Mixed Reactions From Oscar Watch Blog: Some People Think Tyler Perry May Hurt For Colored Girls From Obtaining Oscar Nominations!!!

32 Comments

1

m1 says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:16pm

If Lionsgate expects the film to have any Oscar potential, Tyler Perry will have to screen his film for critics for the first time.
2

Ryan B says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:16pm

I don’t see any reason to discount this one so early. Lots of talent (and beauty) in those posters. Thankfully, Perry isn’t playing one of the girls.
If there’s a ringer, it might be Phylicia Rashad. She’s a big talent and well-respected.
3

Kevin Klawitter says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:20pm

The Blind Side slot, by the way, proves that film can get pretty bad reviews, completely miss the critics awards and guild awards, yet land a Best Picture nomination.

The difference is, “The Blind Side” mostly got middling-to-good reviews. It has a RT score of 66%, which while not great, proves it was’t the negative-review magnet it has been made out to be. Also, director John Lee Hancock has made more well-recieved movies than panned movies, and only one (The Alamo) could be considered a complete flop. Tyler Perry’s films (aside from his bit acting part in “Star Trek”) have never had more than 60%, and most are less than 30%. He’s never made a movie that could be considered a mainstream and critical hit.

I’m not saying that he can’t have the potential to make a great movie, I’m just saying “The Blind Side” had a better pedigree all around, and shouldn’t be compared to Tyler Perry movies.
4

reuben says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:24pm

Whoa. Those posters are amazing. Seriously, I can’t think of any posters this year that have topped those. Wow.
5

RichardA says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:29pm

This might edge out The Inception.
6

Sertan says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:30pm

I dont think a movie that says “for colored girls” is much comparable to the Blind Side in terms of its appeal! It positions itself as a “niche market” movie to start with and may not reach to the same wide audience that Blind Side reached.
7

Gentle Benj says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:52pm

“If Lionsgate expects the film to have any Oscar potential, Tyler Perry will have to screen his film for critics for the first time.”

That’s a very good point. I have been thinking that this film could be a contender, since I see Perry as a better director than a writer, and this time he’s not working from his own screenplay. But yeah, if it doesn’t screen for critics, we’ll know it’s just more of the same from Perry.

“This might edge out The Inception.”

I don’t think they would even be in competition with each other, since The Inception is a porno from 2006.
8

reuben says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:05pm

Gentle Benj: Bwahaha!!
9

Josh says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:14pm

I feel like this is still some elaborate joke being pulled by David Poland, who is (I believe) the first person to mention this film for Oscar consideration. I mean, it’s technically possible, but I don’t see any reason initially to consider this movie for the awards season.
And, yeah, I feel like Tree of Life not coming out in 2010 makes Inception closer to being a guaranteed nominee. It won’t be a guarantee until the nominations are announced, but Tree of Life bowing out is good news for every other contender.
10

Yvette says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:18pm

How refreshing would that be! I hope it’s good. Thandie Newton is gorgeous as the rest of the women are. I’m still pissed at that Hollywood Vanity Fair cover.
11

Rashad says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:20pm

NO I hope not.

Those are terrible posters. For a movie about “colored girls” they sure washed out their color.
12

Gentle Benj says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:22pm

Oh God, I just read that Mendelson quote:

“He’s the only mainstream filmmaker outside of Clint Eastwood who consistently makes adult dramas.”

Can we find a cure for fogeyism already, so people will stop brandishing the word “adult” like a floppy truncheon?

Guess what! Adults enjoy all kinds of movies. Films like LOTR, Harry Potter, The Dark Knight, Star Trek, etc. did not make their hundreds of millions by allowance money alone. If adults like it, and it has drama, it’s a goddamn ADULT DRAMA. Even if it has a setting other than a middle class home. Even if it has special effects beyond a blue or sepia tint. And yea, even if a teenager also watches it on purpose. For fuck’s sake.
13

Yvette says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:33pm

@Rashad
I agree, now that I look at the posters again. I know she is not in this movie but Beyonce is getting whiter by the second. Kind of annoying.
I’m still going to be hopeful for this movie and the women in it though.
14

marshall says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:42pm

Tyler Perry makes too much money to not eventually be invited to the dance. I don’t even think he’d have to have a marked upturn in quality. Also I think a lot of this movie’s potential comes from him not having written it.
15

Bob Burns says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:56pm

“Anyone who ever went to acting school…” is the money quote, IMO. If, underline that, if, this is a great production that reminds voter why they loved the play back when they were young, it will have a hook.
16

R. T. says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 8:52pm

I think its pretty impossible for this to be good enough to be nominated. The play is excellent and the writer of the play is the screenwriter but its a play of monologues and its difficult to imagine how it would translate to film. The cast is VERY excellent but the big turd in the punch bowl is Tyler Perry. A talented businessman (though some question his practices) but untalented writer AND director. Any number of talented directors would have had trouble turning this material into a movie, although it would have been very interesting to see them try. Tyler Perry as the director pretty much dooms it though.
17

Alfredo says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 9:28pm

It’s possible…especially since Perry is a member of the Academy and has friends in the Academy (ie Oprah)
18

Gentle Benj says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 9:44pm

For those familiar with the play (I’m not), whose role would you say is most ripe for awards attention?
19

kmoore8435 says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 10:17pm

I am by no means a Perry cheerleader. Most of his movies are overwrought melodrama with low brow comedy thrown into the mix. But understand, Perry DID NOT write this film nor the play; he’s only directing and with a good DP…anything is possible.

The casts is filled with talented actresses who are so seasoned, not even Tyler could f* them up. So here’s hoping he delivers something that brings a bit of ‘color’ to the Oscars next year.
20

Chance says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 10:36pm

@Gentle Benj, the Lady In Red was the big Tony winner and the role everyone remembers (the Lady in Brown a close runner up), but in the film’s script, some of the big Red moments (one in particular) was given to the Lady in Orange so that means we’re looking at Janet and Thandie, just based on the Tony Awards. Lady in Red is FIERCE.
And oh-man-oh-man I love the posters! I’ve been waiting for this flick like I waited for every musical/Batman film/Michael Bolton CD (judge me, I care not), so every tease is so delicious!!
21

Walter L. Hollmann says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 10:38pm

But For Colored Girls is about abuse, the long emotional, physical, psychological abuses borne by black women at the hands of their men, white society, etc. Am I remembering it wrong?
Gentle Benj: The play doesn’t really have “roles”. Each woman wears a different colored dress, no one has a name, and all their monologues tend to bleed into each other. It’s more of a collection of poems than a play, so finding the “awards bait” role is impossible. If this has any acting play at all, it’s for SAG Ensemble and that’s it.
22

Chance says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 10:41pm

GAH, they gave them names? And how unimaginative!
Kerry is Kelly
Thandie is Tangie
Janet is Jo (ie Damita Jo maybe?)
Phylicia is Gilda
Whoopi is Alice (ie Alice Walker? Tyler Perry would)
Kimberly is Crystal?
Tessa is Nyla?
Loretta is Juanita?
That’s just lazy.
23

Gentle Benj says:
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 11:18pm

Thanks for the insight, Chance and Walter. Sounds like we’ll have to wait and see if the critics single anyone out (again, that’s if they get to see it before release, heh). Until then, I suppose the smart money is on Rashad.
24

the other mike says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 1:35am

1 year on and we still hating on The Blind Side? elites really hated that movie huh? smh. well, there is a big patch of land between manhattan and malibu that loved it. Reminds me of country music, gets no play in elits music critical circles but is the biggest genre. we need to come together as Americans and embrace eachother.
25

mirko36 says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 1:38am

I’m almost confident about this one, because I liked the play and I love the marvelous ladies they casted

Academy Award Nominee Janet Jackson? I like it, but maybe it’s more likely Academy Award Nominee Phylicia Rashad…we’ll see

ps: I know that Janet is already an Oscar nominated songwriter, I just wondering if she could score a second time as best supporting actress
26

Gentle Benj says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 1:43am

Nominations for both acting and songwriting would definitely put Jackson in an exclusive club. Streisand has done it; who else?
27

the other mike says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 4:32am

Janet Jackson is an incredible artist, it would be just reward if she got nominated.
28

Pete says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 5:17am

Fuck you Other Mike. You don’t get to bitch about “elites” and then self righteously declare that Americans need to “come together”.
Country music is NOT the biggest genre in terms of sales. That would be hip hop. Of course because that music is performed primarily by black people, I guess it doesn’t really register in your pea brain.
29

Will says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 7:27am

I’m a little more hopeful because of that cast and because he didn’t write it.
30

Chance says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 8:47am

No one can say “elites” without me thinking of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, no matter the context.

I know, I’d be happy if ANY lady got a nom out of this cast. Like it was just posted, the Oscars are a one night stand. The nomination could be “Hey, Thandie, sorry you didn’t get nommed for Crash, but aren’t you grateful that now you aren’t linked to that backlash?” or “Hey, Kerry, this is a promise of things to come. Promise we’ll call you sometime before the week is out.” or “Phylicia, is it true that you never won an Emmy for The Cosby Show? Well, let me break you off a piece of this!”

I should really stop doing acid before breakfast….
31

Ibad says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 10:04am

I think the best shot for a nomination here would be in the weaker Supporting Actress one, though I’m not sure which one would make it (I’m not sure whose role is baitier than another, I guess it’d be down to former winner Whoopi and veteran Rashad). But I guess I can see it taking a “Blind Side” slot.
32

Gil says:
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 10:51am

This might come off as somewhat racist, but it seems like there are a few too many black chicks in this film for my taste.