New Pittsburgh Courier
B6
ENTERTAINER
MARCH 10-16, 2010
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
Mo�Nique wins Oscar
LOS ANGELES (AP)— gown. Did she
5th Black female winner
comic roles. She in 2001. Four Black men
Mo’Nique became the fifth clean up for the is chilling in pre- have won Oscars for Best
Black woman to win an Academy senting Mary’s Actor, and three for Best
acting Oscar, 70 years Awards? heartlessness Supporting Actor.
after Hattie McDaniel “Of course not!” and brutality, re- The men to win Best
won the same honor for she said earlier vealing startling Supporting Actor are
“Gone With the Wind”— on the red car- dramatic depths Cuba Gooding Jr. in
the first Academy Award pet, laughing in scene after “Jerry Maguire,” Denzel
ever given to a Black per- again. “I didn’t scene. Washington in “Glory”
former. shave my arms Mo’Nique, who and Morgan Freeman in
The 42-year-old standup nor did I shave hosts “The “Million Dollar Baby. ”
comedian portrayed an my legs. I think Mo’Nique Show” Best Actor winners are
abusive mother in “Pre- Oscar would re- on BET, was the Sidney Poitier in “Lilies of
cious: Based on the Novel ally like this.” overwhelming the Field,” Denzel Wash-
‘Push’ by Sapphire.” She was asked favorite in the ington in “Training Day,”
“I want to thank Miss backstage what run-up to the Jamie Foxx in “Ray” and
Hattie McDaniel for en- would happen if awards show, Forest Whitaker in “The
during all she had to so more actresses having racked Last King of Scottland.”
that I would not have to,” didn’t shave up supporting There have only been
Mo’Nique said in accept- their legs or actress wins at eight women nominated
ing the Oscar. worry about the Golden over the years. Dorothy
Mo’Nique, who has in- their size. Globes, Spirit Dandridge was the first in
sisted on being considered “They’d win Awards and the 1954 for “Carmen Jones,”
a standup, not an actress, Oscars,” the full- British Academy with McDaniel being the
was asked backstage if figured enter- of Film and Tele- first Black nominated for
she still feels that way. tainer said. vision Arts anything. She won in
“I am a standup come- In “Precious,” Awards, among 1939 for “Gone With The
dian who won an Oscar,” Mo’Nique’s char- others. Wind.”
she said, laughing. “Oh, acter, Mary The only other The next Black to be
baby, that tickled me.” Jones, inflicts re- Black women to nominated wasn’t until
She noted that her outfit lentless physical win supporting 1948 when singer, actress
evoked McDaniel, who and verbal abuse actress Academy Ethel Waters was nomi-
also wore a blue dress and on her daughter, Awards were nated for “Pinky.” Poitier
a gardenia in her hair the allowing the Jennifer Hudson was the first male nomi-
night she received her teen’s own fa- for “Dreamgirls” nated for “The Defiant
award. ther to sexually (2006) and Ones” in 1958 and the
“For you Miss Hattie Mc- assault the girl, Whoopi Gold- first to win a Best Actor
Daniel,” she said. “I feel impregnating berg for “Ghost” Oscar in 1963 for “Lillies
you all over me and it’s her twice. It was (1990). Halle of the Field.” Washington
about time that the world an eye-opener Berry is the only and Freeman are the most
feels you all over them.” for audiences ac- Black woman to nominated Blacks with
At the Golden Globes, customed to see- win the best ac- five each.
Mo’Nique revealed hairy ing Mo’Nique in
MO’NIQUE with her Oscar
tress honor for (Ulish Carter contributed to
legs under her glamorous brazen, bawdy “Monster’s Ball,” this story.)
Mo�Nique: Winning Oscar won�t change my life
(AP) Will Mo’Nique’s life has shaped my life and al- would happen in Hollywood to say, I said,” she told re- ners she attended.” wore when she accepted her
change now that she’s won lowed me not to judge and if more actresses didn’t porters. The actress—who She chose her royal blue Oscar. So for you, Miss Hat-
a best supporting actress to love unconditionally. If shave their legs like her, played an abusive mother in silk jersey Tadashi Shoji tie McDaniel, it’s about
Oscar for “Precious?” that goes into my career, she quipped, “They would the drama—also addressed gown for a reason: it was time the world feels you all
“I am a stand-up come- great, but if it doesn’t and win Oscars!” criticism that she didn’t play the color Hattie McDaniel, over them.”
dian who won an Oscar!” I’m just the dynamic person Mo’Nique—who earned a into politics of campaigning the first Black performer to After hearing her name an-
she joked in the press room that I strive to be every day, standing ovation after her for an Oscar. “I’m very win an Academy Award (for nounced, Mo’Nique said she
of Sunday’s show. “Ha, then I’ve won, baby!” name was called—grew se- proud to be part of an “Gone With the Wind”), recalled a moment she had
baby, I tickle me!” The actress, 42, laughed rious when discussing her academy that says we will donned to the show in the with husband Sidney Hicks
“You know, this role was and kidded around with re- speech. not play that game. We will ’40s. Of the flower in her in 10th grade. “I said, ‘One
so not about my acting ca- porters after winning the “Everything I wanted to judge her on her perfor- hair, she said, “This is the day, we’re gonna be stars,’
reer,” she added. “This role award. When asked what say, and everything I needed mance, not how many din- flower Hattie McDaniel and he said, ‘You first!’”
Pittsburgh�s finest uncovers �Brooklyn�s finest�
by Nikki Coffee
reason. You certainly can’t mankind, police offers put themselves tunity to work with great
just go taking human lives can you not on the line daily and for low talent and connecting with
For New Pittsburgh Courier
because you are desperate,” help the per- wages, they have little sup- the audience. “I love being in
The dark, gritty and bru- he said. son next to
port to deal with the issues a theater as an audience
tally urban new movie, Shot on location in and you? Or
and circumstances they member, and watching peo-
“Brooklyn’s Finest,” was around the Van Dyke pro- what hap-
face every day. He said in ple respond to the work.
brought to the big screen by jects in the Brownsville sec- pens when
most cases the mental They have no idea about the
one of Pittsburgh’s finest, tion of Brooklyn, the film you get so
health services available to secrets and why I did this or
director and executive pro- displays the authenticity of close to the
law enforcement is not that, they are just enjoying
ducer, Antoine Fuqua. the desperation and mental game that
equipped to deal with the what you put up there.
“Brooklyn’s Finest,” an in- chaos that can plague police you become
trauma that these officers That’s an amazing experi-
tense story that disjointedly officers in any city. Fuqua lost and you
deal with involving shoot- ence. But it’s also a double-
chronicles the lives of three believes in using real loca- don’t even
outs and other gritty edge sword because when
Brooklyn police officers tions when possible. “It know who
crimes. “The best therapy they don’t like it, that’s not
comes alive with an ensem- helps me creatively be in you are?”
they have is going to the fun…that’s when you sneak
ble cast of heavyweight ac- the world,” Fuqua said. “It Passionate
bar and sitting around and out the theater.”
tors, including Richard helps the actors really about the
talking among themselves,” The supporting cast in the
Gere who plays Eddie, a smell it, walk it and be it psychological
Fuqua said. “They may be movie are just as powerful as
disillusioned, burnt-out, every day.” effects of the
fearful of the repercussions its main stars. Wesley
veteran cop who is into his As active participants in challenges
if they approach adminis- Snipes returns to the big
last week on the job before the community, the produc- police officers
tration with their issues,” screen as Caz, the long-time
retirement. He’s become tion company employed face daily in
While researching for the drug kingpin to whom Chea-
jaded and complacent, al- local community members the line of
movie, Fuqua realized how dle feels indebted. “Antoine
most numbed by all he has whenever possible. This is duty, Fuqua
much these guys really is an intense cat,” Snipes
witnessed in his many actually how Fuqua got
ANTOINE FUQUA makes sure need help. “This is a recipe said. “That’s why his movies
years on the job. He just started in the business. It to bring this
for disaster,” he added. are so intense. He has a clear
wants to end his law en- was during a film produc-
intense, adrenaline-rushing out in the film. “It’s a tough The movie’s ending deals vision of the direction he’s
forcement career without tion in his childhood neigh-
circumstances, are not al- movie, it’s not a light subject with the choices the officers going. But he’s always open
waves. Then there’s Don borhood when his interest
ways known. matter, but I care about the have made and the conse- to creative suggestions that
Cheadle as Tango, an un- in filmmaking was piqued.
The project for Fuqua is a subject, and I did a lot of quences of those choices as come from talented people
dercover narc who has Permitted to hang out on
spiritual story, reminding homework,” Fuqua said. well as redemption, specifi- working together to make
reached the limit dealing set, Fuqua got a taste of
him of the biblical account “This is New York City, there cally for Gere’s character. magic.” Ellen Barkin plays
with thugs and the game, Hollywood in the making.
of Job. “That’s why it starts are 45,000 police officers; But this wasn’t Fuqua’s the tough-talking special
but keeps getting the run- He began paying this back
off in the graveyard with that’s larger than a lot of original vision for the end- agent who goes toe-to-toe
around from his superiors while filming “Training
the question: ‘How many small countries military ing. He said he decided to with Cheadle in one riveting
about getting out. And Day” in Los Angeles, allow-
good men are left?’ Nor- forces. Yet, there are only change the ending showing scene. The film also wel-
Ethan Hawke, who plays ing young people to be on
mally, when you think of about 150 psych doctors al- that if a person goes to the comes big screen newcomer
Sal the cop who is just try- set and hiring locals, and
people in professions who lotted to treat this amount of belly of the beast and ends Shannon Kane of the ABC
ing to do for his growing continues to do so.
serve those who walk a officers, it’s crazy.” up doing the right thing, soap, “All My Children.”
family and sickly wife. “When I’m doing a film
hard path, like police offi- Fuqua said while the then there’s redemption in Fuqua’s future projects in-
Under enormous financial that deals directly with a
cers, or priests, there is al- movie was in production, that. “A person deserves a clude directing the new
strain, he just wants to pro- community, I like having
ways room for bad choices an article came out in The second chance to walk away Vince Flynn movie based on
vide, all while dealing with residents around; I utilize
because of all the pressure New York Times that stated and that’s why it ended as the novel, “Consent to Kill.”
the grime and crime on the their energy for inspiration.
on them, according to that more police officers die it did,” he said. He initially made his mark
Brooklyn streets. They are often times the
Fuqua. “This is the hell by suicide than in the line A graduate of Allderdice directing award-winning
The movie’s tone and victims in these situations
that many of these cops wit- of duty. “It seems that no High School in Squirrel music videos such as Coolio’s
premise is set in the open- when police officers make
ness every day. It’s dark, one really cares about this. Hill, Fuqua said he gets “Gangsta’s Paradise.” He re-
ing scene as actor Vincent bad decisions. Sometimes
and it’s dreary, and visual, During the making of the back to his hometown about mains one of the industries
D’Onofrio tells Ethan they are deadly decisions,
that’s the way it feels. I had movie, I was so taken by once a year, and he’s a die- most sought after music
Hawke’s character that and most of the time we
to transfer this onto the this information, coupled hard Steelers fan. With all video directors, having done
there is no more right or witness the outcome of
screen. The constant in the with the fact that a good the movie productions tak- videos for Stevie Wonder,
wrong, just “righter and these bad decisions in these
lives of these officers is a friend of mine, who was a ing place in Pittsburgh, Toni Braxton, Prince, Heavy
wronger.” People can do the neighborhoods.” Fuqua said
moral dilemma, Fuqua DEA agent had taken his Fuqua said he’d be open to D, Usher and Arrested De-
wrong things for the right no one really questions the
said. “Can you get home own life, I wanted say doing a film here as soon as velopment. Fuqua also di-
reasons. However, Fuqua psychological or economical
every day with your morals something about that,” he the right project comes rected commercials for Ar-
said it’s not as black and factors contributing to that
intact, while you are about said. “This is the path these along that makes sense for mani, Nike (Jordan Brand),
white as that. “No matter decision. The underlying
to lose your home because guys are on, and if we don’t the Pittsburgh environ- Reebok and GMC.
what, you can’t just go pressures that any individ-
you don’t make enough do something to try and ment. He produces and directs
doing the wrong things, just ual may be facing, espe-
money? Or even though help, these are the results.” For Fuqua, the best thing projects under his own ban-
because you have a good cially a police officer during
you’ve seen the worst of Fuqua added that while about directing is the oppor- ner, Fuqua Films.
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