Freaknik the Musical/Oscars

So ever since I had heard of Freaknik The Musical I had been curious to see what it was gonna be all about.  Not because many of the people lending their voice talents, but because it was originally supposed to be David Banner’s cartoon (The Crooked ‘Sip).  When I first saw a preview for it I pretty much already shunned it and decided that it was something I didn’t want to see.  It didn’t look appealing at all, plus it really featured artists that I didn’t really too much care for.  Then the closer it got to coming on, the more I started looking forward to it.  Then last Sunday when it premiered, I was blown away by it.  It was a pretty good cartoon.  Not much replay value, but nonetheless it was highly entertaining to me.  It was pretty much what was expected knowing the people that were doing the voices.  All are mainstream radio rap staples so no real surprise there for the kind of music and “foolishness” that were seen in the cartoon.  I had no problem with it all, but I noticed that (black) people started getting on their high horse about it, but I’ll deal with the issue later cause I want to get to something else…

Congrats to Mo’Nique for her Oscar win for her role in Precious.  Now I haven’t seen the movie so I’m not going to say that she played to part well or start to throw praise her way when I’m not in the position to because of that.  From what I’ve heard other people say though is that she played the role perfectly and deserved the  “Golden Naked Guy”, and since she won she obviously won over the critics for that role.  Many congrats are in order for Mo’Nique.

NOW….

This is what this blog is really about here.

Let’s start with Mo’Nique.  I’m in no way shape or form going disqualify her in winning the award.  I’m happy for her.  I’m  not gonna tear her down cause of the role she played in it (as mentioned above I have not seen the movie).  For the third time since Halle Berry got her Oscar for Monster’s Ball, I’m hearing this:

“We [blacks] only win when we play negative characters, and its not a good look on our culture.  We’re also doctors, lawyers, and good guys.  We often get overlooked when we play those kind of characters.  Its only how Hollywood sees us.”

No disrespect to all my friends/colleagues that agree with this school of thought, but getthe****outtaherewitalldatbull***!!!!!!   FOR REAL!!!!

Let’s look at it.  Halle, Mo’Nique, Denzel, played roles that were a stretch for them.  Denzel is always…ALWAYS….ALWAYS….ALWAYS a good guy (cop, teacher, lawyer) in his movies.  So when he was faced with playing a role that he wasn’t accustomed to portraying and pulls it off convincingly, HIS ACTING IN THAT ROLE SHOULD GIVE HIM THE AWARD DUE TO THE FACT HE IS PLAYING THE TYPE OF CHARACTER THAT HE’S NEVER HAD TO PORTRAY.

Simple as that.

Mo’Nique is a comedian.  Most of the roles in movies and television shows were geared and meant for her funny bone.  Therefore she is used to playing the comedic role.  The loud mouth sassy plus sized diva that she is.  Those roles aren’t for her, they ARE her.  Those roles aren’t that much of a stretch for her.  Not much work for her to do on the set.  Then here comes a role where she has to flex real acting skills.  This is coming from a well known comedian that is used to making people laugh.  She had to reach for emotions and words that she probably have never had to reach for even in real life. Why did she win?  SHE PLAYED THE ROLE WELL.  THIS IS A ROLE THAT SHE WASN’T ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING.  SHE’S USUALLY THE FUNNY ONE IN THE MOVIES AND MAKING ALL OF US LAUGH.  THIS ROLE WAS A STRETCH….STRETCH….STRETCH FOR HER.  SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY…SHE MADE TO MOST OF IT.

Simple as that.

Go back and see all of Halle’s movies prior to “Monster’s Ball” and apply that same logic.  Now I can see if all that we played were negative characters.  Quick name two other movies Denzel has played the Villain.

Ok, I’ll wait.

Ok.  Now name me about two dramas that Mo’Nique has played in where she had to play something other than the comedy relief.

Ok.  I’ll wait.

Done.  I’m sick of it.  We are never satisfied with each other’s accomplishments.  There is always an asterisk by something we’ve won.  The sad part about it is that its our own people doing it.  Constantly.  Either be genuinely happy, or at least be happy for the win and don’t gripe about us winning something.

GEEZ!!!!

Now on the Freaknik.  I’m seeing were people are saying that this set us back.

lol set us back lol

Wow.  Really?

So the same people that you all rock to in the club and at concerts are setting us back due to a cartoon?

C’mon…a CARTOON?

Don’t get mad now people.  This “culture” has been in existence for a looong time.  Now the most popular people in Urban Culture right now are:

Lil Wayne

Rick Ross

T-Pain

Niki Manaj

Gucci Mane

OJ Da Juiceman

Wokka Wakka Flame

Four of them did voices in it.  You buy their music.  You pay to see them in concert.  You rock to their music.  You sing their songs.  You quote them in Facebook and Twitter updates.

YET!!!!!!

NOW YOU WANNA FINALLY SAY ITS SETTING US BACK?

And the thing about it was, I found it more like all of them were making fun of themselves.  It made me gain an inkling of respect for some of’em.  I saw it as them poking fun at how outlandish they can be within their music/videos and how they are seen in the public eye.

Oh well…as usual….we all seem to get real snobbish and bourgeois when it comes to entertainment for some reason.

Lighten up.

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