“Precious” mettle
How much bad stuff can possibly happen to one protagonist? In that contest, Precious -- the Harlem teenager at the heart of "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" -- ranks right up there with...
View Article“Precious” in the age of Obama
As a black woman, I had one overwhelming reaction to the trailer for "Precious": horror. Watching the unflattering images pile up in the space of a minute -- hugely overweight teen, crazy welfare...
View ArticleFilms of the decade: “Up the Yangtze”
A few of my favorite films of the 2000s are "Precious," "Sin Nombre," "City of God" and "Maria Full of Grace." All of these films took me to worlds I knew little about. And in each of these films, I...
View ArticleBody image revolution postponed
Lately, the media would have us believe that women loving their bodies just as they are is a trend that’s about to start sweeping the world as fast as pink eye spreads through a preschool classroom or...
View ArticleThe 10 greatest Golden Globes moments
The Golden Globes is supposed to be the fun awards show, the Hollywood Foreign Press's loose, sexy and possibly drunk cousin to our stiff, self-congratulatory Oscars. The evening celebrates our twin...
View ArticleThe Oscar nominations: Trying to please everyone
So what was the inflated Academy Awards best-picture category, expanded this year from five to 10 nominees, going to bring us? More populism or more existentialism? Was it going to open the door to...
View ArticleOscar reactions: Who was burned or spurned?
Like a faithful dog walking behind the heels of its owner, following the recently announced Oscar nominations come critiques from fans and critics alike. Here’s what’s happening around the Web:Vadim...
View ArticleGabourey Sidibe: Playing the victim
Mo'Nique's performance in "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire," as an abusive mother who, among other acts of cruelty, tries to keep her daughter from getting an education so she can stay on...
View ArticleGabourey Sidibe’s Oscar dress mess
So last week I read this widely reblogged USA Today article in which Gabourey Sidibe’s stylist, Linda Medvene (who?), proclaimed that “everyone” wanted to dress Gabby for the Oscars and then went on to...
View ArticleBest Oscar night ever?
How did they do it? As crazy as it sounds, this year's Oscar festivities were dynamic, funny and moved along at a good clip. Hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were hilarious, there were great jokes...
View ArticleHow top Oscar Winners fared at the box office
Domestic box-office totals through February for the most-honored films at the 82nd annual Academy Awards:------MOVIE: "The Hurt Locker," Summit Entertainment.OSCARS: Six, including best picture and...
View ArticleIn defense of Mo’Nique’s Oscar speech
Unlike Salon TV critic Heather Havrilesky, I cheered when Mo’Nique began her acceptance speech for the best supporting actress Oscar with, “I would like to thank the Academy for showing that it can be...
View ArticleIs Gabourey Sidibe’s film career over?
Earlier this week Howard Stern got into quite a bit of trouble for saying on air that Gabourey Sidibe, the Oscar-nominated star of "Precious," will never work again. I think it was distasteful (if...
View ArticleMo’Nique shaves her legs! The media rejoices!
When last year's supporting actress winner Mo'Nique revealed the 2011 Academy Awards nominations early Tuesday, there was really only one shocking surprise of the morning. On a day when everybody knew...
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