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Tonya
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 4024
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 12:22 pm: | 
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Tarzan's children: Why movies about Africa require white saviors.
Tracing the history of the 'White folks to the rescue!' genre, from Tarzan to 'Blood Diamond.'
By Joe Queenan, JOE QUEENAN writes frequently for Barron's, the New York Times Book Review and the Guardian.
January 14, 2007
THE RELEASE OF Edward Zwick's majestic "Blood Diamond" is a bittersweet moment for film buffs, bringing to an end the stunning "Just Let Bwana Do It!" series that began with "The Interpreter" and "The Constant Gardener." In each of these movies, beleaguered black folks marooned in forlorn, blood-drenched African nations get to see justice done because of the heroic efforts of some truly fabulous white people.
"White Folks to the Rescue!" is a glorious tradition that stretches back at least as far as the Tarzan movies, in which a selfless Caucasian — for mysterious self-actualization reasons — has taken up residence in the bowels of the primeval forest and repeatedly ensures that truth and justice prevail in sub-Saharan Africa, something the local black community has been unable to effectuate.
In all these films, the underlying theme is the same: If you're black and you're poor, and your nation is torn by horrendous strife, and your neighbors are dropping like flies, there's no reason to get down in the dumps because sooner or later the Great White Hope will come through for you. Which, of course, is exactly the way things happen in real life.
For those unfamiliar with recent film history, a recap may be in order. In "The Interpreter," Nicole Kidman plays a perky United Nations translator who is one of the few white people on the planet who can speak the esoteric southwestern Africa tribal dialect of Koo. (Angelina Jolie and Madonna, not appearing in the movie, almost certainly speak Koo, as do Bono and Martin Sheen.) Overhearing a sinister plot against the evil but freely elected black president of her country, Kidman puts her nose to the grindstone and does a pretty classy job of bailing out the millions of hapless black people from her native land who also speak Koo but never land jobs at the United Nations. Message: White folks care.
In "The Constant Gardener," the fetching Rachel Weisz plays a selfless political activist who is butchered because of her opposition to drug companies that use hapless black Africans as guinea pigs. Things look really bad when she is murdered early in the film because "Just Let Bwana Do It!" movies usually only carry that one good white person on the roster, but luckily Ralph Fiennes, a truly swell British chap, has been held in reserve, and he gallantly steps in to fill the breach.
At the end of the motion picture, after Fiennes has laid down his own life for his fellow hapless black man, the rogue Big Pharma merchants of death are brought to justice, their nefarious henchmen in her majesty's government are disgraced and the black citizens of the country can once again tip their hat to the superb white fellow who has sacrificed everything for their well-being.
"Blood Diamond," the final entry in the series, offers up the most ingenious plot twist of all. This time, hapless black victims of genocidal warfare inflicted by their fellow, somewhat less hapless black men receive succor from a genuinely unexpected source: a murderous, racist Rhodesian mercenary and diamond smuggler (Leonardo DiCaprio) who spends most of the film acting like a murderous, racist Rhodesian mercenary and diamond smuggler.
Armed with an accent powerful enough to alter the course of the mighty Zambesi, DiCaprio finally realizes that diamonds are not forever, that there are some things more important in life than locating a precious stone worth eighty hundred million trillion billion dollars, and that you have to give back. Once again, good triumphs over evil, satanic diamond merchants are trundled off to the hoosegow and hapless black Africans can breathe a whole lot easier thanks to the ministrations of a "White Man Who Cares."
Film scholars and ethnic statisticians feverishly dispute the roots of the "Just Let Bwana Do It!" series. Some say that the "Pasty-Faced African Messiah" tradition is a subset of the American "Three Cheers for Whitey!" genre that has long thrived on these shores. Following their logic, there is a direct line from Gregory Peck's heroic Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" to Gene Hackman's "Racist FBI Agent With a Heart of Gold" in "Mississippi Burning," and the tradition has continued in recent years with films as varied as "A Time to Kill" (white lawyer goes to bat for poor Southern blacks) "Finding Forrester" (curmudgeonly old white academic teaches the meaning of life to hapless black teen protege) and "Glory Road" (white coach with great hair leads all-black basketball squad to the NCAA championship over horrible white coach hamstrung by absurd facial prosthetic).
Nor can we overlook "A Change of Habit," in which Elvis Presley played a "Doctor with a Conscience" who practices medicine in the inner city. If there were ever a movie that tapped into the theme of "Three Cheers for White Folks!" this was it. Elvis, of course, was reputed to have once said that the only thing black people could do for him was to "buy my records." What he really meant was: "The only thing black people can do for me is to take three aspirins and call me in the morning."
Personally, I am not so sure that the "Bwana" films have a homegrown American pedigree. To my mind, the series has its roots in 1951's "Cry, the Beloved Country" (mean old white South African guy builds new church for poor old black minister whose thuggish son killed the mean old white guy's truly fantabulous son).
The tradition can also be seen in "The Ghost and the Darkness," in which Val Kilmer (great white hunter) and Michael Douglas (not-so-great white hunter) go gunning for a pair of marauding lions that have eaten half the population of the Sudan. Again, the underlying theme comes through loud and clear: If things are looking black, just sit tight and wait for the white folks to show up. Sooner or later, Val Kilmer will get those lions in his sights. It might take a while — the lions apparently ate about 150 Africans — but it will eventually happen. Just be patient.
Whatever the case, I for one am sorry to see this string of movies come to an end. Hopefully, as with such beloved, long-running series as "Star Wars," "The Godfather," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Jeepers Creepers," the producers of these magnificent films about Africa can be persuaded to put together a few more movies to lift the hearts of black people everywhere.
I personally would love to see a movie about a washed-up South Philadelphia Italian American heavyweight fast approaching 60 who flies to Nairobi just to help a hapless black African champion roughly half his age prove his mettle by facing the ultimate challenge: Going the distance with a washed-up South Philadelphia Italian American heavyweight fast approaching 60 who probably stands about 5 feet 8.
But maybe that would seem too farfetched.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-queenan14jan14,0,5304132.st ory?coll=la-news-comment-opinions |
Serenasailor
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Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1059
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 01:01 pm: |
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That is so true. These movies are "chalked full" of stereotypes, and racist innuendos from maybe well-meaning white ppl. I just went and saw the stupid movie "Primevil" in which all the Africans played stupid, evil, and animalistic like "beast". And the only Black American Orlando Jones played a real "Buffoon".
The white characters were portrayed as so benevolent, and like they truely cared about those self-destructive Africans. They were only there to save them from themselves. "Rolleyes"
Also lets not forget about the other wave of Hollywood movies about the benevolent white teacher who goes into the inner city and saves a bunch, of stupid, ugly, and self-destructive Africans American children from themselves and their "crackhead" parents. |
Enchanted
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Username: Enchanted
Post Number: 649
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 01:05 pm: |
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You could add Freedom Writer to this pile. |
Tropical_storm
Regular Poster
Username: Tropical_storm
Post Number: 84
Registered: 10-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 01:06 pm: |
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The idea of the white savior coming to the rescue of hapless Africans is so deeply ingrained that many people see it as natural and never even question it.
The overwhelming majority of work that is being done to improve the lives of Africans is being done by fellow Africans! However, that image does not sell newspapers, magazines or movie tickets in the West so it will not be highlighted.
What will change this is what I discussed in another thread and that is Africans in America working to take control of how Africa is discussed and portrayed in the West.
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Toubobie
Regular Poster
Username: Toubobie
Post Number: 211
Registered: 08-2005
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 01:19 pm: |
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How about "Freedom Riders" movie and how it projects a similar message/ formula we keep seeing over and over again about 'Snowflake in da Hood:'
<White woman has a promising future, but moves to the hood out of pity and/ or self-vindication reasons to teach the lowly darkies and a couple of token whites not to kill each other, and instead worship her.
For years the BLACK school faculty and administrators have become jaded, seemingly satisfied by the impoverished hopeless conditions of life in the hood for these destined failures.
Intro: Swank: "YOU CAN DO IT CAUSE I SAID SO!" She threatens to tame them with her INTELLECT and sheer white beauty. Darkies: "DANK YOU TEACHA FA BA-LEAVIN IN US!" Blacks praise the great white savior Swank.
Cue: Pastey white-teeth grins on black greasy faces.
Outro: Now DOCILE Class dance, a mix between the Electric slide and Macarena, Blacks laugh WITH rhythmless teacher/ SWANK as she mocks their dance moves and culture. FADE TO BLACK>
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Renata
Veteran Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1713
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 01:28 pm: |
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I watched some show with Raven Symone on it yesterday with a friend's children. A small child, about 6 or so, played ping pong against Raven's two brothers and father, and won possessions from them. They were upset by it and were wondering how to get their things back. It ended when the only white girl on the show played against the kid and won back all of the stuff they had lost. Seems like a theme in entertainment, I guess.
LOL...Toubobie, you are too much! I think I saw this movie before when it was called "Dangerous Minds". |
Enchanted
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Username: Enchanted
Post Number: 650
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 01:36 pm: |
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I just mentioned "Freedom Writers" you mispelled it Touboubie. |
Dahomeyahosi
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Username: Dahomeyahosi
Post Number: 150
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 01:58 pm: |
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I think this happens because white people have absolutely no faith in the ability of African to solve our own problems (a belief that many Africans unfortunately also possess). But the bigger reason is the box-office.
The majority of the American movie going public is white and they want to see a good image of themselves. I don't believe any movie starring an African and composed of a primarily African cast has any chance of wide release and good box office. Even the last King of Scotland, a movie starring a Forest Whitaker (who has managed to win virtually every best actor award this year), will not make it to wide release and box office results. If Africans were as celebrated at the box office as the Chinese and Europeans you can bet we'd show up all the time. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2971
Registered: 01-2006
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 02:01 pm: |
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Thank God for white people. We'd all be up the creek without them, huh???
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Kola_boof
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 3996
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 02:15 pm: |
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Dahomeyahosi, you're right.
And we there ARE some filmmakers we should we supporting as black folks.
When it comes to Black characters fixing the world for other blacks ON FILM......Raul Peck has been following in the footsteps of Ousmane Sembene (Lumumba)--his images are truly black and truly inspiring---and Julie Dash (my hero!) gave us "Daughters of the Dust"...so there is some faint "thump" that says that BLACK PEOPLE everywhere in the world want an alternative image.
I am studying cameras/film stocks and building a "name" for investors and I am more optimistic about film than books believe it or not.
The MEDIA could actually be turned around to be our saving redemption if we simply thought long and hard about what we will pay to see--and what we will FILM/PRODUCE for our children to see.
Has anyone read where the biggest box-office for "FREEDOM WRITERS" according to exit polls was African-Americans and Latinos followed by White females?
Just imagine what little "bi-racial" children of black men and black women receive from these films. It makes it impossible to be disappointed in people like Tiger Woods for not honoring their black side--because this is really the society their black parent blindly supports WITHOUT THINKING.
And, of course, to speak against these films is to risk being called a "racist/separatist".
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Kola_boof
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 3997
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 02:26 pm: |
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I also cannot wait for Oprah Winfrey's production of the Toni Morrison novel "PARADISE" to come out, because that is one story that goes TOTALLY in the opposite of these stories....and I'm anxious to see what the public's reaction will be to "PARADISE" and the mysterious secret "all blue black town".
Blacks weren't enthralled with "BELOVED" and failed to get the very powerful messages imbedded in the film....but I think the VISUAL power of the "8-Rock" in "PARADISE" will be like a subliminal message for many blacks who despair at the breakdown of the black community.
As Toni Morrison said: "Any form of Paradise is defined NOT by that which is included...but by that which is EXCLUDED."
Hence the "8-Rocks" (blue blacks) forming their own town. And I've said this to ABM many times--that I believe DuBois's talented 10th will actually turn out to be that tiny 10% of "authentic blacks" (meaning brown to black) who will survive because of the OUTCASTED dark nappy black girls who to most of us---"are invisible". The next "black people" will come from them--not from the majority of us.
I'm so glad that this going to air on television and that Selma Hayek is playing the "SAVIOR" Connie.
This type of movie is the "PSYCHOLOGICAL" message film that I intend to make my stock and trade. You almost have to trick black people into finding that part of their thinking that is inate and natural, and "PARADISE" is also a "womanist" story.
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Kola_boof
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Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 3998
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 02:30 pm: |
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I just have to re-post this quote, because I don't think there are many of us who realize that "PARADISE" means literally....the exclusion of what we don't like.
Toni Morrison said: "Any form of Paradise is defined NOT by that which is included...but by that which is EXCLUDED."
It would be so wonderful if Blacks learned to understand this--because this is how WHITES rule, and it's HUMAN, not evil.
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Serenasailor
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Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1060
Registered: 01-2006
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 02:41 pm: |
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Well first of all Kola when paradise comes out they will not show a town of Blue Black ppl. It will more than likely be a town of High yellow light skinned and a smiget of dark-skinned Black ppl. Especially if Oprah and her Colorstruck self has anything to do with it. Notice how she gave the last to roles in her movies that were suppose to go to Black women to Halle Berry.
That is what she will do in this film. Did you know that she is also doing a movie about Lena Horne starring Alicia Keyes. I don't see her doing a movie on Ethel Waters, Patti Labelle, and Cicely Tyson. |
Kola_boof
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Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 4000
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 02:56 pm: |
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Oprah makes me sick with her track record, Serena.
But it's because of those charges of colorism that she supposedly wants to make "PARADISE"---and I'm sure that Toni Morrison would not allow her to completely remove the CENTRAL STORY of the novel, there would be nothing to film.
It's impossible to have "yellow" people in the town of RUBY (the town was formed by a group of REJECTED blue blacks after slavery ended and nobody wanted to mate with blue blacks anymore)---only 1 yellow woman was allowed and she was the black sheep of the town.
What they might do with "PARADISE" is make the black people deep dark brown so that major actors like Don Cheadle and Cicely Tyson can bring power to the roles---but the story of the novel will stay in tact--it will be about an all-black "PARADISE" formed by "rejects" where no one with ANY FORM of light skin is welcome.
Selma Hayek's characters runs a convent for wayward women 50 miles outside the town----50 MILES OUT----and look what that town did to her.
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Kola_boof
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Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 4001
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 02:58 pm: |
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At least I'm going by what Oprah stated on her show.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6704
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 04:24 pm: |
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As far as "Tarzan's children" movies go, sometimes art imitates life as in the case of missionary Albert Schwietzer, the doctor and accomplished organist who for years the world hailed as a great white father, a humanitarian who give up his fame and fortune to devote his life to operating a hospital in French Equatorian Africa. But in later years the rumors began to leak out about Schweitzer also being a tyrant who disdainfully treated his patients and African staff like children, believing them to be incapable of helping themselves, trusting them with little authority, expecting their subservience in exchange for his "benevolence". And of course Angelina Jolie and Madonna are examples of self-fulfillment through good intentions. |
Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1061
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 04:35 pm: |
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I doubt that Kola because lets face it Blue Black ppl don't sell tickets. That is how Oprah is going to look at it. So she is going to put Beyonce's, Halle's, and Vanessa's in there as the main character. Like she did in Beloved and The Wedding.
And you better believe that she is going to put some benevolent white character in it to give it more "appeal" to the dominent culture. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 1573
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 04:48 pm: |
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this is an excellent thread....thank you Tonya! this white man's burden motif along w/the hortio alger motif is bamboozling black folk! |
Kola_boof
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 4002
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 04:51 pm: |
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Serena....this is TONI MORRISON'S PROJECT as well as Oprah's, and I can tell you right now----she ain't about to let Oprah change the storyline of "PARADISE".
I'm not disputing that Oprah has been colorist with some of her other projects, she has been---though I think "The Wedding" and "Beloved" were WELL CAST and done almost identically to those books. I don't know what your complaint is. What Oprah messed up was "Their Eyes Are Watching God".
As for Tarzan's Children
That's exactly why I posted about "Paradise" on THIS thread----the movie is about a town of BLACKS who will not let outsiders of any group help them do shit, regardless of how nice they are. To the blacks of "RUBY", paradise is a place with only dark skinned black people in it. They don't allow outsiders.
That's the story, basically.
The character of CONNIE is already benevolent and there's also very nice sweet White girl already in the book---of course they die horrible deaths at the end of the movie.
I saw the episode of Oprah when she said that she's doing a nationwide search for "very dark skinned blacks" to play the townspeople of "RUBY" and that Salma Hayek will play the role of Connie, who in the book, was a mixed race Indian.
And Oprah did the film "BELOVED" brilliantly, it was cast just right, I don't know what you're talking about.
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Yukio
Veteran Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 1574
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 04:53 pm: |
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Just imagine what little "bi-racial" children of black men and black women receive from these films. It makes it impossible to be disappointed in people like Tiger Woods for not honoring their black side--because this is really the society their black parent blindly supports WITHOUT THINKING.
Insightful! |
Tonya
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 4026
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 06:06 pm: |
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You're welcome, Yukio. I thought it was thoroughly done.
"Armed with an accent powerful enough to alter the course of the mighty Zambesi, DiCaprio finally realizes that diamonds are not forever, that there are some things more important in life than locating a precious stone worth eighty hundred million trillion billion dollars..."
And a bit comical too. LOL |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 7828
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 06:14 pm: |
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Blood Diamond's Edward Zwick was also the director of the great film Glory, the film that garnered Denzel Washington a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. |
Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1064
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 06:20 pm: |
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Blood Diamond's Edward Zwick was also the director of the great film Glory, the film that garnered Denzel Washington a Best Supporting Actor Oscar
Another movie in which a benevolent white savior goes down to help a bunch of Downtrodden Darkies. This man certainly has a "pension" for these type of films. |
Kola_boof
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 4013
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 09:05 pm: |
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ABM!!! Hi 
I didn't see you all day.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6708
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 09:06 pm: |
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"Pension"? How about a "penchant", Serenasailor. But you are correct in your assessment of how the young white Lieutenant (Matthew Broderick} is ennobled in "Glory." |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2975
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 10:02 pm: |
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 7829
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 11:56 pm: |
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Kola,
Howdy!
Serenasailor,
So you don't think Glory was a good movie and Denzel did not deserve the Oscar? |
Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1073
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2007 - 12:53 am: |
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I think Glory was an excellent movie and yes Denzel did deserve the Oscar. However, he did do better roles such as Malcolm X, and The Hurricane which where excellent performances not to mention Philedelphia. |
Doberman23
Veteran Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 686
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2007 - 11:17 am: |
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lol!!!! white people are the heroes in every continent, country, state, city, town, neighborhood, fantasy world, outer space, the sea, ocean, river, you name it and their there. |
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