TheLoop21.com

By: crystal (follow this member)
Wed, 12/16/2009 - 10:03

Precious has received three Golden Globe nods: Best Picture, Best Actress in a Lead Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Both Gabby and Monique were nominated for their performances. We've talked about Precious here before and it has a great shot at winning at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars because it appeals to people's guilt.

When Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won for Best Actor/Actress for their roles in Training Day and Monster's Ball, many were upset claiming they both won for stereotypical roles. If Mo'Nique wins for her role in Precious, will those people feel the same way? After all, as we've heard so many times, Mo'Nique plays an abusive welfare mother and grandmother who completely uses the system. Or will Mo'Nique's winning be different because this is the first time we've seen her in a dramatic role?

People were so upset by Denzel's win especially because the historical drama (the Academy is said to love these) Malcolm X was ignored all together even though it could of gotten a few nods for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress (Angela Bassett), Best Costume Design, Best Director and Best Picture.

If Mo'Nique wins either the Golden Globe or the Oscar it will be because her acting was impeccable, she truly made you hate her. That's the standard all actors should be judged by—did you affect the audience? Who cares if she played a welfare mother, the trick is for Mo'Nique to begin to select better roles and stop stereotyping herself. We have power over the way our images are used. If Mo'Nique wins either award maybe she'll take the apostrophe out of her name and never sign on to do another Soul Plane ever again.

And it wouldn't hurt to lose her talk show either.

Crystal P. Smith is senior editor and writer at TheLoop21.com, where she focuses on pop culture, gender, social issues and race. She also writes the Culture Voice blog and is working on her first novel.