Precious is seriously looking like its going to be a hit. It’s got Oprah and Tyler Perry pushing it and I have not heard one single bad word about the the film. The film is about a young, pregnant, overweight girl who overcomes an abusive home. It opens on November 6. I cannot wait to see this.
American Violet is a movie that everyone missed when it played earlier this year. That’s a shame. It’s the story of a young woman wrongly caught up in a a drug sweep and her fight to get herself cleared. It has an amazing performance from newcomer Nicole Beharie, yet not a single person is mentioning her for awards consideration. The problem is Americna Violet did not play wide enough, didn’t do very well where it played and just never clicked.
There are so many different factors that effect awards, most especially money, but it was well reviewed — 72% fresh on rotten tomatoes. Other factors include when the film opens, how a film plays on the festival circuit, star power and then just plain luck. American Violet never seemed to get any traction. It opened below the radar and closed below the radar. Maybe this film cut to close to home since it is based on a true story, and unbelievably, the racist sheriff who was so vindictive is still in office because people are afraid to vote him out.
I don’t want to believe that we live in a country where only one film about an African American young woman can be successful. Precious has been building momentum since Sundance in January and is getting ready to explode BIG. I just wish that people would also had room and interest in American Violet. So next time we complain about all the sucky movies, let’s remember there are good movies out there. We need to find them and support them. American Violet is one of those movies. It is now out on DVD. Don’t miss it. Check out my earlier interviews with Regina Kelly, the real woman behind American Violet and Nicole Beharie the actress who played her. She’s been on my list for best actress since the moment I saw that film.
Check out the trailers for both American Violet and Precious
Honestly I liked American Violet but it was a flawed film. The beginning and middle were great, but right when I thought the movie was going to take off, it ends. I do agree that the performances by the lead actress and Alfre Woodard were great.
That being said, I think part of the problem is that people just do not want to see movies about racism. They really just…don’t. Black people don’t want to be reminded of that crap and white people don’t want to experience the guilt. Add the fact that both female films and black films already struggle to find an audience anyway, and it’s just too much.
I look forward to seeing both films. I’d rather watch them than crap like Transformers 2.
I would have to disagree with Chris. Most films that actually concern blacks and make it to award season are in direct relation to race and racism; Color Purple, Glory, Hurricane, Hotel Rwanda(so to speak), Monsters Ball, etc. If anything blacks and other forms of film are most certainly denied any access, but I believe Precious isn’t necessarily talking about race as American Violet is, so there maybe a change.
^I’m not talking about award season I’m talking about box office revenue. And I think there’s a difference between a movie having themes of racism and racism actually being the plot of the movie (which was not the case with The Color Purple).