#Oscar so…..anything Part 1
By
Darrell J Banks
Cr2021
All Rights Reserved World Wide
Well, it’s that season again. Since the Will Smith snub, the Jada Pinkett boycott, Oscar has evolved.
More persons of color were added to the Oscar nominee pool, but have things really changed or as usual another coat of gold plated paint has been blastered over Oscar via Zoom/online promotions.
Yeah I said blast tered a play on black and well blasted. For decades Blacks have complained about a lack of representation on television and movies images. Even though you have
- Shonda Rimes (TV)
- Tiffany Haddish (TV, GAME SHOW, MOVIES)
- Nick Cannon ( MOVIES, TV SHOW, GAME SHOW)
Etc. etc. on every other TV network. Now Hollywood and Oscar like to bank on a good thing.
Nurse, police, court room dramas etc. etc. You would assume that since Halle Berry’s win so long ago. (Has it really been twenty years), that blacks would have built a studio (Tyler Perry), been nominated for several Oscars and won ( supporting, supporting, screenplay etc. etc.)? At fifteen percent of the USA population, Blacks should be placated with their current position. But it doesn’t work that way in Hollywood. Cue Eve’s son- Let me blow your mind. It took a long time since Stephin Fethcit to “ arrive” on a Oscar stage.
I personally won’t be satisfied until Samuel L Jackson wins an Oscar. But Sam has moved on from Drama, oh the drama. It was in 1995 that he was nominated for Pulp Fiction. A great role, but I personally preferred him in Jackie Brown with Bridgett Fonda. Although he didn’t get the kissing or sex scene that has been denied interracial relationships since Darth Vader was in a movie with Jayne Alexander ( The Good Fight). He placed himself in dramatic roles and switched to the more economic Ms. Marvel role.
But enough on the Black MAN AND WOMAN attempts to gain fame and acquire an Oscar.
Regina King is QUEEN OF THE MOVIES AND TELEVISION. And that’s enough for me until Samuel l Jackson obtains his Oscar. ( Black Panther 2?)
LATIN X/HISPANIC, LATINA ETC.
In a Today show interview, John Leguizamo, the person who can play a person of color, Latino, a pest or even Italian in Spike Lee’s Son of Sam movie. Has said Latinx , Hispanic etc. actors have been denied their right to represent the 20 percent Latin X population of the USA market.
I mean Raquel Welch, blended in so did Rita Hayworth. There is even a parody song on Rita Moreno who debuted her documentary this year. So what gives in 2021?
Saundra Santiago is in an up an coming Armand Assante film. But she is playing an Italian again.
The Spanish market has cable, streaming, and over the air television shows and movies. It is a different market based on distinct cultural markers ala Mexican, Cuban, and European Spanish movies, even within the realm of the Spanish language. ( Penelope Cruz in a Almodóvar film, 7th or 8th, and her husband playing Ricky Ricardo with Nicole Kidman)
Which is one reason the Spanish marketed film has not blended into cross over mode. Back in the day you had Caesar Romero, Raquel and Anthony Quinn. In today’s market we have Jennifer Lopez, Zoe Saldana and Michelle Rodriguez.
Name a film either of those three were in in 2021? You guessed it Michelle.
Will the Oscar race, ( pun intended) ever change for Blacks and Latinx? May be it has, but if you are talented etc. etc. but not even nominated what does that say for America’s top film acting award. Will it change, maybe, when the Oscars have their lowest ever rating in 2022, or 2024.
https://variety.com/gallery/top-10-latino-actors-and-actresses/
Until next time.
Ciao
Writer Photos Darrell J Banks 
Leave a comment