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Angela Bassett slammed movie as degrading to black women

posted 15 years ago by allisonarf
41 replies | jump to latest

Bassett Bashes Berry's "Monster" Role
Mon., Jun. 24, 2002 11:10 AM PDT by Mark Armstrong

Actress Angela Bassett hasn't had a starring role on the big screen since 1998. So how is she getting her groove back? By dissing the role that earned Halle Berry an Oscar.
The 43-year-old actress is speaking out about racism, sexism and ageism in Hollywood in the latest issue of Newsweek, and she saves her harshest words for Monster's Ball, saying she turned down the film's lead role because she thinks it was demeaning to black women.

Berry later snagged the part--that of a death-row widow who inadvertently falls in love with the man who executed her husband--and nabbed the Academy Award for Best Actress. According to Bassett, "It's about character, darling."

She tells the magazine. "I wasn't going to be a prostitute on film. I couldn't do that because it's such a stereotype about black women and sexuality."

Bassett swears she's not trying to criticize Berry (um, okay), but adds, "it's about putting something out there you can be proud of 10 years later. I mean Meryl Streep won Oscars without all that."

Berry's camp isn't commenting about Bassett's interview. But the quotes appear to be a not-so-veiled jab from a woman who Berry mentioned in her tearful Oscar acceptance speech in March, when it marked the first time an African-American woman has received the honor.

Bassett herself was once nominated for an Oscar for her gritty portrayal of Tina Turner in 1993's biopic What's Love Got to Do with It. Her r?sum? also includes Boyz N the Hood, Malcolm X, Strange Days, Contact and Waiting to Exhale.

Since then, however, the lead roles have dried up: Bassett's last starring gig came four years ago, with 1998's adaptation of the Terry McMillan book How Stella Got Her Groove Back. In last summer's The Score, for instance, she had little to do in a supporting role as the girlfriend of Robert De Niro's character.

So is her Monster's rant just a case of sour grapes? The Newsweek story spins Bassett as a fiercely independent woman on the comeback trail, earning critical raves for her latest role in John Sayles' ensemble drama Sunshine State. She says it's been difficult to battle Hollywood perceptions of race and age (she says both were at play when then lesser known Catherine Zeta-Jones beat her out for a role opposite Sean Connery in Entrapment) and at the same time, remain true to herself.

(Of course, not all of Bassett's film credits are nearly so high-minded: 1991's Critters 4, anyone?)

But Bassett says she's not willing to take just any role in order to keep working. "I'm not living on beans and water yet," she says. "I'll just have to wait for it to come to me. If it's supposed to be mine, it will be."

As for the Monster's Ball role, Bassett insists she's happy for Berry, and did get teary-eyed when Halle mentioned her in the Oscar speech.

"I can't and don't begrudge Halle her success," Bassett adds. "It wasn't the role for me, but I told her she'd win and I told her to go get what was hers. Of course I want one, too. I would love to have an Oscar. But it has to be for something I can sleep with at night."

[–] Mackie_Shilstone 15 years ago

What a petty, jealous bitch.

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[–] xavierPoulain 15 years ago

Angela Bassett is an amazing actress and one just has to look at her work in Malcolm X, What's Love Got To Do With It?, Waiting To Exhale, and The Jacksons: An American Dream to see that she is one of the best. But, from my perspective, an African American woman hasn't really gotten a chance to be equally sexual on screen not for the sake of fulfilling a stereotype nor for being the exotic girlfriend nor the prostitute in the usual round of romantic interests in film. Halle Berry's character wasn't that at all, her sexuality was apart of her character, but it wasn't her whole character and the way she portrayed her character wasn't any of the things listed above. In that scene, she wanted comfort that's all. The fact that her character was drunk and flashing her boobs was due to her character being drunk. She did not want sex, but Thornton's character did. It was consensual. Could Bassett be able to wrap herself around that character? I think she could, but she would have played Leticia a lot differently. I want Bassett to get an Oscar so much, but I agree that it has to be with something she can handle, though taking risks is something she needs to remind herself to do. Playing it safe is something an actor cannot do.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] xavierPoulain 15 years ago

Well, I cannot dignify such a response except by saying how much racism has been internalized by our community that we have played a part in the racist action of dissecting someone who succeeds with our skin color as means of for them not deserving the success they received. What you seem to forget is that family association aside, I'm pretty sure both President Obama and Halle Berry had to face racism on some level that challenged and tested their identity and why they associate and accept themselves as African Americans. The African American experience isn't just one experience, it is many. It is diverse. Not to mention, on a basic level, I am pretty sure both Halle and President Obama experienced the circumstance where they thought they were equal until someone noticed their skin color and discriminated against them. Even in childhood, I am pretty sure both were taunted with : "If your parent is white, why aren't you?" A majority of African Americans today are products of biracial relationships dating back to slavery where African American women were raped or fell in love with their masters and vice versa.

[–] mimosa_mirabella 14 years ago

Amen, tc71087.

Halle's portrayal of Leticia is deep and very touching. The sex scenes were more explicit than I'd prefer but as a whole Monster's ball is a great movie.

I wish Billy Bob would make another great film. He's got a sensitive, visceral understanding of human dynamics which are shown in Sling Blade and Monster's Ball.

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[–] alohahome 14 years ago

Have you seen the film "The Gift"?
It was co-written by Billy Bob. Starred Cate Blanchett.
Superb southern gothic thriller. Pushes many buttons.
Also, "Chrystal" with Thornton was another button pusher.

[–] next-lover 14 years ago

Thanks alohahome!

I am now just getting into Billy Bob Thornton & wow. He's just amazing (I think) in everything he does, ESP. Slingblade. Who knows; maybe I'll start checking out his music lol (though, most likely not!).

[–] manofsteel4455 15 years ago

Halle and Obama are black.Growing up whenever they would be walking down the street and white people looked at them what do you think they saw??

I'm gonna die unless you kill me!

[–] Iwishyouwell 15 years ago

How ironic that your rant against Halle and Barrack as not being "real" blacks is in itself the most racist view I've seen on this board in years. Because true freedom lies in the ability for anyone, of any color, to be exacty what they are. They are "black" because they are, not because they don't fit into some small minded mold you deem necessary to define "blackness".

Ignorance is unattractive, but understandable, it can be corrected with education and a willing mind. However what is beyond excuse is proud ignorance. Here you are, loud and wrong, which is just downright embarrassing.

[–] cromartie890 12 years ago

@ WllmShakespeare I see you are extraordinary ignorant. I hope you are not black because if so you really hate your heritage. Ignorance like yours is worse than the ignorance of white racist. You are proof of the lasting effects of slavery!

[–] illyrianX 12 years ago

they are not black. They are white people posing as black

This would be funny if it wasn't so sad and indicative of how much help the people in this country need. What exactly is a "real" black person supposed to be like? Ghetto, thugged out and covered in bling, talking about the white devil and the oppression of the brothers and sisters while he/she kicks around the block acting like a badass?

Get a life. This attitude is exactly WHY so many stupid white people in America view blacks a certain way...because acting like a normal, upstanding human being who is not some pathetic stereotype is perceived as "traitorous" by so many ignorant people within the lower income black community. I grew up in an urban area and went to public school, and used to get laughed at for READING during lunch break instead of hanging out in a loudmouthed group listening to rap music. I see it now with kids who make an effort in school being taunted for "acting white" because apparently it's just not cool to be smart or interested in doing something useful in life. A lot of really dedicated students get discouraged or mocked because their peers b!tch about them "being snobs" since, you know, emulating a bunch of gangsters and having street cred totally trumps a scholarship to med school.

RACE has nothing to do with it unless you make it. There is no such thing as a white person posing as black. There is no such thing as someone being "conveniently" black. If someone is biracial, then that's what they are. They make their own choices based on environment and personality. Skin color doesn't enter into it without humans bringing it into the equation. If someone has the darkest skin color imaginable but wears a suit, speaks with proper grammar, has a decent academic background, etc. that's not "acting white," it's "acting like a respectable person" and everyone, no matter what pigmentation they have, should aim for that. By your standard, stereotypical trailer park white men who do drugs and rape their sisters are "acting black." Stupidest sh!t I've ever heard. Fact: trash is trash, no matter what shade you are. And if a nonwhite person succeeds...guess what, they're still not white nor are they pretending to be. They're just doing something with their lives, which is clearly more than can be said for you.

[–] activista 12 years ago

@Wllm

What are you talking about? Hello, it was Halle's WHITE mother that told her the world was only going to see her as a BLACK woman,and treat her differently in a negative way because of that, no matter how mixed she was, and she spoke the truth. Apparently you never read Halle's talk of how when she became the black homecoming queen at her high school, the crown was taken from her and given to a white girl, despite the fact that she won fair and square, but a lot of white folks at her school couldn't stand the fact that a BLACK girl won to begin with. They sure as hell didn't see her as white then!! And I don't know what planet you're living on if you think that the world dosen't see them both as BLACK,period. I never would have guessed Halle was mixed at all because she's always looked like a 100% black woman to me. I really don't see how anybody could think any differently, and honestly, it's people like you who have issues with biracial black people that constantly make a big deal about them being mixed, even more than either one of them has! So ridiculous and stupid!

[–] hikage_23 12 years ago

What a profoundly ignorant comment.

"Just because that sperm came from a black man does not make you black!"

Yes dumbass it does! There are all different types of black folks, but the worst are the ones like you. The ones that hate other black folks worse than racist white folks.

[–] jporter-6 15 years ago

I don't really want to hear from Angela Bassett. A stunt gal was killed on one of her movies. Bassett never even called on the family to express her condolences. I have never watched her work since.

[–] arazi25 15 years ago

Angela Bassett should shut the hell up....That sex scene with Ike Turner was plenty degrading enough in 'What's love Got To Do With It' She shouldn't have any room to talk. Shes a tranny anyway.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] tim411 14 years ago

Bah....
F Bassett and her opinion and F you too, neziah

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] tim411 14 years ago

Whatever,no one gives a f about your lame thoughts anyway, kiddo.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Blackace 13 years ago

Halle is milano (mixed race) She can call herself black or white, since her mother is white and her father is black. It's really up to the person to decide what they race then want to be when they are mixed.

[–] activista 12 years ago

@Blackace

Halle Berry's never claimed to be anything OTHER then black, and frankly, no one else would mistake her as anything else,so I don't know what you're talking about--and your statement is ridiculous.

[–] cheerupemokid_797 14 years ago

Since when does sleeping with someone you love make you a prostitute?

All these comments I keep reading on the message boards are so degrading to women. I'm sick of reading about Halle being a prostitute and a whore.

The only whore in that movie was the actual whore that both BBT and Heath Ledger's characters slept with.

I think in Bassett's case she is insanely jealous.

Its funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen

[–] manage-932-700755 13 years ago

I agree with you. What's the big deal? Halle's character needed sex in the movie and she got it. Then she and Hank fell in love with each other and had sex. Just because he's white and she's black, what's wrong with the scenario? This Bassett woman has a problem.

[–] adadofo 14 years ago

she is absolutely right. the movie was embarrassing to watch and i really dont know how halle could stand there and accept that award for that performance.

[–] jeanniemotherof3 14 years ago

AMEN adadofo!!

[–] tag1981 12 years ago

Not as embarrassing as reading your comment which is an embarrassment in itself.

[–] moviegowwer 13 years ago

I know this thread is old as hell but I saw Monster's Ball years ago and missed the sex scene cause I went the bathroom (lol). Anywho I recently saw the movie again with the sex scene and have to agree with Bassett. To be fair, the scene would have been degrading to anyone! Billy Bob is one ugly mofo and the character he played was equally ugly. Halle Berry didn't deserve an Oscar for that role and the movie itself I felt was sullied by such a pornographic sex scene.

[–] lillybellbell 13 years ago

Oh get over it people... She knew the risk it was to show up nude full frontal and all..! People say, Denzel had to play a bad guy to get an Oscar or Halle Berry had to play a whore to get an Oscar. Who gives a damn what role they had to play? When they were offered those roles they had the opportunity to turn them down but obviously chose not to. They played those roles to the best of their ability and how dare people try to take that away from them by downplaying their characters?!? They worked hard to earn their recognitions, whether it's Oscar or just a good review on the matter. To me this is an invalid argument. White characters have played bad guy & whore roles but was the Oscar nod at every corner eh (eg Chloe Sevigny giving a blowjod to Vincent Gallo in Brown Bunny or what else on top of my head)? Enough with the degrading 'victim' position. Now please Angela Bassett turned it down, good on her that's her choice but then she better shut it because Halle thanked her in the acceptance speech, and that's saying something.

[–] manage-932-700755 13 years ago

I agree with much of what you say. But Halle did not play a whore in this film. She was a black woman who had sex with and then fell in love with a white man. What does that have to do with being a whore? This Bassett woman has a big mouff.

[–] lillybellbell 13 years ago

I know what you are saying I was just referring to what most people said here or in other debate forums about Halle, saying she "whored" herself so that's what got her the oscar... I mean

[–] manage-932-700755 13 years ago

Halle is younger and hotter than the Bassett woman. I don't think Angela would have done as well in the role. I see your point, also. It is an inappropriate use of the word "whore."

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] cadeduelg-59371 9 years ago

I don't get what people want: People try to diminish Denzel and Halle's Oscars because they were playing "bad" people. Yet, when Lupita Nyong'o won for 12 Years A Slave, I saw people on Jennifer Lawrence's board bitching about Lupita only winning because it was such a sympathetic role. So, which is it? Black actors and actresses apparently never "deserve" to win according to some hateful people...just sad and ridiculous.