude that she's not to be f__ked with).
The computer animation needed some serious work!
Hollywood love to build up a person just to tear them down. Now its Halle's turn in the hot seat. If I was her, I would tell her to take a break from movies, starting acting on the stage and develop her craft and then come back to the scene.
Lastly, a point that can't be taken to lightly is that Halle should have wore the Catwoman outfit, instead of trying to change it. Now for those of you who don't know, this is the Catwoman that I thought the movie was being based on.  Now Halle wasn't dressed like this, if she had, she would have had my full and undivided attention. Yeah, she looked good, but she wasn't looking like the comic book Catwoman.
Next on to Denzel and his Oscar chase. It should be noted that Denzel is the most nominated black actor in Oscar history, with 6 nominations and 2 wins, much more than Sidney Poiter. Nothing to shake a stick at all. Denzel, like Whoopi and Morgan Freeman have been the victim of the sympathy Oscar win by being nominated the same time some sucker, who's been nominated at least 5 times before and lost, and the academy feels should have won at least one Oscar. I'm with ABM, Denzel should have won for Malcolm X. Any other year, he would have won, but since Al Pacino hadn't won one (like he should have for Dog Day Afternoon), they gave him the sympathy Oscar for Scent of a Woman. Now, Denzel really got dogged because he lost a second Oscar for a movie he rightfully should have won with Hurricane that year he lost to Kevin Spacey for American Beauty. Why Spacey was even nominated for that one, I don't know, since Spacey plays the same damn part in every freaking movie he's in. He should have gave that one to Denzel and kept stepping. After that, any movie that Denzel did a good job in, he was going to win an Oscar for it, because the Pacino loss was a loss with a good cause, the Spacey loss was one in the "Ooops, my bad" category. Denzel is not the only actor to get a makeup Oscar: Bette Davis's first Oscar for Dangerous was a make-up Oscar for being snubbed for Of Human Bondage; James Stewart's Oscar win for The Philadelphia Story was a makeup for having lost it for Mr. Smith Goes To Washington; even Whoopi's Oscar for Ghost was a makeup Oscar for having lost for The Color Purple, and there's plenty more. I don't mind that Denzel won it for Training Day. I thought he did a wonderful job in it. He should play more bad characters; like Donald Goines, Daddy Cool or something. Bumped that "negative" stereotype bull. He's an actor, he's suppose to be able to play anything from an assassin to a wooden table.
Now, you know who I was impressed with lately is Will Smith in I, Robot. That scene when he's telling that woman how that robot saved him instead of a little girl was near perfect! He is turning into a very good actor! |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 467
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 11:40 am: |
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Thumper:
I tried to create a link to this post to shut up some Halleberry lovers and it didn't work--I right clicked, etc.
Should I just try to copy and paste or is there something else I can do?
Chris |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 551
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 12:41 pm: |
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Thumper,
Well said.
To add to your points, I have said it before and I will again: Halle Berry is not a very sexy woman. She’s pretty, but not sexy. So I suspected the film would fail, no matter what liberties they took with the story/characterization.
I would say that Halle was ill suited for either of the comic book roles she’s portrayed.
I personally wince everytime I have seen her in either of the X-Men movies because those of who have read comic books know that Halle Berry ain’t no Storm! And we are still quite disgusted with Hollywood for perpetuating that artistic fraud! I could think of at least 10 Black actresses who would have been markedly better matched for that role than her.
I agree that Iman certainly looked the part of Storm, though she’s probably a tad long-in-the-tooth for the role.
You are dead-on right about Halle needing to do some stage work to sharpen her craft. But I suspect she won’t because she and her handlers likely fear the theater would expose her acting foibles even moreso than they have already been revealed.
I tell you what: You sure know your cinema history. I had forgotten how Denzel's Hurricane Oscar was awarded instead to Spacey for is (tepid) performance in American Beauty. Even the most ardent supporters of the Academy must have scratched their collective heads over that.
I haven’t seen I, Robot. But it’s good to hear from you that Will’s acting skills are on the come-up. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 871
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 01:20 pm: |
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I think Halle Berry is as good as any white actress out there currently commanding those zillion-dollar salaries. Renee Zwellenger was awarded an Oscar for "Cold Mountain" because they snubbed her for "Chicago" and all she did in "Cold Mountain" was give a second-rate imitation of Ellie Mae from the Beverly Hillbillies. That stiff Nicole Kidman, whose turn it was to win an Oscar because she was passed over to give the nod to Halle, doesn't have a great capacity for registering emotion but got recognized for sulking around in "The Hours." Julia Roberts never plays anyone but herself. Camereon Diaz is a joke. Angelina Jolie smolders her way through every role she's cast in, never showing any great depth. Charlize Theron, doing her Toby Keith parody, took home the prize that her make-up artist should've been given credit for. Enough, already. Cut Halle some slack. Why does she have to be a black Meryl Streep? Angela Bassett's name keeps coming up. Off hand, I can't even think of any movie she's been in except "What's Love Got To Do With It?" and "Waiting to Exhale." How outstanding does that make her? Her most redeeming asset seems to be that she claims to have taken a pass on that controversial role Halle played in "Monster's Ball." |
Bleekindigo
Regular Poster
Username: Bleekindigo
Post Number: 46
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 03:32 pm: |
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Off hand, I can't even think of any movie she's been in except "What's Love Got To Do With It?" and "Waiting to Exhale." How outstanding does that make her?
Cynique I totally agree. She is like Samuel Jackson in that, whenever they need a sassified black "black" Ion't take no sh#!--type of character, they get Angela and when they need a black "Ni$$a Pleeeeeze" type of character they get Samuel so he can pop those big eyes of his out at us and say:
!!!Yes, they deserved to die and I hope they burn in hell!!! or "Hand me my wallet, it's the one that says bad Mutha$(%*# on it." |
A_womon
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 358
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 03:39 pm: |
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Bleek!! hahahahahahhaha!!!! That is the line I always think of when I hear Sam Jackson's name!! He seems to think that yelling a line is the same as registering true emotion! That's too funny!!
Cyn
you absolutely right about Zellwigger(sp) and the overly fussed about tom cruise reject nicole kidman and all the rest...you are dead on!!!!!!!!! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 881
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 03:39 pm: |
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Right on, Bleek. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 882
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 03:44 pm: |
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Look at dat! A_womon and Cynique agreeing! I likee. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 560
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 03:45 pm: |
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Cynique (& I guess? Blinkindigo),
You appear to be mistakenly using one negative or lackluster White actresses to argue on behalf of another negative or Halle Berry’s acting when I would likely say they ALL stink.
I definitely agree with you about Zellwigger and Diaz. I can’t stomach Zellwigger sappy, cutesy White girl act. And Cameron Diaz’s next good acting job will be her first one. And I also agree that even box office queen Julia Roberts is overrated. But Halle is hardly the caliber of actress of Kidman or Jolie. Both of them have considerably greater acting depth and breadth than does Halle.
But, really, what are we talking about here anway. None of these chicks have the talent, skill or charisma of Betty Davis, Meryl Streep, Cicerly Tyson or Dorothy Dandridge.
Okay. For your benefit, I’ll play Bassett’s press agent. "Malcolm X", "Boys In The Hood", "The Rosa Parks Story", "Boesman and Lena", "Strange Days", "How Stella Got Her Groove Back", "The Score" and "Panther" are just a few of Bassett's fine performances.
Honestly, even Bassett’s crap is better than Berry's best. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 883
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 04:08 pm: |
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Back to square one, Abm, as we exercise our right to disagree and once again our opinions clash.
Angela Bassett is nothing more than a competent, run-of-the-mill actress. Ditto Angelina Jolie. And, as much as we love Dorothy D. she was a stilted mannequin, better at acting out a song than portraying a character. Bette Davis? A caricature of Bette Davis, a strident performer who made a living at playing the bitch over and over and over. Then, there's Nicole Kidman who always comes across as an image that needs to be fine-tuned because she is just one big pastel blur and this hampers her effectiveness.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 562
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 04:53 pm: |
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Cynique,
And I will say to you something similar to what I have said to A_womon concerning Sam L. Jackson: Even if I accepted EVERYTHING that you say to be true, I will still say they are far better actresses than Halle Berry.
Halle acting is almost always woefully stilted, affected and deliberate. Honestly, half the time I see her perform, I could swear she's reading from cue cards.
Foks like to bring up her 5 minutes of acting acclaim as the crack addict on Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. What they failed to realize or say is at the time of the filming of that movie, Samuel L. Jackson was actually struggling with drug addiction.
Who's better equipped to instruct her to pretend to be a junkie than someone who actually IS a...junkie?
Moreover, she has little screen presence and persona. Even if the direction and script were crap, an actress with authentic talent and charisma would have worked a role like Catwoman into becoming a part of cinematic folklore. She apparently has instead burned it in effigy.
Frankly, Halle is often so bad that were she not being paid so much dough I would probably feel sorry for her. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 885
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 05:32 pm: |
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So you don't like, Halle, huh. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 564
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 05:38 pm: |
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Cynique,
Well, it depends on what I am to "like" her for.
For a one night stand - You betcha!
For a girlfriend - Well...I don't know.
For an actress - Yuck!
For a wife - Not on your @#$%ing life! AAARRRRRRR! |
Carey
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 121
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 10:31 pm: |
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Wow, my eyes are burning and my neck is sore from reading this thread. I found myself agreeing with many and of course, noddong my head in disagreement with others. I don't have the patience or discipline to write my views on this one BUT I will drop my votes in the box.
Okay, Cynique.......ring a ding.....4 stars and a package of extentions because she's not affraid to go against the grain and Angela is just angela ( why else would the average person not be able to name more than 2 of her movies. I'd be willing to bet that if you asked the first 20 people you meet tomorrow if they've seen Boesman(Danny Glover)and Lena, that less than 2 would answer yes. BTW, I saw it. **cough cough ** sitting next to Danny and Angela btw.
Thump: Ding Ding Ding 4 1/2 stars and a slab of ribs. Thump knows his S(*t, that's for sure, but anyone that thinks Will, "I ain't really actin'" Smith, can act, disqualifies themself from every recieving 5 stars.
ABM: Ding Dong Ding Dong 4 stars and a pack of Trojons. See, I like Halles acting, I really do. So ol'ABM, drops a point right there. I know it's my opinion but I'm waiting for ABM to hit us with his opinion of a great acting job. No Denzels or the usual suspects but someone that would make Thump jump up and give a high five.......wait a minute, that jumpin' thing might be a little much for Thump so let's say I'm waiting for ABM to drop a performance that would make Thump stop eating his wrinkles and say, Yep, now that's a goodie. Anyway, ABM gets my 4 stars because his takes were/are backed with sound reasoning.
I give A-Womon 3 stars and a pair of AF- 1's. She didn't get my top vote because I'm not quite sure where she's at. I get the feeling she's not really a big movie fan but I gave her 3 stars because even though she didn't throw anything in the pots, we can depend on her to at least holla back.
I think I'll stop. Like I said, these old eyes of mine want to go lay down. And my neck feels like I got somebody poking me with a blunt object. Also, because of the time it's taken me to write this much, I done forgot what I was going to say.
See, you younsters can go all night....maybe I should say, keep up some mess all night.
But anyway, I got some stars left and Chris and BlingBling is up next.
All y'all have a nice night. I'm going to bed.
Carey
CArey |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 581
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 01:00 pm: |
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Carey,
Sorry dude. I had intended to address your call for me to toss out what I feel where fine acting performances sooner, but I got distracted.
I am not sure if the following performances were great. Honestly, I have difficulty calling any artistic endeavor GREAT that isn’t at least 30 years old. But will say I found all of those below to be authentic and convincing. I will stick with those made primarily within recent years so that other (younger) folks might enjoy recognizing and/or debating them. Oh. I don’t know the names of some of the actor or the characters they portrayed. But if you have seen or know enuff the movies, you should be able to figure out whom I am referring to.
My listing of choice acting performances, in no particular order, is as follows:
@ Of course Don Cheadle’s transcendent performance as fiercely loyal yet deadly "Mouse" in Devil in a Blue Dress. Mid 90’s. One day, Hollywood is going to grow a brain and produce a series of movies featuring Cheadle’s "Mouse". @ Ed Norton’s riveting performance as a split personality killer in Primal Fear (with Richard Gere). Mid - late ‘90’s. Dude performance was so tight, you almost thought there was 2, not 1, actors playing the role.
@ Danny Glover’s performance of a down-home ‘devil’ who dun came tah visit/manipulate an ol’ friend and his family in To Sleep with Anger.
@ Brad Pitt in Kalifornia. Early - Mid ‘90’s. You would hardly recognize pretty-boy Brad under his crazed, murderous good ol’ boy get-up.
@ Robert DeNiro’s Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. Quite possibly the best acting performance of any major motion picture made in the ‘80’s.
@ Debbie Morgan’s the pre-cognitive, ‘black widow’ aunt in Eve’s Bayou. Mid - late 90’s.
@ The guy who played the sophisticated, but coolly murderous bad guy in the original Die Hard (with Bruce Willis). Mid ‘80’s. Dude was so suave, had Willis himself been any bit short of charisma, you would have ended up rooting for the bad guy to win.
@ Bassett and Fishburne WERE Ike and Tina. Mid ‘90’s.
@ Robert Downey in Less Than Zero. Mid ‘80’s. I am hesitantly included this because I wonder whether the reason why Downey was so convincing as an drug addicted rich kid was because he at that time was actually addicted.
@ Queen Latifah’s convincingly ‘butch’ performance in Set it Off. Mid - late ‘90’s.
@ Jack Nicholson’s Joker in Batman. Late ‘80’s.
@ The little boy who played an autistic kid in Mercury Rising (also with Willis). Late ‘90’s. Kid was so convincing as an autistic kid, after I saw the movie I hugged my daughters and thank GOD they did not suffer from that condition.
@ Terence ???’s prescient, multi-talented but irresponsible lothario in the Best Man (with Taye Diggs & Sanaa ("Oh My") Lathan. 2000?. Dude was a lecherous scoundrel. Everybody knew it. Yet you still feel like dude could charm his way thru any $#@+.
@ Bronson Pinchott’s turn as an ‘LA Gay’ receptionist in Eddie Murphy’s original 80’s Beverly Hills Cop.
@ Whoopi, Oprah and Margaret Avery were all splendid in The Color Purple. Mid ‘80’s. And I agree with Thumper that Whoopi’s Oscar for "Ghost" was Hollywood’s make-good for her previously getting shafted for TCP.
Question: Name 4 White actors who were/are ‘cooler’ than Humphery Bogart, Robert Mitchum, Lauren Bacall and Mae West. |
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