Quote:
Originally Posted by Senusret I
I have not seen the movie yet and it is sold out most places in DC tonight, but I wanted to share a link to a blog entry that a buddy of mine wrote regarding her Precious experience.
I do not expect to have the same reaction that she did, but I think it's good to share dissenting opinions. |
I can tell without reading the book or seeing the movie that there's probably way too much pathology jam packed in this story. I don't consider it unrealistic, but I consider it something I will most likely not pay full price to see. Redbox on mineS, homie.
Your buddy is a great writer.
I had to stop here, though.
But Precious is the kind of movie that will always resonate with white folks, especially white film critics like Roger Ebert and the film festival crowd who have raved about it. Because, in the end, they want to believe we're "strong" enough to transcend the most horrific of circumstances like Precious, and that on some level they played some part in the triumph. Just look at the casting. Daniels has been lauded as a genius for his quirky casting choices in Precious, and yet the overt colorism only adds to what makes this movie ultimately unwatchable for me. The only people who showed Precious any kindness, any cover, any hope -- Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz -- are all light-skinned. The din of depravity she suffers her entire life, of course, comes at the hands of dark-skinned Blacks. Hmmm....
I hear what she's saying but it's way too easy to pick the most obvious things and scream "Eureka!" I'm so tired of hearing about what white folks might think and colorisms (or, more accurately, biracialisms). I was more interested by your buddy's assessment of the pathology and so forth.
It wouldn't be a complete shock to the system if Monique gets an Oscar nod for this role. She certainly wouldn't have received one for Phat Girlz. You can't win for losing.