Dear Mo’Nique, Best Supporting Actress 2010
Dear Mo’nique
First off let me begin by congratulating you on your Oscar win last night for your role in the movie Precious based on the novel Push
The brash nature of your comedy and other things you were involved with was the main reason I have not been a fan of your work since you did the movie Phat Girlz
My hope with you winning this award is that you stay true to those before you and accept roles that are equal to your new stature. Digressing for a moment I know it has been long established in the black community that we must take the bad roles to get to the good ones, but with you winning the biggest prize of them all I hope this means no more movies like Soul Plane and more like Precious
To some it may seem hypocritical of me to even have the audacity to address this issue considering I have neither seen the movie nor read the book, but I felt I owed it to myself and to the readers of this blog to state my opinion considering how much I have promoted you and your activities over the years, both good and bad. Again congratulations on stepping into the pantheon of great big screen performers.
On a plus size and black note thank you for pouring your heart and soul into this role. I hope in the future your activities reflect the greatness you brought to the black community as well as the plus size community even though you are not as outspoken as you were previously in regard to your larger sisters and brothers.
P.S. Can you do me a favor and tone down the loudness and absurdity level that you portray on your talk show. I would appreciate that.
Sincerely,
Glen L Johnson
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Whatever the controversy, I think she completely deserved this. Her work in Precious was simply marvelous. I remember getting goose bumps all throughout the movie and crying my eyes out and the pure emotion one could feel. And to top it all of, she looked stunning yesterday in that gorgeous gown. Well done Mo’Nique!
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Well stated Glen. Lord the soap box I could get on right now; however, I will refrain. I’m happy for her and despite the critics who say that this was not an Oscar worthy performance I think she truly shined last night.
Heheheheheh! I love it Glen well stated and the P.S.. too! I screamed with glee out of excitement and sheer happiness! I got all warm with her politics comment and I am happy to see a curvy diva rock it on the red carpet!
Well said…..the movie was awesome…sad but awesome…and she played that character!!!
OMG! You took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you sir! Well said.
Dear Glen,
I am very happy to have read this. It wasn’t just you who’s had some issue with Mo’nique, I have too. But before people think I’m just hatin’ hear me out.
I have always been outspoken about celeb’s and I blame Matthew McConaughey. LOL It’s a long story but for years I have slowly gone from a huge fan to one that cannot be bothered to invest in seeing his movies any more because he’s sold out down the river way too many times. He doesn’t stretch himself as much as he used to and I’m annoyed about that. But aside from his questionable roles of late, and his devil may care persona he has a huge heart which lends its self to charity work and helping others he believes in. The business side, the charity worker and so forth isn’t something the public sees on a large scale – but it’s there.
What does this have to do with Mo’nique? Well I think as spectators of the beautiful art of being a artist/celebrity we do expect an awful lot of them. We expect them to make decisions we would make because we identify with them (or look up to them/admire them in some way) , we feel annoyed when they do something we wouldn’t do. We get upset they don’t take full advantage of their position and grow.
I know some people from my small fan base feel the same about me sometimes. They ask why I did this, or that. But what it boils down to is being human. I chose to distance myself from certain people and jobs that I didn’t want to do because they didn’t feel right, but people have said I would have been better doing them or been in association with (certain people). But who’s living my life? Me or them?
But much of what entertainers do is just doing what pays the rent, mortgage, or gets them into contact to the next level.
I feel Mo’nique played the game to get into the world of entertainment. Her brashness is part of her, but I think she hams it up an awful lot too – many of her fans expect it of her. Some of us would like to see the softer side a little more often. She has it – a big heart and hopefully she’ll show it more and more.
It’s funny – I can watch Katt Williams but I can barely bring myself to watch Mo’nique do stand up. I think the fact I want her to be with the sisterhood whether that’s fat or thin, white or black and she’s spouted venomous comments on slimmer women (for quick laughs, maybe, for the good of her image in the future – debatable)
It reminds me a little of Courtney Love. She went from rocker to groomed actress (and she wasn’t half bad at that). She toned her wildness down a lot – but still in her core was someone who was, for the most part, annoyed at just about everybody. Now she’s no longer acting she’s forever in the news for negative things. She just got very lost.
I’m not expecting the same thing to happen to Mo’nique but it could. I would hate to see Mo’nique loose the opportunity to grow as a performer. I don’t want her to apologize for who she is, but I would love to see her hone her acting craft and be more comfortable exposing her softer side.
Put her next to Sandra Bullock (best actress) and I’m sorry to say, Mo’nique doesn’t even come close. Bullock has been working her craft for years – yes a few bum movies but by and large she’s always been consistent in her performances. Challenging herself for the most part in her career. Whether Mo’nique wants to continue to work this side of entertainment remains to be seen. I would want her to enjoy her new found praise, but also take a step back and realise what it means.
She has a lot of positive traits and those can be used in acting roles too. Or just hammed up a bit so we see other dimensions of her.
She now has the invitation of acceptance to do what she wants to – and hopefully she’ll make good choices that will keep her in the public eye for many years to come.
At the core of her win I was reminded of one thing – that she didn’t get it because she was black, or plus-sized. She got it because she dared to step out of the comfort zone of comedy and play a role that challenged her. In the end that is what any good performer should do.
God bless her and I hope she has a wonderful journey through the world of entertainment.
Vanessa Reece x
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*bravo* Well written, Glen. I agree that I hope that she will continue to do these exceptional roles and will not revert back to movies like Soul Plane.
P.S. I think you need to check out Phat Girlz. It was *nothing* like a Soul Plane. And while I have my own beefs with the movie, it was much more empowering for plus size women than you might think.
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Thanks for your words ladies they mean the world to me. Vanessa I think you hit it on the head with your comments and as you say the results remain to be seen. Aja, I have seen Phat Girlz and loved it the copy I have was one of the promo copies sent to me during the build up to the movie meaning I will not be opening it! LOL thank goodness for netflix!