Part of me wants to post this just to agitate my already agitated readers. Why, I don’t know. Because it’s fun? No, it isn’t fun. A friend of mine said he swung by the site and was afraid to leave a comment because of the harshness of some of the commenters. Of course, it is easy to write from an angry place. Low stakes, high results. At any rate, I was pleased to see one mainstream media outlet – and only one – has decided to write something about it. I don’t know if Izreal is prepared for what’s coming but he’d better put on a hat. He writes quite clearly and eloquently about this bizarre fascination with holding minority players to an impossibly high standard (which then results only in less material, less roles entirely, and more projects about white men because they are the only demographic that is beyond reproach). Here is Izreal:
The Popes of Blackness rarely agree on anything. One thing is certain — Davis takes on a difficult role and breathes life into a hero who is inspiring, enraging, familiar and extraordinary. It is odious that the nominating committee gravitates to black people playing into conventional stereotypes. Nevertheless, that is not Viola Davis’ fault. Given the state of the union, I think most any actor would be lucky to get work as a tree, forget about the layered role of a conflicted domestic in America’s civil rights-era South. It is an incredible part, and Davis nails it. Not everyone is happy about that.
You may recall that back when the film was released in theaters, the aforementioned Popes espoused their disgust for a black woman acting as a domestic, which naturally made white audiences curious, turning both the movie and the novel it was based on into something of a sensation. I’m not sure why white folks loved “The Help” so much — maybe because many of them grew up with an Aibileen of their own.
I love how he ends the piece:
Some may be discouraged to see a black woman get an Oscar nod for playing a house cleaner — never mind that women in their 40s of every stripe are having a hard time everywhere in Hollywood. Viola Davis is a gifted actor — smokin’ hot! — but not buxom, biracial or conventionally beautiful. She already has a truckload of Tony and other theater awards, just got a SAG award, and works steadily. Her nomination pushes an opening door even further, soliciting an appreciation for the beauty of dark skin, full eyes and lips, and a new beauty aesthetic for Hollywood to consider.
“The Help” is decried for being a work of white liberal guilt porn, schmaltzy and sentimental — which it is. But so what? There are flaws in the film, but Viola Davis is not one of them.
Actually, Davis IS quite buxom. But he is comparing her, of course, to Halle Berry who is still the only black actress (she’s biracial but we all know how that is defined – just look at our President.)
The discussion of race distracts from the acting achievements of Viola Davis. What a disservice to her craft.
I know that davis is winning the oscar for this, and as for poor meryl, i don’t know how many more people will pass ahead of her before she finally wins her 3rd oscar, as many here taken her for granted well see you next year meryl lol, until she reached her 80’s probably there is always nextyear ha ha ha
I think people just want to be surprised. Awarding the same people/films over and over again, no matter who/what they are is quite tedious and doesn’t warrant additional television time
Where is this whole “black people hated the Help” coming from? One or two groups speak out against the film and suddenly they speak for all Black people?
Well, that always happens, the academy lately wants to pay debts. And Meryl Streep gave the best performance of all nominated but as I wrote before there is much cowardice to say that because almost everyone shall get hate you ’cause you don’t support Viola Davis. She is an amazing actress but the half of work was done, the only thing she should to do is cry a little and appear her acting to Doubt. But Meryl Streep rescued a hated woman from the cartoon. Streep did a complete work, she did all.
Hi everyone!
I just looked at the last 10 years where 23 acting oscars went to Americans (I’m calling Natalie Portman American but maybe her nationality is Israeli?) and 7 of those oscars went to African Americans. Just under a third. Which I think is actually quite a lot over the 12.5% of the US population African Americans represent (according to Viola Davis).
So although its true that there are far too few roles out there for Black actors, the oscars have recently been taking much more notice. 3 Actors, 1 Actress, 1 Supporting Actor and 2 Supporting Actresses (showing that best actress category is playing catch up!). 17 oscars went to foreigners of which 9 were Brits.
Just some facts (I think!) that may add something to the discussion…
As a black woman who really enjoyed The Help, I really don’t understand why this site seems to want to make Viola Davis’ ever more likely Oscar win all about race? This is the only site that seems to have made it into such a big issue and drives the discussion based around race and insinuations rather than Davis’talents as an actor, campaign or film. And many of the comments seem to be a reaction to that more than anything else. It’s sad.
Zooey, I’m glad to see someone uses their head ’round these parts
@ Sasha Stone,
“Of course, it is easy to write from an angry place.” Just the way you did over the course of a WHOLE year regarding The King’s Speech.
I’ve already made peace with Meryl losing again. But stop pretending that she has a lot of great parts in her future. Stop using the ‘next year’ thing. It won’t happen next year. There will be something else, somebody else, somebody going against type or doing whatever. Even with a best picture nominee: look at her history! And yes, she deserves a third Oscar, but won’t get it. And how many great leading parts can a woman in her 60’s get? Meryl will be 63. Even if she gets a great part, which she will (at least a couple of great parts), she’ll need a lot to make it work in terms of Oscar: there’s always something in her way and it’ll continue that way, because you’ll say ‘next time’, ‘better part’, ‘more dramatic’ etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. So stop make yourself feel better with the ‘next time’ thing. Because ‘next time’ won’t happen as it didn’t happen this time. And this time was ‘next time’ not long ago.
I just hope we get to a day where it doesn’t matter an iota what the color of your skin is—white, black, red, purple, blue, yellow. We are entering an era of entitlement where other factors take precedence over merit, talent, and accomplishment. I think it’s a shame that Viola Davis is getting criticized by many because they feel she is winning because of her skin color–it demerits her talent and most importantly her as a person. I also think it’s disingenuous that there are subtle (or not so subtle) implications that people are voting (or rooting) for her because of her skin color. So she needs a pity/sympathy vote?
I don’t remember an Oscar race where there was so much tension in a specific Oscar category. No one seemed to be up in arms when actresses like Mo’Nique and Jennifer Hudson sailed to Oscar glory without a single bump in the road and without a peep from any dissenters. Were their performances more well-received or perhaps more socially and culturally acceptable? I do think Viola Davis (and Octavia Spencer, although weirdly everyone is mute on her and she virtually plays the same role as Davis) is wonderful in The Help, but I also think that there is a lot of validity to express concerns about how her role and potential Oscar win will affect the dearth and performance opportunities for African-American women in Hollywood. I think it’s great if she wins because she is a tremendous actress and it’s not nearly the embarrassment many are claiming it will be (seriously, Sandra Bullock is a bloody scar on the Academy. And frankly I preferred Davis much, much more than Kate Winslet in The Reader). But honestly, I really don’t see much progress when in 2011 the most financially successful film in years starring black actors is a film where they play black maids in segregated Mississippi…Lord knows Hollywood likes to typecast their actresses and I pray to god that they do not blockade Davis into playing repressed maids for the rest of her career.
…also, on a separate note, I’m not particularly endorsing any of the best actress nominees because none of them truly wow me like Tilda Swinton or Charlize Theron did…which also brings up the question of WHY is the Academy (especially this year) so averse to films and performances of a dark, cynical, or frankly, challenging, nature? No Fassbender, Swinton, Theron, Dunst, Brooks, Gosling, Mulligan makes me very, very mad. I would’ve preferred any of the best actress losers from last year to sweep this year.
Sasha,
My post got deleted? Did I break any house rules posting a link to the McBride article? I honestly want to know because I always seem to be getting in trouble on these Viola Davis threads. Thanks!
Yes Deena – posting that is mostly against house rules when you are on an active campaign of destruction, lol. Ryan is going to take over now because I am on the road.
Well, at least you’ll get plenty of hits and comments. So congratulations.
I believed Viola Davis undisputably gave the best performance by an actress this year — until I saw Tilda Swinton in ‘We Need To Talk About Kevin’.
As the Academy has made the larger error of not even nominating Tilda at all, then it is a much smaller scale crime they commit in giving Viola the Oscar, and one that is certainly acceptable given their reputation as repeat offenders of taste.
I’m confused as to why this is even a controversy at all. This whole issue seems overblown on this site and has devolved into two sides just flaming the other. So I’ll just throw out a couple of observations that I’ve had.
I don’t see much of a reason that Ms. Streep needs another award. 2 wins, 15+ nominations, and near universal acceptance that she is the greatest actress of her generation if not of all time, none of which will be effected if she wins another award. Nor will she have any trouble finding quality parts in the future. It seems clear that at this point she will put a quality film out every year until she chooses to stop acting, which I personally hope is many years from now.
I also think that Ms. Stone is overstating the case of racism in the Academy’s award nominations and voting. I personally don’t see much ignoring of great black actress’ performances when award season comes around nor do I think that if Ms. Davis wins or doesn’t win the award does it prove that the majority of Academy voters are either racist or not racist.
Regarding Ms. Davis’ performance in The Help I feel its good overall and great at times but never ‘earth-shattering’ or ‘game-changing’ or any other adjective that indicates a performance is one of the greatest of all time. I also feel that she is far better in this film than Ms. Bullock was two years ago in the Blind Side and better than Ms. Witherspoon when she won for the Walk the Line. And that just like Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, and Julia Roberts before her there is a better performance in her past (Doubt) than the one that she will probably win for.
If I had the opportunity to vote this year I would probably have voted for Ms. Mara, especially if its true that winning an award for a part means more parts like that will appear in films. But I would be very happy if Ms. Davis wins.
If Ms. Streep wins she will probably be extremely gracious and mention every other nominee and place a call out for more quality female roles like she seems to do whenever she wins and that’s a great message to have every year and also not something the Academy has any control over. And I would hope that then we as a society could then retire her jersey and place in the rafters for all future award shows and stop holding a nomination spot for her every year.
Meryl Streep did the best female performance from all nominated, but it’s difficult for a critic or anyone says Meryl Streep deserves the Oscar when an African-American actress to be nominated too. Insure the pseudo progressive called him or her racist, fascist and even nazi.
There is much cowardice to say his or her opinion.
The funny thing about this article is that earlier in the day, CNN.com has an article talking about campaigning for Oscars and how the studios are paying people to praise their movies and stars. Then boom, later in the day, this article appeared. Hmmm…
all i see from spencer, davis and plummer winning is more stereotypical roles being written and produced, as good as they all were in their individual roles. the constant encouragement of these stereotypes is what keeps them alive and well.
the thing i don’t understand is why people are stating that by davis winning, the “door will open” and there will somehow be more roles for black actresses. it’s a wonderful thought and i hope it does come to fruition. i for one would love to see more great actresses like thandie newton get more toles. but did we start seeing more roles and more recognition for black actors/actresses after sidney poitier won? or when halle berry won? or monique? or when gabourey sidibe was nominated? or diana ross? people seem to be attaching far too much importance to what an oscar win means. it means viola davis can demand a slightly bigger paycheque for her next project and “the help” will sell a few more dvds than it already has. i think the only difference her win is more actresses being offered stereotypical roles, as wonderful as their performances may be. i’m not sure this is a good thing. as a gay man, i’d actually rather not see other gay narratives onscreen when our stories are being reduced to tragedies and/or martyrdom. christopher plummer was great in “beginners” but i personally didn’t need to see another dying gay man.
Viola will win for a supporting role only coz (sadly) she’s black.I wish she wud hav won all supporting categories but no.the black factor works wonderfully here and Meryl,michelle,glen,tilda all gave better performances than her.
But did Jimi Izreal say if Viola’s performance in The Help is better than Streep’s or Rooney”s or Williams’ or Close’s? Did he?
Anybody who thinks they are being cool by leading a backlash against anybody, for whatever reason, really has nothing to offer the rest of us. I simply skip their subsequent posts – I could care less what they have to say, good or bad.
I understand your friend’s reluctance to comment, Sasha – the mob mentality here has recently gotten rather out of hand; I’m glad it hasn’t discouraged you from fighting your corner. What aggravates me yet more about the situation is that now Viola Davis is experiencing such a backlash whereas when she played a maid in Far from Heaven, there were so many calling for her performance to be recognised. It’s disheartening to notice how some people would prefer to rebel against the status quo at the expense of maintaining good morals to accepting Davis’ well-earned success at the risk of appearing uncool.
Well, not only do I disagree with the notion that the worthy performances of The Help should be thrown out because of certain racially-themed problems with the movie, I disagree that the movie itself should be discounted and am sad the Academy did not seem to responder stronger to it. Maybe they wanted to stay out of the thicket of the controversy from both sides (whites and blacks)? It’s too bad.
More generally, it’s too bad that a combination of white guilt or or not black right or whatever has taken over the conversation about the merits of the movie. It is unfortunate that blacks do that (like Izreal says) and it’s unfortunate that whites do it. I guess I should be thankful I experience neither liberal guilt nor a desire to make every racially themed movie INSERT RACE-Right. In that sense, movies about minorities are held to an impossible standard (by both the minority and whites) and it just becomes ridiculous and impossible to make these movies. For shame.
More generally, I just simply disagree with the comments I’ve read that The Help is not very good. I think it’s quite good. It may not be the best movie of the year, but it’s amongst the top 2 or 3 of the BP nominees. It’s well acted, has a compelling, interesting, “dramadey” type story. It’s not a cathartic experience that reveals the end all and be all of the fight for racial equality, but it never pretends to be, and people looking for that in every racially-themed movie should, like Izreal says, look for a class or something.
“It’s OK if Davis wins, and frankly probably better for both actors if she does.”
Absolutely agree. It would mean so much to her, personally, and her career, which deserves that kind of recognition. Win or lose, Streep is doing just fine, thanks – better to keep racking up those nominations than jinx the momentum by finally winning another one.
The intense scrutiny applied to Davis’s win and The Help is a double standard…. rather, a quintuple standard. All of the cynical deconstruction and ridicule could as easily be applied to the other films and performances…. to any of the films nominated in the various categories. But the derision is almost entirely directed to the film about race. The controversy is inherently racist – and insulting.
Izrael’s argument would be more credible if he mocked the other films as stridently as he mocked The Help.
I’m only sorry that The Help isn’t an über-artistic exercise in racial ultra-violence and hatred; maybe if Ms. Davis had stabbed some whitey with a pitchfork would earn the award in certain eyes.
Doesn’t politics proselytize enough?
Wonderful article. Really hit the nail on the head more than a few times. How do you please some people? You can complain all you want about the lack of strong roles for African-American and minority women, but here is a deep, complex (yes, she’s not just a maid stock character) role designed for an African-American actress and there’s backlash about it?! I just don’t understand…would they rather the film not get made at all? I hope Viola wins, and like Sasha’s said, her win would move the needle a bit despite what the nay-sayers think.
I have to agree that the vitriol of some of these threads, in particular those related to best actress, has been pretty intense. People write from the point of view as if Meryl Streep were their mom. I’m certainly biased toward her, but acknowledge that TIL isn’t her finest work. Get a grip Streep fans. It’s OK if Davis wins, and frankly probably better for both actors if she does. Davis is one classy lady and deserved of the Oscar (although maybe in the supporting category, but I’ve poked the bear enough on that one), and Streep won’t be passed over for recognition in the near future, especially with recent news that new breath may have been given to August: Osage County for 2013.
I get all the Viola Davis…she was looking quite lovely at the SAG awards, and turned in a good (not great) SUPPORTING performance that was thrown into lead as a bit of a stunt to see if she could pull off a win. I get how Sasha is angry that people assume that the only reason she is rooting for Davis to win is because black actresses have done more-than-poorly here. But for all intents and purposes, she has written an article about that very subject, emphasizing the importance of Davis’ win. True, if Davis were to win, you could not overlook that fact. But let’s wait to see what happens on Oscar night before publishing that kind of article, shall we?
Instead, let’s focus on one true lead performance by a black actress that was unjustly overlooked all awards season. Adepero Oduye as Alike in Pariah. True, she may not have the chops or the resume that Davis does, but like Keisha Castle-Hughes/Catalina Sandino Moreno/Jennifer Lawrence and I guess, J-Hud, she proves that she has what it takes to be truly good in her first lead role in a motion picture (she had a bit part in Half Nelson). She gives a raw, poignant and devastating performance as Alike, “A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression” (imdb).
Davis plays a black maid who has been unfairly mistreated by white people in the south who has overcome great tragedy (racism/the death of her son) to become the woman she is by the film’s end.
You be the judge — which is the most difficult part to play? Which is the more worthy film? One is a feel-good/feel-bad surprisingly(?) commercial film and the other is a low-beat, little-released independent film about a controversial subject that has climbed over some big hurdles to even be seen by those who have seen it. One is directed by a black woman, the other by a white man. One has made only $496,000 and the other has made well over $196 million.
The Help deservedly has its supporters, but with its success…do these supporters need to be so attached still? Why not move on to a film that needs them the most?
This is my favorite part of the piece: “I don’t know what some black folks want from a film — the Hollywood machine is an ugly marriage of art and business, propaganda and entertainment. People going to the cineplex in search of edification or some ethereal, cathartic moment of spiritual actualization should be in school or church — because they expect more than they reasonably should from a movie.”
That was my exact reaction when I heard black folk were offended by some of the stereotypes in the movie.
On the other hand, as for the comments that are surely headed his way: he’s making a case for Viola both based on her performance (“Viola Davis carries this film on her back”) and based on her race (“Her nomination pushes an opening door even further, soliciting an appreciation for the beauty of dark skin, full eyes and lips, and a new beauty aesthetic for Hollywood to consider.”). He cannot be surprised later when people respond in racially-themed tones – those are the tones he himself opened the discussion with.
He cannot be surprised later when people respond in racially-themed tones – those are the tones he himself opened the discussion with.
His argument isn’t that people shouldn’t debate that — just that it shouldn’t always be the thing that holds someone like Davis back. You can’t talk about The Help not doing well with the mostly white, mostly liberal, mostly male Academy – their inner guilty liberal was consumed by the very thing the critics also fell victim to — this notion that The Help wasn’t WHITE RIGHT enough or BLACK RIGHT enough and therefore, the wonderful performances therein should also be thrown out. I disagree. So does the SAG. I hope so does the Academy.
I loved his piece. I agree that the film is very flawed and its winning Best Picture would upset me. But I agree that Davis is not one of the film’s flaws. She is amazing in a difficult role. It is even more remarkable because she rises above the level of the film, which isn’t really that good. She deserves this as much as any of the other nominees, if not more. She deserves it not because of her skin but because of what a talented actor she is and what an amazing performance she gives.