At the beginning last Fall, when the award-worthy movies start being unveiled, it looked like it was going to be a monumental year for African-American actors.
The Butler was a huge hit, 12 Years a Slave was going to be a shoo-in for Best Picture, Lead Actor, and Supporting Actress, and more amazing performances were coming from Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan. At one point, it looked like there might actually be four African-American actors in the Best Actor race--something that had never happened in Oscar history.
So what happened?
Well, if you base your analysis on the Golden Globes, you could either assume that most of those performances didn't live up to the hype, or you could assume that the Hollywood Foreign Press is a little bit...white-washed.
After all, Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Michael B. Jordan, and Octavia Spencer were all passed over for nominations. 12 Years a Slave took the award for Best Drama, but none of its actors were awarded with Golden Globes.
Now, it's looking likely that Chiwetel Ejiofor from 12 Years a Slave may be the only African-American actor to make it into the Best Lead Actor category.
Every year, around Oscar time, the film community has a discussion about race, and every year the same qualms are brought up--sometimes there are actual protests--but it doesn't seem like anything actually gets done--except this year, something got done:
Good movies were made.
Plain and simple.
In the past, it may have been possible to argue that good movies weren't being made with and by African-American actors because they weren't being given the opportunities to make them or act in them. This year, a small number of opportunities were given and we got some amazing films out of that limited number--but the movies have been mostly overlooked.
The fact that there's some question now as to whether or not American Hustle is a better movie than 12 Years a Slave is ludicrous. One is far better and far more impressive than the other. American Hustle may be more entertaining, which obviously makes it easier to watch, but that doesn't make it the better movie.
Some are claiming that 12 Years a Slave is just too intense for Oscar voters.
You mean the same way Schindler's List was too intense? Or The Hurt Locker? The Deer Hunter? Platoon? Should I keep going?
I'm not saying there are racists in Hollywood, because that doesn't need to be said--There are racists in Hollywood. The question is whether or not enough is being done to make sure that African-American filmmakers, writers, and actors have a fair shot at winning the same awards as their colleagues.
Up until this year, I would have argued that it's all about the films. If you make a great film, you win an award--it's that simple.
But looking at the potential nomination list this year for the big one--the Oscars--I have to say:
We might need to have that same conversation all over again.
The Butler was a huge hit, 12 Years a Slave was going to be a shoo-in for Best Picture, Lead Actor, and Supporting Actress, and more amazing performances were coming from Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan. At one point, it looked like there might actually be four African-American actors in the Best Actor race--something that had never happened in Oscar history.
So what happened?
Well, if you base your analysis on the Golden Globes, you could either assume that most of those performances didn't live up to the hype, or you could assume that the Hollywood Foreign Press is a little bit...white-washed.
After all, Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Michael B. Jordan, and Octavia Spencer were all passed over for nominations. 12 Years a Slave took the award for Best Drama, but none of its actors were awarded with Golden Globes.
Now, it's looking likely that Chiwetel Ejiofor from 12 Years a Slave may be the only African-American actor to make it into the Best Lead Actor category.
Every year, around Oscar time, the film community has a discussion about race, and every year the same qualms are brought up--sometimes there are actual protests--but it doesn't seem like anything actually gets done--except this year, something got done:
Good movies were made.
Plain and simple.
In the past, it may have been possible to argue that good movies weren't being made with and by African-American actors because they weren't being given the opportunities to make them or act in them. This year, a small number of opportunities were given and we got some amazing films out of that limited number--but the movies have been mostly overlooked.
The fact that there's some question now as to whether or not American Hustle is a better movie than 12 Years a Slave is ludicrous. One is far better and far more impressive than the other. American Hustle may be more entertaining, which obviously makes it easier to watch, but that doesn't make it the better movie.
Some are claiming that 12 Years a Slave is just too intense for Oscar voters.
You mean the same way Schindler's List was too intense? Or The Hurt Locker? The Deer Hunter? Platoon? Should I keep going?
I'm not saying there are racists in Hollywood, because that doesn't need to be said--There are racists in Hollywood. The question is whether or not enough is being done to make sure that African-American filmmakers, writers, and actors have a fair shot at winning the same awards as their colleagues.
Up until this year, I would have argued that it's all about the films. If you make a great film, you win an award--it's that simple.
But looking at the potential nomination list this year for the big one--the Oscars--I have to say:
We might need to have that same conversation all over again.
Comments
Post a Comment