Latifah can act but Mo'Nique would have took it to another level. When they were in scenes together Mo'Nique blew her away as far as acting. If this would have been a feature film and Mo'Nique played the lead it would have been an automatic Oscar. Then they wouldn't have left out the final auto accident scene when Bessie died.
shareTo be honest when Mo'Nique won the Oscar I thought it was a fluke, but she definitely earned my admiration in this part. I would be cool to see a Ma Rainey file with her.
Queen was brilliant as Bessie, but I agree that Mo'Nique was stealing scenes whenever she came on the screen. Also Queen Latifah has a clause in her contract that she does not die on screen in any film so I already knew we wouldn't see Bessie's demise. I hope both ladies are nominated for an Emmy. If Mo'Nique gets an Emmy she will have every award possible in acting minus the Tony.
shareSo this clause came after Set It Off? She definitely dies on screen in that one.
shareOf course Both did very well but Mo'Nique too old to play Bessie...... Totally shock seeing how BOLD Qween was showing her breast.
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She didn't steal anything during the ( scene ) visit. Bessie was sad cause Jack took Jr. ...."MA" was supposed too be over the top....... like Ma said they trying to set up Black female actress's against each other
shareI thought they complimented each other well. In the beginning, Ma Rainey was a domineering force in the room and it made sense. As she dealt with a tough but unsure of herself Bessie, all her confidence and experience overpowered Bessie in the scenes. I assumed this was by design. Later, when Bessie confides in her, they don't seem any different, they seem like old friends and confidants. The gap had lessened and they were grown grown women shedding their burdens. So I thought the progression and differences were nicely depicted.
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I agree. I was completely blown away by how well Mo'Nique acted. I haven't seen Precious (nor do I plan too) so I had no clue that she had that type of performance in her. Queen Latifah was good but she really didn't bring anything new or different to this role. I've seen these same isms from her in other films. And, I think she was just too pretty for the role. Mo'Nique stole the show in every scene she was in.
II Timothy 2:15
@Jazzie
You definitely need to see Precious---not only is it a good film, but Monique pretty much steals the show in it as the despicable, abusive mother you straight up hate. And,yeah, she also killed it as Ma Rainey in BESSIE, too. It's really a shame that she didn't take more of the opportunity to use her Oscar win to get into bigger and better roles, but it's been nice to see her make a comeback,though.
Fifteen minutes into the movie and that's exactly what I'm thinking. Latifah has never been my idea of a 'good' actress as she never seems to inhabit a role. Even her performance in Chicago was one note. Mo'Nique rocks it and, if the script was better than what I've seen so far, would've loved to have seen her in the role - despite her age.
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