We must ask ourselves why Hollywood keeps using the same old themes? Why hasn't Gabourey Sidibe been in more leading roles? Why is she currently being promoted as a sex symbol?
This is an adaptation of a controversial book, Push. That book was rough and unflinching and no one would ever think it would be adapted by....Hollywood. It took a lot of guts to get it where it landed on screen and even more to get people to look at it. It is not a beautiful tale, it is a perspective of a percentage of people, whether in America, or someplace else, that happened during the late 80s, and possibly in some parts today.
This film was about a young lady who's environment was surrounded by hate, and little positive influences around her -- but it starts to. This is not a film that is to portray the state of African American teenaged females in America, it is a film that tells a segmented tale of a small percentage of those. Some African Americans had/have will get upset that this is shown, some will identify with it as some things that happened to Precious happened to them or a friends of theirs, and some may even side with other that this is all fiction, period. For me, I know it's not
all fiction. I grew up 'a train track and two blocks north of' mothers with daughters similar to this. The pre-GED classroom was all too familiar of a situation, except in my town there was none, they just threw them out of school period, so they had nowhere to go but with their own senses and mothers who were just as messed up as they were. And they were not all African American, they were of all races. The percentage of "welfare" families was disgusting (to me), and the mothers that promoted such to their daughters was diabolical (to me). Education was an afterthought, instead of a goal, as welfare was 'life'. And I am afraid to write some of the abuse we've seen these girls go through, probably akin to this movie and in some cases, worse.
Tariq Elite Nasheed, and those with the same views, are just that, a view. I do not agree with the view, as I feel it is very myopic and based on areas Tariq is guessing about but never had hands-on experience in. The view is taken with a grain of salt, as the points are only from that perspective. Addressing the career of acting, there are thousands of actors, but just a few parts, so the competition is tough, whether that is with minority actors or not. The more minorities that can get their minority based projects approves, there will be more parts, but greater competition.
Gabourey, is an actress with a very deep range and after this role has been in other roles. Maybe Tariq hasn't seen her in them, or Tariq feels the roles should have been of greater prominence. I think we all feel this way after seeing an actress in such a strong, breakout performance. But that's not how acting works, for her or any actor. She has been constantly working, and that is against Hollywood's preconceived notion of beauty and acting. Gabourey is the exception to the rule, not the norm.
Gabourey roles beyond this film has been acting roles and not roles that have called for a "heavy-set, black, actress", those roles were for "an actress". The point:
ANY actress could have played those roles Gabourey has been seen in. And that is a huge positive for this actress, she is acting -- and not an acting type. She is appearing in American Horror Story: Coven this fall, so she is still a working actress, which is what many are, regardless of whether Tariq -- or anybody else -- want to make an issue of it or not. Sometimes, things aren't as much of an issue as others want to make it out to be (for example, there are tons of actors who have had great break out roles, non-minority, who do not become stars too. This is not unique). Sometimes, it's just how work in the entertainment industry is. Like a job any place else.
You criticize entertainment, yet you never entertained.
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MovieLover78
11 years ago
Well put Lambie. It's a very sad story but more sadly far from an inaccurate portrayal of a subsection of our country.
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ThoseLittleRabbits
10 years ago
the book was written by a possible black feminist. and black feminists are poison to the black community. gabby did not receive praise for her ''acting'', it was her look that got her the part and made the film popular. she has been in a mediocre roles playing maids/mammys. she was even given a role in a prank playing a fat bride for jimmy kimmel. hollywood is making fun of her. wake the hell up
i've got feelings too, ya know - inbetweeners
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