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I like Lupita and I thought her speech at the CC was the best of the night. However, I wonder why some people have to put down JLaw in order to raise up Lupita. If that continues I suspect it could backfire and create sympathy for JLaw. I do not see what JLaw’s lack of a collage degree has to do with anything. Since many have had successful careers in Hollywood without a college degree. Steven Spielberg completed his bachelor’s degree in 2002 after dropping out of college in the 1960’s. He directed ET, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, Jaws and Jurassic Park all without a college degree.
This woman is a vision of beauty.
Acting just doesn’t get any better than her work on 12 Years a Slave.
If we are lucky she’ll have a long and rich career.
Lupita is going to prove me wrong anyway, and I’m afraid writing oscar-worthy screenplays requires talent… but I could try for original song, apparently you just have to pass a few phone calls to make it in!
I spent hours last winter trying to figure out what happened to Patsey. I couldn’t find a thing. Perhaps now that the movie has gotten much acclaim the available research might have expanded.
To me, that’s one of the heartbreaking aspects of the book/movie that haunts me and will haunt me forever. Northup spent about ten of his years on that plantation with Patsey, watching her grow from a charismatic and vivacious young woman and turned into a forlorn and broken woman over that span of time. (It’s detailed better in the book).
How can Northup even after he returned to his loving and supportive family ever forget Patsey and the others he left behind (if you read the book you will know that she’s not the only one with a tragic story). And it’s from Northup’s perspective where the tragic heart of the story lies. Having lost his freedom for almost 12 years, how can he ever truly enjoy his freedom again knowing the horrors those who he grew to know suffered that horror day after day after day.
Patsey, for me, will always be that (for lack of a better word) that iconic slave, the one who embodies every horror endured by millions of people for centuries. And when she falls, it’s done out of focus, almost offscreen. It would be 11 to 12 years before she could taste freedom when the northern armies freed the Louisiana slaves and I guess we’ll never know if she got there. I hope she did.
I regret going to college. I’ve drastically reduced my chances of winning an Oscar by doing so, though I’m doing my best to be as narrow-minded and arrogant as Academy members. I hope it pays some day!
Skipping college does not reduce an actor’s chance of winning an Oscar. The Academy is full of actors who skipped college… Cheer up, Christophe. You could still win an Oscar for writing screenplays or some other category where education comes in handy.
“come across loud and clear in her demeanor and she is proud of that” . lol.. You really sound like a privileged asshole.. Have a nice day.
Jennifer Lawrence tells Vanity Fair “I’m vastly uneducated,” and she’s adorably honest. Ryan says, “She’s uneducated,” and he’s an asshole. Amy Adams skips college and now says she wishes instead she had gone. Jennifer Lawrence boasts about not going to high school and says she would never go back to school. That’s a difference in demeanor. One person proudly flaunts the fact that she’s uneducated and thinks it’s funny. Another person is sorry she dropped out of college and looks back with regret. I’m an asshole for saying this difference matters to me. You come at me first thing in the morning and call me an asshole — and in your eyes I’m the bad guy. Fine, ceeza. Whatever makes you feel good about yourself.
I will never forget Patsey – and I will never forget the final image of her collapsing on the dirt road as Solomon leaves her. I better be hearing her acceptance speech come Oscar Sunday.
^^ Me too. Her character was unforgettable and I kept wondering, what happened to Patsey?
@ Aragorn: Films are so international now, Lupita will fit in whether it’s stage or film. There are international directors who could use her. All she needs is a good agent.
@Ligaya, I couldn’t disagree more. Yes, the character is WRITTEN to be a sympathetic, heart-breaking character. So, almost anyone with a shred of ability would be able to make it a sympathetic character because that’s how it’s written. Nyong’o is fine in it; however, one would expect more than just fine from a Yale graduate that the film-loving world has seemingly fallen in love with (again, thanks to the way the character was written).
As for Leto and McConaughey, you’re kidding me. I don’t think you could just plug anyone into those roles. Neither of them play very likable characters (Leto’s is more likable than McConaughey’s, but still …). So, they actually DESERVE the praise and awards.
But, as we all know, this is subjective.
I can kind of agree whilst also disagreeing. Lawrence’s natural delivery, speech patterns background, education, previous performances etc all suggest that she would be difficult to take seriously in an intellectual role. Her immaturity (which is one of her most endearing features) might mean that she doesn’t get to do truly mature performances for a while. However in winters bone (still her best performance) it was neither a dumb performance nor a teenage one (in that she wasn’t inhabiting the characteristics of a teenager, particularly when compared to the hunger games, not that she wasn’t actually a teenager), which to me demonstrates that she might be able to play the strong street smart and resourceful roles, rather than just the teenage or dumb roles.
Mik , Ree Dolly is 17 in Winters Bone. But you’re right, there will be hundreds of roles as interesting grownup uneducated characters for Lawrence to choose from in all kinds of great movies written and directed by educated people.
Jennifer Lawrence was born to be a star, she acts the hell out of a role like it’s nothing. It’s just effortless for her.
Lupita had a more demanding role, and a more relatable one (as much as you can be for a black girl being tortured), and it’s a more rounded-up performance, probably due to the writing of the character.
Lupita should win for giving a better performance, and also because no matter how good you are, you just SHOULDN’T have 2 Oscars by 23. It’s just wrong.
@Ryan Adams LOL.. So wait because Jennifer didn’t go to college she’s somehow less qualified or something. I’m a believer in practicing your strengths.. Sure if she would have went to college she would have possibly been more polished and well rounded but she wouldn’t be as dangerous.. People need to realize she isn’t one of those people that “wants” to act she is a person that was born to act.. Lupita for the Supporting actress win but Jennifer deserves what she gets..
“”””So wait because Jennifer didn’t go to college she’s somehow less qualified or something.”””” Because she didn’t go to college she speaks like somebody who never went to college. She acts like somebody who didn’t go to college. The fact that she scorns and mocks education comes across loud and clear in her demeanor and she is proud of that. Nothing to do with her “qualifications.” That is something you just made up. But yes, no, she is not, for example, qualified to be President. She is not qualified to teach kindergarten. She is not qualified to be a dental hygenist. Without a college education she is perfectly qualified to work at Burger Queen and she is clearly qualified to play the kinds of roles she plays and qualified to win Oscars. She’s qualified to be a hooker and qualified to be a supermodel. So settle down, she is qualified to do plenty of awesome things. She’s just not qualified to play Shakespeare or any role beyond her own education, but that will not hinder her career because there will never be shortage of movies featuring uneducated female characters.
I’m pretty sure Vivian (Pretty Woman) was college educated 😉
I think you’re right. Vivian attended the School of Hard Knocks. Graduated cum laude.
Ok I see your point. Also, Jennifer Lawrence is 23. Lupita Nyong’o is 30. So that probably comes into play when comparing the level of maturity between the two. Love them both btw. Hope Lupita wins the Oscar!
I like them both too. I wasn’t kidding when I said there will be dozens of great roles in Jennifer Lawrence’s lifetime that won’t require her to have an education. Julia Roberts skipped college and it hasn’t held her back. Because she never plays characters who went to college. (Except Mona Lisa Smile. So, see what I mean?)
So going to college = maturity? Oh. That must be why Adam Sandler, who went to New York University, displays such vast maturity in all the roles he plays (Jack & Jill, That’s My Boy, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, to name a few). He’s lucky to have a degree so he can display that ‘maturity’ to play all those the dopey, man-boy roles.
Any educated actor can play dumb. We’re talking about the difficulty an uneducated actor faces when trying to act smart.
@sally
I had this impression that you call JLaw “not mature”. Anyway, I still stand with my opinion that being gawky and surprised in this awards shows should not be held against someone so young and being just herself.
@sallyinchicago
I don’t agree in your statement that JLaw is “not mature”. I think with all the “surprised” and “gawky” speeches she’s been giving, she’s just being herself, and there’s nothing more mature than that instead of projecting this”america’s sweetheart” Hollywood’s coining her. I would rather see her be “gawky” and “surprised” than be pretentious about it. After all, her speeches are not in anyway bad and offensive. I love Jennifer Lawrence and I think she deserves all the praises she is getting, so there’s it. But, taking away my adoration to JLaw, I think it takes a lot of “maturity” to understand the roles she’s been getting and then portraying it marvelously (from Winter’s Bone, SLP, to Hunger Games, even in American Hustle). It also needs a lot of maturity in handling this massive attention she’s getting, and I think she’s doing a great job with that. At least, she’s not sticking her tongue out or going to rehab unlike some of the stars her age. And also, she’s 23! She is entitled to be “gawky” and “surprised” whenever she’s getting awards like this. Wouldn’t you be surprised to receive such accolades at your very young age?
Let me point out that Lupita and JLaw are not of the same age. Lupita is actually around 30 years of age, and it is understandable that Lupita is more “mature” than JLaw. I just think it’s not fair to call someone “not mature” just because of being herself. I also love Lupita as much as the next person, and I think she deserves the award as well as the Oscars.
Can’t help but love her. She deserves the praise. Wish people didn’t feel the need to lift her up by putting Jennifer Lawrence down. So Jennifer didn’t go to college. Big deal! Doesn’t make her any less talented or gifted or less deserving of acclaim. Wonder how many of the great actors of our times actually went to college. Let’s appreciate them both as great artists who bring their own unique flavors and talents to the roles that they take on.
“So Jennifer didn’t go to college. Big deal! Doesn’t make her any less talented or gifted or less deserving of acclaim.”
The question was not, Is Jennifer Lawrence talented? The question was, Why does Jennifer Lawrence seem less mature than… everybody.
“Wonder how many of the great actors of our times actually went to college.”
Of our time? My time is now. So I’d say “most”
It didn’t really matter whether or not John Wayne went to college since cowboys didn’t go to college either.
The flavor Jennifer Lawrence brings to roles is the flavor of somebody who told Vanity Fair “I didn’t even go to high school, and I never want to go back to school.” It’s the flavor of somebody who doesn’t want to learn anything more than she already knows. That’s great when all you’re playing is teenagers and bimbos. Luckily there’s no shortage of opportunities to play the bimbo role in Hollywood. I’m not going to be shamed into apologizing for being bored by that.
The question was: Next to Lupita Nyong’o why does Jennifer Lawrence seem so comparatively immature? I ventured a possible answer.
Brava! Diva!
@Sally, I know, it’s almost like Jennifer wants to lose this year. She knew she wasn’t winning last night and didn’t feel the need to show up. I don’t think she’s really a brat at all; she’s just real. But I don’t think Lupita’s emotions were fake, no matter how much she practiced her very eloquent speech. Normally Jennifer’s slight gawkiness and down-to-earth realness helps her in a Hollywood filled with phonies, but this year, with so many America’s sweethearts in attendance, Lupita is now surging ahead based on her poise and beauty. And the subject matter of her film is very hard to ignore. Perhaps if Jennifer were in Dallas Buyers Club she’d have a chance…but as deserving as I think she is for THIS performance, I think the usual mix of politics and fair evaluations of the acting will hurt Lawrence.
Even if I think Alfre Woodard, Sarah Paulson and Adepero Odyue gave better performances in 12 Years a Slave, the soap scene with Patsey was the single most devastating thing I have ever witnessed on screen. I hope she will be recognized with a lot of awards and gets a lot of new jobs in movies. However, Jennifer Lawrence was magnificent in American Hustle and everyone who thought she was miscast clearly didn’t understand the character she was portraying.
I have nothing against Jennifer Lawrence, but sometimes she comes off as a brat. Just someone who is not very mature. Like randomly wishing Emmanuelle Riva a happy birthday when she won the Oscar. Or her face when Natalie Portman won BA. And most recently the all-over-the-place Golden Globes speech.
I cried too and watched her speech several times. I was really impressed with it and her fashion. 2 red carpets in a row and she was the best dressed at both:) that’s amazing for a first timer!
Rob Y, are you high on something??? I think your thick head didnt understand what i tried to say and you had that big fit! All i said was she studied acting at Yale. Apparently quite smart and talented. So all i said was instead of wasting her talent in some small roles in not so great movies she could focus on theatre and win them over with her talent. And appear in quality movies. Otherwise, with-not so good career management she will be another young and talented actress who will not go much further. There will not be many slave roles in the future! I hope time will prove me wrong!
She’s very shrewd, very grateful, very beautiful, and totally winning. My vote would actually go to Lawrence,
^^
You know, I have seen abt 3 Lawrence acceptance speeches and she always comes off as “gawky” and “surprised” that she won. But after watching Lupita’s speech — both of them are the same age — Lupita comes off as more poised and “mature” than Lawrence. there’s an excellent NYP op-ed about Lawrence, and I agree with it.
http://nypost.com/2014/01/17/time-for-jennifer-lawrence-to-give-up-doe-eyed-ingenue-act/
Lupita comes off as more poised and “mature” than Lawrence.
remind me again where Jennifer Lawrence went to college
Will someone please green light the Grace Jones Story and cast her immediately?
Her performance was one of the most unforgettable performances I’ve seen in years from any actor in any movie. She was unreal. Her indelible scenes and images have been burned into my mind and heart forever. Don’t get me wrong: I absolutely love Jennifer Lawrence. You simply could not take your eyes off of her in Hustle! She was fantastic – but Lupita deserves the Oscar. She handled the gravitas of that role with nuanced skill, complexity, and emotion that elude veteran actors. Because of her, I will never forget Patsey – and I will never forget the final image of her collapsing on the dirt road as Solomon leaves her. I better be hearing her acceptance speech come Oscar Sunday.
She shou;d win the Oscar. Her performance was the heart of that movie, and it was a true supporting performance. And I think she deserves to be a star henceforth.
Wonderful, Rob Y. Everything but the bloodhounds snapping at her rear end.
Rob Y – awesome rant!
After I read it I had to go look up Poodles Hanneford:
http://www.lakegeorgemirrormagazine.com/tag/proctors-theater/
I’ll have what you’re having!
And Julia Roberts smiles JUST when the camera zooms in on her!!!!
I’m a fan of good actors taking on bread and butter industry product….. and I bet regular industry voters in the guilds appreciate it. Opportunities to work on prestige films are rare and if a good cast can lift up a mediocre project a little, that helps everybody…… and it’s good to see a star do something goofy.
always thought it was cool that Bullock got a Razzberry for All About Steve within weeks of getting her Oscar for Blind Side….. and am guessing that her willingness to make a fool of herself for the sake of such movies helped her get votes for her Best Actress award.
I wish she focused on theatre for a while instead of making crap movies just to make movies.
The Theater, the Theater – what book of rules says the Theater exists only within some ugly buildings crowded into one square mile of New York City? Or London, Paris or Vienna? Listen, junior. And learn. Want to know what the Theater is? A flea circus. Also opera. Also rodeos, carnivals, ballets, Indian tribal dances, Punch and Judy, a one-man band – all Theater. Wherever there’s magic and make-believe and an audience – there’s Theater. Donald Duck, Ibsen, and The Lone Ranger, Sarah Bernhardt, Poodles Hanneford, Lunt and Fontanne, Betty Grable, Rex and Wild, and Eleanora Duse. You don’t understand them all, you don’t like them all, why should you? The Theater’s for everybody – you included, but not exclusively – so don’t approve or disapprove. It may not be your Theater, but it’s Theater of somebody, somewhere.
I wish she focused on theatre for a while instead of making crap movies just to make movies.
Oh, calm down. If she is really going to have a career in movies, she’ll need to branch out beyond the Oscar stuff. I don’t think that Liam Neeson movie looks great either, but starring in movies with established actors like Neeson and Julianne Moore will certainly help her more than it will hurt her.
Thanks for posting this, Ryan. I couldn’t see any of this show but trawled through some of the comments! Ugh! This was just beautiful – such a sweet soul and pure emotion. I could visualise one warm smile from her director during the traumatic setups and scenes she had to film would have helped get her through. Humble and dignified. Watch her ascend!
Definitely the brightest star in the sky this year.
Fingers crossed for her, Ejiofor, and Fassbender – as well as the cast – tomorrow night.
She is pretty and talented for sure. Did i say pretty???
Regarding her career, she is one of the Flight attendants in Liam Neeson’s next movie. The one about the air marshall and the airplane and blah blah. I wish she focused on theatre for a while instead of making crap movies just to make movies. Oh well…as long as she does not end up in next Tyler Perry movie!!!
Where are all of the other acceptance speeches from last night?
During the commercial breaks.
I couldn’t help notice McQueen’s quizzical tilt of his head when Lupita talked about how his smile inspired her. As if he was thinking to himself, “Smile? I don’t recall any smile.”
I noticed that too! That ought to be proof to anyone out there who considers Steve McQueen austere and haughty that he’s actually just grounded and humble. He seemed genuinely surprised and touched by Lupita’s kind words.
She’s very shrewd, very grateful, very beautiful, and totally winning. My vote would actually go to Lawrence, but I think Lupita will win the SAG and Oscar and maybe even BAFTA. I still think the Slave characters are underwritten, which makes it easier for them to spread the wealth and not give both Slave actors the win even if they want it to be Best Picture. That’s no reflection on the actors though.
She’s going to be a first time” winner if she wins. BTW, Oprah stood up to applaud her.
Lupita has a good career ahead of her — IF she gets a good agent.
For the record, I would have voted for Nyong’o 10 times if I could.
Before tomorrow, I’d like to share my picks for the SAG Awards (I am a voting member).
Best Ensemble: 12 Years A Slave
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
Best Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender
Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o
Yeah, no, I know (kind of – though English is not my first language, so I might be getting something wrong sometimes 🙂 ). But I noticed the tilt too, and I thought it was adorable 🙂 And I’ve been thinking about him the other day, and about how some people judge him as too serious or too arrogant or whatever. So I guess that was what my comment was about.
Anyway, I love him to bits, truly.
@Vincent: Where do you separate the character from the actor’s interpretation of the character? Would any black actress have done just as well, are they that interchangeable? I could say the same thing about Matthew McConaughey & Jared Leto – people are responding to their sympathetic characters, not their acting, if I believed that.
Lovely speech. So gracious. No chance of you posting Matthew McConaughey’s? Surely it was entertaining.
yep, I’ll look for other speech clips.
This actress is so beautiful (inside and out). What a lovely woman, and what a lovely speech.
I think Lupita is going to have a big, BIG, BIG career ahead of her.
She reminds me of a young Cicely Tyson.
Go Lupita!!! Hope she wins the Oscar and not Jennifer.
Here is Cate Blanchett’s speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNstjBZNENI
yep – hope she gets another go at the SAG Awards. Good for her and good for 12 Years.
Yes… or maybe he was thinking more like: “That’s interesting. People don’t tend to thank me for that”.
I think people don’t see enough humour in him because of his films and the way he comes across in interviews most of the time, but I suspect he might not be so grim and serious after all.
Kasia, I’m just teasing. I’ve often seen Steve McQueen smile. It’s a big-hearted smile, enveloping, warm and compassionate.
Dear God, that awkward moment when she says “Sally huh” and then fails to mention Oprah as a fellow nominee while the camera zooms in on Oprah’s disheartened face. Priceless! Poor Oprah (that’s just a figure of speech of course) was snubbed twice yesterday, which proves you can be the queen of all media and still have bad days.
Amazing speech, amazing actress (amazing dress!)
Off-topic: If there’re any Cronenberg/FLY fans out here. I thought this was outstanding.
http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2014/01/17/the-beetle-and-the-fly/
Beautiful. I’d be rooting for her if Sally Hawkins was not in the race.
I guess I feel about 12 yrs the say some felt about Lincoln last year: appreciated, respected it, but didn’t fall in love with it.
I’m glad I got to see this since I missed the awards last night. Excellent speech–heartfelt and truly moving. Fingers crossed for her at the Oscars!
So endearing! She SHOULD win the SA Oscar. And with speeches like that she can only help cement McQueen’s Director win too. There will be no split this year. If 12YAS wins, McQueen wins. No one said Tom Hooper had a chance at Director until the Guilds kicked in, so attempting to make Cuaron front runner at this stage is nonsense, no matter how many critic awards he has won (see David Fincher). Wait till PGA and DGA have had their say and then you can talk about who is winning.
And with speeches like that she can only help cement McQueen’s Director win too.
I feel the same way. Though I couldn’t help notice McQueen’s quizzical tilt of his head when Lupita talked about how his smile inspired her. As if he was thinking to himself, “Smile? I don’t recall any smile.” Lupita made the connection between them feel so tangible.
I am beginning to like her more and more and more and more.
Her performance was okay; it’s the character everyone responds to. Where are all of the other acceptance speeches from last night?
“Where are all of the other acceptance speeches from last night?”
None of the other speeches touched me.
In fact, I don’t think we’re allowed to post last night’s entire dreary show.
Attention like this towards Lupita at this point is what she needs. She needs growing word of mouth and a personal story, and a reason people will feel happy to vote for her, over and above the fact that she delivers a stunning performance. If so, she has a good chance of beating JLaw.
Damn. I saw this twice now and both times I cried like a little girl. Might be a reason not to root for her, or else she’ll make me cry so bad at the Oscars…
That was a great speech. If these things really do influence academy voters, then I hope the voters saw it.
I’m not a huge fan of 12 years a Slave. I liked it, but I didn’t fall in love with it. Her performance was excellent though. She deserves to win. I highly doubt JL will win two years in a row. What a wonderful speech.
Best speech hands down this season