MovieChat Forums > Pariah (2012) Discussion > Many a missed opportunity...

Many a missed opportunity...

posted 12 years ago by kaaria1
24 replies | jump to latest

I was quite excited when I heard that a film with this subject matter was being made, and even more so when I heard it was receiving some positive buzz on many fronts. The fact that it was a black film getting all of these accolades only made it that much sweeter for me, being a minority writer myself. This was certainly not lessened by any means after seeing the fantastic trailer.

I have a deep appreciation for Lesbian cinema, far more so than that of their male counterparts, for which I own very few films. I often find that the male-dominated gay movies concentrate far too much on the sexuality of the characters and less on their humanity. As a person who's sexually-ambiguous, I gravitate towards movies that step confidently outside of the box, no matter the genre.

I have a few friends that identify as Aggressives, so I couldn't wait to ask them if they had heard about this movie. But I did wait, even when the film opened in my city, and I wasn't sure why I did...until now.

It's just that feeling you get sometimes, that you really can't explain...but you know you need to heed whatever vibe it brings. I just had a feeling I shouldn't get my hopes up any further, nor should I hurry...and after seeing it two days ago, I realized why.

Firstly, I thought it misrepresented itself too much in the trailer, with the protagonist, Alike, being an Aggressive...which was obviously not the case as we found out not far into the film. That was a major disappointment for me personally, as I thought this was a perfect opportunity to give voice to this particular subgroup of the gay community. I do realize that her friend, Laura, deftly played by Pernell Whitaker, fully represented this group...but her story arc was portrayed as secondary to that of Alike, when in actuality, her story was far more realistic.

Even though Adepero proved to be an extremely engaging actress, I felt that many areas of the script let her down. I felt that tying in her teacher's criticism of her journal to the non-committal persona she portrayed in the club was a bit pedestrian. It would have been far more entertaining if her writing were perfect, but she didn't live up to it. I was also thrown off about what her persona actually was, even though I knew it wasn't as simple as it appeared.

One moment she's looking woefully uncomfortable with the demands of being a butch female in a lesbian club, then she's single-mindedly racing off to rid herself of any degree of femininity at school by swiftly changing her clothes.
This made no sense to me whatsoever, as any of us can attest that middle school and high school are essentially two circles of Dante's Hell...and a girl dressing as a boy in either one can be an outright provocation for many--yet she's more uncomfortable in a non-judgmental environment?

She then gleefully soaks up the positive feedback she overhears from Mika in her school, doing nothing about the rather overt nature of the conversation except to exchange furtive glances and smile to herself. Again, her demeanor at odds with her studly appearance.
She's fearless about being perceived as a lesbian in school...but just doesn't want to verify it where it counts? It would have been interesting to see her actually approach Mika, who certainly was not shy about her desires...even if she was rebuffed somehow. I'm a pretty shy person myself, but even I know there are times when you just gotta risk getting embarrassed or getting your ass kicked.

What I found perplexing is that she went to the trouble of having her best friend broker a date with Mika, even though Mika loudly professed to liking boys more than girls, and when she accepts the offer and was perfectly amiable in the club...Alike blows her off with nary a word spoken. Alike may have had some deep inner turmoil about her sexuality, but to this point, it was never communicated to the audience...and it makes scenes of her actively attempting to embrace her sexuality seem that much more inauthentic when she refuses to even engage in a simple conversation with any woman other than Laura.

And then she finally has an opportunity for growth after being kissed by the effervescent Bina, played by the talented and rapturously gorgeous Aasha Davis, and what happens? Once again, instead of having a basic conversation...she immediately turns and runs away. WTF?!?!
It was all downhill for me after that one. Any hope to redeem this particular area of the film was eternally lost. That scene could only make sense if she were completely straight and she had no idea Bina thought of her that way. The film was already a very spartan 86 minutes, and that scene made it seem like it was done to lengthen the film just to get there.

And then after finally coming to her senses and having this beautiful experience with Bina, Bina transforms overnight into the equivalent of a heartless landlord who decided to rent out your apartment to someone else, effective immediately, after kindly accepting your rent payment the night before. Others have described this is as a surprising, refreshing twist...I say it was bullsh!t. Of course there had to be some conflict between them somewhere...but seeing Bina's demeanor, with that sour expression on her face as she straightened her room, was rather appalling...a complete betrayal of the character's persona.

She behaved like a supposed friend who offers to help you out of a difficult situation, and then is pissed off that you took them up on it. Quite frankly, that seemed more in line with Mika's character, had they been allowed to even exchange pleasantries.
Aasha and Adepero are such thoughtful actresses, and a scene of Alike waking up to overhear Bina on the phone with a guy would have been enough to achieve the inevitable conflict...instead of, "Look, you were just a booty call, okay? And don't tell anybody...buh bye." And then we even get to see her later with her boyfriend, as if we didn't believe what she said to Alike. The scene was of no consequence, other than to fit nicely in a melancholy montage.

Which brings me to Kim Wayans, who was really good in something completely out of her element. I don't go along with all the talk of nominations and such, but she was a pleasant surprise. What I never understood, however, is the scenes at her job with her co-workers.
They were painfully awkward to watch and were never set up accurately to describe why she was so reticent with all of them to the point that most would leave the room. Was she glowering at them because they were lesbians? Was this supposed to show how unhinged and anti-social she really was...even though we'd been given no indication of this prior to those scenes? It never made any sense at all--just a plot device left to fend for itself.

I was also mislead by several reviews prior to seeing the film that only further emboldened me to ignore critics, even those that I respect. In several reviews it was mentioned that "there are no martyrs or villains in this film." Um...did we see the same movie?

The movie I saw contained a mother choking and then beating her daughter, drawing blood, for merely saying she was gay. Where I'm from, that's pretty villainous behavior. Is this how we view domestic violence now, post-Chris Brown? Fists fly, leaving a woman swollen and bloody? "Hey Chris, come and sing on our show...no big deal." Shoot and kill an unarmed child carrying Skittles? "Have a nice night, Mr. Zimmerman...you're free to go." Amazing.

On a lighter note, with all the talk about what a discovery that Adepero is, extremely short shrift has been given to the work of Pernell Walker and Charles Parnell...who owned every scene they were in. Charles just bristles with intensity. Whenever I see him onscreen, it's like being in close proximity to a lion...waiting for the moment he finally decides to strike.
And Pernell was the true revelation to me. I never once thought she was acting. Even if she were basically playing herself, I've seen others do it and it seemed slightly generic. She was amazing.

All in all, I loved the look of the film, the idea of the film, the music, the superb acting...but it was let down because the script wasn't as brave as its subject matter, and suffered from too many instances of common tropes inherent to this genre. In the hands of a more seasoned writer/director...I think you'd have an absolute masterpiece.
For such an engaging premise and cast...I shouldn't have been looking at the clock after less than 30 minutes for such a short film.

Sorry to anyone who had to read all this. I didn't realize I was so affected by the film until I'd hit post. My apologies.
I also want to say that I absolutely do not hate this film, as there is too much to like for that. I was just disappointed.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] blacknyellowsquid 12 years ago

"sexually-ambiguous"... I like that.

I read your whole post. :P

I thought the scenes of the mom at work were odd/interesting too. I suppose, yes, they were there to show how unhinged and non social she was. She acted offended by others, and is extremely judgmental, and in turn I'm sure that would alienate the others from her. Even them listening to certain music seemed to bother her. Holier than thou and socially inept. And then the one mom she does talk to...we see later goes to the same church so maybe that's why she was slightly nicer to her. But it was weird.

This movie was all right... I wanted to like it more, but meh. I liked the dad the best.

[–] kaaria1 12 years ago

"sexually-ambiguous"... I like that.

Glad to be of service.

First of all, thank you for responding...and having the patience of Job to have read(Survived?) my little manifesto.
I obviously haven't seen the film again since my post, so I don't recall if there were any scenes that set up the mother as this paragon of religious principles prior to the scene at her job.

We've all seen endless portrayals of devoutly religious individuals in a multitude of movies...and they are usually identified by a simple scene or two of them quoting religious scripture or being overtly dogmatic about their views. I recall neither as it concerns this character...so the scene seemed much like a meal missing a key ingredient--you can still consume it, but it's not what it could have been.

I understand your last comment completely...and I thought the father was the most fully realized character of them all, because of the complexities involved in his role. He was an amalgamation of feigned ignorance, confusion, bitterness, chilled volatility and acceptance...a great performance.

I do own the film, so I will watch it again soon to see if hindsight has lessened my disappointment. I do like the film...just not as much as I expected.
I wanted to find another When Night is Falling or Kissing Jessica Stein. Hell, I would have been fine with another The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love, even though it pales in comparison to the directorial touches evident in Pariah.

The former was just clumsy and sweet...while this one just felt overly-ambitious and too heavy-handed on the redemptive aspects.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] thelordtantalus 12 years ago

@kaaria1

Bina found out how brave she wasn't. In the end she really did care what people thought of her and she freaked. People acting like they don't know you after they've slept with you is not shocking. You live long enough and you're surprised at who is really kind of ashamed of you. Alike and Bina's relationship/friendship was a secret to begin with. She had her own rep to protect. She was just as afraid of what her mother thought as much as Alike was afraid of what hers thought.

Alike was a virgin. She wanted to do something but not really. That's why she was finicky around other lesbians who were comfortable with themselves. She probably had all the thoughts most first timers had. Would she be good in bed? What do I actually do because I've never actually done anything? She was afraid of being judged which is why she shied away from people that might actually expect some action since she put forth the image of a Stud. She knew or thought other girls would expect her to be the aggressor. Bina didn't make her feel like that. For the most part Bina initiates cause if it had been up to Alike nothing probably would've happened. She was under the impression that Bina had never done anything so there would be no pressure and they could move at their own pace. I think class was also a factor cause despite appearance Bina and Alike had a lot in common. Alike's friend was probably one of the few people she hung out with outside her respective social class. Alike wasn't exactly from the hood. She wasn't really dealing with some of the stuff that effected her friend.

[–] kaaria1 12 years ago

"People acting like they don't know you after they've slept with you is not shocking. You live long enough and you're surprised at who is really kind of ashamed of you. Alike and Bina's relationship/friendship was a secret to begin with. She had her own rep to protect. She was just as afraid of what her mother thought as much as Alike was afraid of what hers thought."

Thank you for responding to such an old, and LENGTHY, post.

I'm not naive to how the world works as per some people's less-than-admirable affectations are concerned. Guys are famous for their "sweet nothings" that dissipate into just nothing by dawn's light. Women are generally not known for such post-coital callousness as was portrayed here...especially with each other as teenagers, given the infrequency and difficulty of being fortunate enough to even have such an experience.

Bina's expression as she walked around the room was akin to someone who'd been pressured into doing something she found reprehensible...instead of one who had initiated all of the proceedings. Her face was the very definition of "buyer's remorse"... without giving any direct rationale as to why before Alike even woke up.

If she was worried about her reputation, she certainly didn't show it by walking to and from school with such a suspect individual. We both know how loose tongues are in high school, and the word was already out on Alike...and Bina clearly knew this or she wouldn't have made any moves, nor bothered to ask why Alike switched shirts constantly.

Neither of them wanted their parents to know what was happening, but in that moment, their parents were not a part of the narrative. Bina could have easily expressed her desire for secrecy in the same manner that she expressed her desires for intimacy...but she didn't. It was like the director wanted us to be as appalled by Bina's bedside manner as Alike was...and if that was her goal, she succeeded--but with me, not in the way she might have imagined.

It just seemed REALLY out of character for Bina to have dealt so gracefully with all of the intricacies involved with Alike's personality, from her "moodiness", her initial avoidance of intimacy, and finally her virginity.
I just couldn't buy that THAT person would become so inept and clumsy over a moment far less volatile than the one they had on the street that day.

Alike wasn't going to like the conversation regardless...but making Bina rather remorseless reeked of forced conflict, something you always want to monitor as a writer. My point is, there didn't need to be a bad guy in the scene to make Alike enraged. The reality of Bina's ambiguity would have been enough. I would probably have had a different reaction to this had I not seen "Lee" clam up completely after asking to be set up with Mika, and then run away immediately after Bina kissed her.

To me, this was akin to someone being FAMISHED for days...but when someone offers you a plate of hot food, you say "No thanks, I'm not hungry." WTF?!?! I realize that each person's pathology is different, but she's a WRITER...who can't muster even a few syllables in either instance that deals with her favorite subject?!

I also happen to be a writer...and I've been in EXACTLY the same position that Alike was in in some instances. Not knowing what to expect going into a gay club for the first time, not having a clue about "roles" within the community, having little idea about what happens in the bedroom, etc,. Both opportunities were a perfect chance for Alike to ask questions for which Laura was perhaps poorly equipped to address...and she just bolted each time.

Because Alike seemed to be dying a little each day over her inability to be herself, it seemed highly implausible for her to retreat when a whiff of freedom came her way. After that, anything else that happened became even more scrutinized than it would have been. Did you not find it interesting that Bina became more like Mika when she was brazenly discussing Alike in school...and Mika was as quietly respectful on their date in the club as Bina should have been post-coitus?

Talk about role reversals!

** P.S.**

I just read your response to laprin about AG's...and THAT was the feeling I wanted after viewing this film! OMG...that was absolutely STUNNING!
I have friends and family who are AG's, and they could have NEVER expressed it as succinctly as you did. Well done!

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kaaria1 12 years ago

"she was a shy tomboy attracted to girls."

Yeah, I'd have to agree with this. She came across to me as an individual who bought into what she imagined were the aesthetic values of being an AG without ever having dealt with the realities first. It's akin to little kids playing 'mommy and daddy.'

In hindsight, however, I do admire her refreshing awkwardness at times in the script. It reminds us that not everyone ventures so confidently into the community. I know I didn't. It took me months to work up enough courage to walk into my first gay club, and I nearly ran out the door when the very first person to greet me upon entering was this ENORMOUS drag queen who resembled a horse(NOT hyperbole) with an affinity for layers of discount cosmetics and a cheap Chaka Khan wig.

She made some comment about me being "fresh fish," and I nearly bolted right after paying my entry fee! I disappeared into the darkest corner I could find for the duration of my stay that night.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kaaria1 12 years ago

Sorry I'm just getting back to you. Somehow, I didn't receive an email alert that you responded to me...and I only saw it now after receiving a new response below.
I also want to clarify the "fish" comment in case there was any confusion about my name(and that's often the case ). And the "doo doo" comment was hilarious.

I'm actually a guy, and back when I first ventured into the black gay community, it was quite common to hear 'tops' and 'bottoms' referred to as "trade" and "fish" respectively. I had never been called 'fish' before that night, but I instinctively knew it must have had something to do with certain roles within the community--and I imagine that my androgyny influenced his perception that I was markedly feminine...though I fit fluidly within either descriptive.

But, as you said...back on topic. Yeah, my sentiments exactly. It was extremely perplexing to me why she was so unnerved with her complete anonymity within a supportive environment where she wouldn't be judged...but brazenly comfortable with being perceived as an AG in a potentially hostile environment like her school...where everyone knew who she was.

I'd love to hear the writer's take on this.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kaaria1 12 years ago

you don't read as a male...no offense at all!

None taken--and I take that as a huge compliment!
I was raised as the only male child in a family full of strong, intelligent women, and I guess it shows. And because of my own sexual ambiguity, moving in and out of various subgroups within the community is rather innate.

I never thought you were a male, but I am INTENSELY curious as to what you may have said that provoked the misogynist tag. Do tell...do tell!

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] lword1970 12 years ago

Hmm, interesting post . I'm a black lesbian female in my early 40's now however in my 20's I knew alot of AG's . Some how you are thinking that an AG can not be shy , hesitant, confused, inconsitent or passive . Not true at all. I knew plenty of AG's who never approached women and who never made the first move . Very common , just like femmes who are very comfortable approaching or maaking the first move. You see in real life there is no script for people to follow. On the outside sometimes it can appear as though people are playing a role - happy stay at home mom , successful VP , star athlete , AG - but its not always what it appears to be . Isn't this the beauty of true intimacy - to get to see what someone is really like.

In general its not uncommon for anyone to be less sure the more they like someone . Especially someone young - you can be out with someone you really like and become rather introverted .
People talk a good game all the time . Have you never experienced this ? Teenagers and young adults don;t have it all figured out . I didnt find it weird at all that the lead character had trouble while on a date or with being kissed. I guess your definition of AG leaves no room for this ambiguity or confusion . But this lies within all human beings and it comes out at differnt times even for the most confident among us .

Aasha Davis - very beautiful but i did think she was too old for the role. Her mature voice and bags under her eyes clearly gave away her age. Her reaction after being intimate I found not un-realistc as well. i have seen this myself - you meet someone cool , earthy , the type that supposedly doesnt care what people think - and they flip . Happens even more when people are young . it seems inconsistent with what she portrayed but don't people surprise us all the time with their behavior in real life because it doesnt seem consistent to who we thought they were - this is the basis of why we hurt or feel pain .

Kim Wayans - I am in the camp of thought that she deserved ab academy award nomination . To me it was those mundane scenes in which she excelled . Like in the car with her kids . I mean if it was Meryl streep doing the same exact thing she would have been nominated or even Viola Davis. I think her being an outsider of sorts hurt her but I think she should be proud of her work for sure.

I was dissapointed with the Film the kids are all right because of some details that I felt were not great for a mainstream portrayal of a same sex led family. Would it have killed the writers to make them have a great sex life. The sex life portrayed in the kids are all right film was over the top terrible. To me it fed into the myth that all lesbians really need it the right D$ck and they will be set straight . she seems really happy having sex with the man .I mean even people with great sex lives cheat . However , when movies or shows have subject matter that is not often portrayed we tend to get sensitive . Truth is these films are not documentaries . These writers should have the same freedom to create characters and storylines that fits the stories they want to tell.

[–] kaaria1 12 years ago

First of all, thanks for the response...whether in agreement or no. I appreciate any thoughtful responses...and yours definitely fit that criteria. I do think you might want to reread certain parts of my original post, however--as well as my subsequent responses to others concerning the whole AG thing.

I think you may have missed the part in the beginning of my post where I voiced my displeasure at learning right away that she really wasn't an AG--and even if you did see it, it's quite understandable that you could have forgotten it by the time you read my marathon post.

It was quite clear that she was no AG, unlike Laura...and I also don't assign a particular behavioral index for AG's, or anyone else. None of the AG's in my family nor my social circle behave exactly the same, so it would be quite disingenuous of me to apply lofty expectations to a fictional character who does indeed share certain characteristics with a few AG's that I know personally.

I have one friend who has such a capricious personality that she can't keep a job or any friends because she's so hot-tempered...but she trips all over herself when it comes to meeting women. My thoughts on Alike's initial reticence and discomfort with intimacy had nothing to do with being an AG--more like an instance of complementary projection, or as Anais Nin said best of all: "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."

As human beings, we are covetous by nature...and equally narcissistic at times--admiring those who possess qualities we may lack, and those whom we feel mirror the best of who we are. In essence, I wanted Alike to be everything that I wasn't at that age, and the best of who I was. For me, she was neither, and I ultimately found myself unable to solidly connect with her...though our stories are remarkably similar.

I hope that cleared the air for you, because aside from the misunderstanding about the AG thing, I really have no qualms with anything you said because it was all reasoned logic. As for The Kids Are All Right, I did like it much more than this film, but I DEFINITELY sympathize with your complaint about how their relationship was portrayed in contrast to the one with the man.

And the fact that it was written by a lesbian made it even more difficult to take, I imagine. She was accused of 'selling her soul,'as it were, by many an irate lesbian...and the straight people who love them.
Even though I knew what the premise of the movie was, my stomach sank when she became enraptured with him so effortlessly.

As a guy, it was definitely a huge disappointment for me as well, but it didn't make me scream out loud the way I did with Spike Lee's film, SHE HATE ME.
In that film, it actually was stated that a man was needed to complete them, and I had a very, VERY visceral reaction to such nonsense...perhaps even more so than most lesbians, because he single-handedly made men look even worse than we already do.

For that debacle alone, Spike should be made to wear a KKK dunce cap for life, along with peacock feathers protruding from his anal cavity for the rest of his miserable, uninformed, chauvinistic existence. I wanted to grab that little pop-eyed frog and just squish him!

I still get pissed off every time I see his name. And what really burned me up is that he said they had 'lesbian advisers' on the set. Um, either they must have been bound and gagged, or that's what Spike calls the gold-diggin' skanks from all those Hip-Hop videos.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] lword1970 12 years ago

ok Cool - She hate me ! another sore spot for me. Don;t get me started on that one .

I have to ask - why again is the lead in Pariah not an AG in ur opinion ?

[–] kaaria1 12 years ago

I have to ask - why again is the lead in Pariah not an AG in ur opinion ?

I think the answer is quite a simple one...and it can be found in the existence of the descriptive term, Aggressives. The term is a derivation of the word 'aggressive,' which is summed up by a number of qualifiers, e.g., militantly forward; a disposition that is forceful; assertive; marked by combative readiness--you get the picture.

Does ANY of that sound like Alike, and did she exhibit any of those qualities in anything other than her clothing choices? I don't know who originated the term, but those who did saw these traits in a lot of women and thought they required special classification within the community, due to this specific thread that seems to bind them together. While it is true that each person is different, there is an unmistakable air to AG's that separate them from others.

If these women were men, they would be known as 'Alpha males.' And as every male is not inherently an alpha male by nature, not every woman is an AG because she embraces a more masculine aesthetic. Alike is merely a tomboy who hasn't quite found her way. Further evidence of what she really is can be found within her relationship with Laura, who is a classic AG.

Although there are exceptions to every rule, AG's typically do not date each other. The fact that Laura was clearly interested in Alike, who was seemingly oblivious to this, would indicate that Laura didn't buy her as an AG either--only humored her to maintain even the slightest degree of intimacy.

Hope that helps.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] presch-89915 8 years ago

I just wanted to inform you that all of your well-informed responses made my heart warm. I'm actually enrolled in a Women's Gender Studies course and I'll be viewing the film soon. I'll make an effort to take heed to everything you've suggested and explained in great detail when considering the film. By chance, have you seen another indie film by the name of "Chop Shop"?

"Words are useless, especially sentences. They don't stand for anything. How could they explain...?"

[–] kaaria1 8 years ago

Awwwww! Thank you so much! I've been around these haunts for many years now, and I still get an uneasy feeling whenever I see a response to anything I've said...because the trolls seem to multiply tenfold for every letter you type in this place. 

Despite what I've written about the film's shortcomings, I implore you to go in with a blank slate and judge it solely for yourself. No matter how insightful, well-written, detailed, researched my little missive might have been, the most important detail of all about the film is one that I cannot give:

How did it make YOU feel?

After watching it, you may find that you couldn't disagree with me more...and that would by no means be unexpected, as it really is a very well-made production, despite its flaws. As for the film you mentioned, I haven't seen it yet. But, after viewing the trailer and seeing it compared to Pixote and City of God, which is on the short list of my all-time favorites...it just jumped to the upper echelon of my must-see list. I will definitely let you know when I've seen it, but I'm curious as to what you thought of it...if you've seen it. 

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] presch-89915 8 years ago

Thanks so much for providing such a whole-hearted and intellectually stimulating response. I also have yet to revisit "Chop Shop" after viewing it for so many years, but u feel as though that the film holds a special sentimental place of value in my heart. I still haven't been able to shake the young protagonist's Oscar-worthy performance til this day. It's truly haunting and gratifying to see a child possess such skill and grace in acting.

[–] kaaria1 8 years ago

Your grace and kindness has reminded me of great conversations about film that I've had here in the past--and will yet again undoubtedly.I'll report back to you soon concerning that film. I also took a peek at the trailer for a film on your page, Moonlight.
To put it mildly, I was ASTOUNDED! We already have a couple of films to discuss, but that one looks to be in a league of its own. And when I saw who the director was, it made perfect sense. To me, Medicine for Melancholy was like walking across a desert for hundreds of miles...and then stumbling upon an oasis. He only appears to have upped his considerable skills to the next level.

This could be a watershed moment for that particular genre...and certainly for Black Cinema. These are very exciting times for the more cerebral writers and directors...and those that enjoy their offerings of non-traditional plots and subject matter.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] presch-89915 8 years ago

You're so sweet! Thank you for those genuine and wholehearted words. I actually wanted to chime in because it seems as though that your discussions on this film in particular encourage thought provoking discussions, which usually tend to lead to intellectually stimulating questions and answers on your behalf.

I'm elated that you find "Moonlight" to be an aesthetically pleasing film. It's actually receiving lots of Oscar Buzz right now and I'm sure that it'll eventually result in producing one nomination from each of the major film awards when awards season comes along. However, although a truly groundbreaking and concerning topic to cover, I'm afraid that it's competition will be stiff this year. "Fences", "Loving", "Birth of a Nation", and "Hidden Figures" alone will be sure to bring increased competition, but I'm sure the new directing and cinematography techniques used in "Moonlight" will help give it an advantage over the other films. I just hope that it will be released in one of the two nearby theaters within proximity of my college, since I happen to go to school in a remote and often forgotten area.

[–] kaaria1 8 years ago

My ego has never had it so good! 

Sorry for the delay. I usually get updates when a new reply is posted...never saw one, just randomly showed up to check. And yes, those are some very formidable films you mentioned...each poised to do well come awards season. My main concern, however, is not the battle for supremacy among some top-notch contenders...it's how the Academy will deal with all of them after a couple years of the #Oscarssowhite controversy. It was easier for them to look the other way when there was a dearth of higher quality projects helmed by and starring PoC. Now, there is a litany of projects from said groups, and I'm concerned how they will fair this time around.

If they are all as good as they appear, yet only one or none gets a nod...I think there would be a day of reckoning the likes of which Hollywood has never seen. But I would also be wary of them overcompensating for past sleights by being perhaps too generous--essentially throwing Oscar noms at films that may not be up to par...all in the name of being politically correct. Because we know from experience that they don't always watch all of the films in contention. They have a VERY unique challenge this year, and the stage is perfectly set for some immense drama to unfold.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] presch-89915 8 years ago

What an interesting response! I agree with you in regards to the aspect of the academy having to 'show and prove' it's recent changes with ensuring that a film starring and containing a lead cast with People of Color is properly nominated in various categories. However, which film is your most anticipated as of recently? Which one do you think has the best chance at being nominated and winning a category? Most-importantly, how do you interpret and feel about the Poster art for "Pariah"?

[–] kaaria1 8 years ago

The academy has a real quandary on its hands here. Personally, I'd say that Moonlight would be my pick, due to its tackling of a very touchy subject rarely seen in wide release, much less anointed with the ever-popular "Oscar-buzz": black male homosexuality.

Have there been other films done covering this topic? Of course, but they largely never make it to the cinema...and certainly not with the fanfare this one has achieved so far. The trailer is so deftly crafted and carries a certain gravitas unlike any other film that you mentioned earlier among its specific competitors.

The fact that the most talked about of all the "black films", The Birth of a Nation, is receiving extra scrutiny, fairly or no, due to the director's past, this potentially opens the door for others to slide through. Potentially I say, because the academy has always been notoriously prickly about what the public thinks they should do...which means that the odds are good for 'TBoaN' to survive the controversy. But, they could be uncharacteristically attuned to the diversity woes that still haunt them, especially if you saw jokes from the recent Emmy Awards.

If they are feeling a bit sensitive, I think they'll play it safe and give their attention to a film featuring an Oscar winner and a previous Oscar nominee--Hidden Figures. And since it has that same feel to it as Hollywood favorites Driving Miss Daisy and The Help...I'd be shocked if it didn't get the lion's share of attention over the other films we've mentioned.

As for the Pariah question, I've seen at least five different posters, so I hardly know where to begin. 
I guess the most powerful of them, to me, was the one with the pariah definition on it. That's what drew me to the film itself. It was quite ingenious, really...because if you recognize yourself in any of those definitions, it lingers within your subconscious.If it wasn't that one, or you'd like me to expound on them as a whole, just let me know.

I wish to die in my sleep like my grandfather--not screaming in terror like his passengers

[–] presch-89915 8 years ago

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch the Emmy's, but could you please elaborate in regards to the "jokes"that were made in poor taste? We're they racially-charged, as usual?

Also, thank you for such a prompt and well-informed response. Please feel free to further explain your take on the "Pariah" poster you mentioned.

[–] 8 years ago

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