Deleted
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Apr 20, 2024 0:36:58 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2009 15:12:07 GMT -4
I hear you but, IMO, she's a much better actress than all three. As pretty as she is, Sanaa is the worse of the three you mentioned. Gabrielle and Nia are good looking too, but they're rather wooden in their performances as well. Henson seems to have a certain je ne sais quoi that is appealing, and one can suspend belief for a moment because she becomes the character. The others? I never see them as the character but as acting as the character. I think that Gabrielle Union is the prettiest one of all of these actresses, but I would say that she has the least amount of acting talent. Sanaa Lathan is quite good ("Love and Basketball", "The Family That Preys"), but she seems to hold back. Nia Long is good, but like Jada Pinkett Smith I think her time has passed. They and Halle Berry got their starts a good decade before Sanaa, Gabrielle and Taraji.
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luthia
Blueblood
Posts: 1,653
Feb 7, 2006 23:47:32 GMT -4
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Post by luthia on Jan 26, 2009 15:18:30 GMT -4
Although I am happy for Taraji, I don't think she is special, either in looks or talent. I did think she was fine in Hustle and Flow.
Can't say much about the others since I don't really follow them, but I did see Sanaa in Something New (the interracial romance) and I thought she was very good. Gabrielle seems stuck in Black Hollywood and needs to break out from the Black rom-com thing she seems to be in.
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Deleted
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Apr 20, 2024 0:36:58 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2009 16:46:33 GMT -4
Gabrielle has tried breaking out of 'Black Hollywood' (TV shows, "Running with Scissors", "Neo Ned", etc) so to speak, but either due to her talent or opportunities, she never seems to make it to the next level. The rom-coms are safe and pay the bills.
The roles are extremely limited for actresses, especially black ones who are competing for 5 decent roles a year.
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Post by discoprincess on Jan 26, 2009 17:09:44 GMT -4
Although I am happy for Taraji, I don't think she is special, either in looks or talent. I did think she was fine in Hustle and Flow. Can't say much about the others since I don't really follow them, but I did see Sanaa in Something New (the interracial romance) and I thought she was very good. I liked Taraji in that film too. I have been aware of her for years; I want her to do more.
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Deleted
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Apr 20, 2024 0:36:58 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2009 17:11:15 GMT -4
I hear you but, IMO, she's a much better actress than all three. As pretty as she is, Sanaa is the worse of the three you mentioned. Gabrielle and Nia are good looking too, but they're rather wooden in their performances as well. Henson seems to have a certain je ne sais quoi that is appealing, and one can suspend belief for a moment because she becomes the character. The others? I never see them as the character but as acting as the character. I'm going to second this. Last night I watched Tyler Perry's The Family that Preys & both actress have somewhat "supporting" roles in the film, Saana was more of the lead as she had more relevant scenes. But I thought Taraji out shined Saana in the scenes they had together & was a stand out in the entire cast (which says a lot as her role is pretty small in the film). She is very charismatic. I'm real happy for all the attention that she has received since BB came out.
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hal9000
Guest
Apr 20, 2024 0:36:58 GMT -4
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Post by hal9000 on Jan 26, 2009 18:10:34 GMT -4
I remember that Oscar performance. I know she sang in the film, but was that her on stage? The song ended with her singing "Piiiiiiiiiimmmp" down the scale! Considering it's the Oscars, it was completely hilarious.
I saw Hustle and Flow, Smokin' Aces and her episode of House over a short period of time a few years ago. She's a fine performer, light years beyond Ice Princess Sanaa in emotional range and restraint. And being a character actress, she hardly needs to fit the Hot Black Chick mould as do the likes of Gabrielle.
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Deleted
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Apr 20, 2024 0:36:58 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2009 19:01:57 GMT -4
I've not seen BB but I've seen Taraji in other films and I agree she is a much better actor than the other actresses already mentioned. Gabrielle Union cannot act to save her life and I'm perplexed that she still keeps getting roles. Sanaa is ok but nothing special.
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iClaudia
Sloane Ranger
"When love and duty are one, grace is within you."
Posts: 2,215
Mar 13, 2005 14:33:41 GMT -4
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Post by iClaudia on Jan 26, 2009 22:23:30 GMT -4
I agree - I watched TFTP a couple of weeks ago and saw BB last week and when an actor is limited and/or tends to play to "type", their roles just blend together in your mind especially when you see their moves close together. She did a great job in both movies - they were two distinct characters and you could never "see" her acting. I first saw her in a bit part on "Felicity" and I've always remembered her since then so it's nice to someone who you "knew" way back when fulfill their promise as an actor. It's too bad there is such a dearth of good roles for talented black actresses.
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luthia
Blueblood
Posts: 1,653
Feb 7, 2006 23:47:32 GMT -4
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Post by luthia on Jan 26, 2009 22:31:52 GMT -4
I guess my problem with Taraji is that she plays typical, stereotypical black female roles, which isn't her fault since that is what Hollywood has reserved for black actresses. Her role in Benjamin Button was simply another twist on the "Black Mammy" role that black women have had to take for years. Her roles in other films are of the wise-talking, neck-shaking ghetto girl variety that are also reserved for Black women. This is not her fault but I don't think her acting has elevated any of those roles.
For whatever reason, Sanaa tends to get the "professional, educated black woman" roles, which I think she is good at. I am not saying that all black actresses should have these roles, since what Black actresses need is variety, however, I am less likely to roll my eyes when I see Sanaa than when I see Taraji since Sanaa's choices don't embarass me.
When I saw Taraji in Benjamin Button with the typical turn-of- the century black accent of the "po" black woman who is the mammy caretaker of others, it infuriated me.
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Deleted
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Apr 20, 2024 0:36:58 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2009 0:52:23 GMT -4
Her and Halle Berry share the same manager, so that could be why she's getting more cross over appeal, and all the noms. He's done a good job with getting Halle out there.
I've seen her in a few movies, but she's never really stood out to me. I did think she was really funny in Something New though. Haven't seen Ben button yet.
I think Nia long is better than all the black actresses listed. Her and the extremely under appreciated Regina king.
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