The Oscars & Precious 4yrs later: Blessing or Curse?

So I was wondering to myself the other night, what can an Oscar nomination do for a black film? Precious which wasn’t a box office smash , but set some records(the highest grossing picture to open in fewer than 100 theaters). It received 80 awards (including 2 Oscars) & 137 nominations, has it impacted anyone’s career? My biggest wonder was with the film’s most acclaimed performer MoNique. Since Her Award season domination, we haven’t seen her. Is that because of the Oscar? And if so why have the other members of the Precious family had some moderate successes. 

Lee Daniels

Since his Best Director Oscar Nomination, Mr. Daniels has been working his tail off. But Hollywood is somewhat biting at his bait. Not having any projects until Last year’s The Paperboy (which I thoroughly enjoyed). It premiered at Cannes, was nominated for Best Film and received the longest sustained standing ovation of the festival at 16 minutes. But it was met with mixed reviews (there and in the USA). His upcoming summer historical drama The Butler tells the true story of Eugene Allen a White House Butler for 8 terms starring Oprah, Forest Whitaker, Robin Williams & etc, is already gaining buzz

Oscar History

Second black person to earn a Best Director nomination 

 First black director to earn a Best Picture nomination.

Gabouney Sidibe 

Since her Golden Globe, SAG & Oscar nominations & NAACP Image Award win for Best Actress; Hollywood hasn't been calling, only for the mediocre. She co-starred in the Eddie Murphy driven comedy Tower Heist which was a box office dud. She was in the indie Yelling To The Sky with Zoe Kravitz, and last year’s British crime comedy Seven Psychopaths. But the small screen has been friendlier, which is interesting. She’s a series regular on the SHO series The Big C, she hosted Saturday Night Live and she’s to be on the next season of the FX hit series American Horror Story.

 Oscar History: Second black actress to receive a lead Academy Award nomination for a debut film performance following Diana Ross

Geoffrey S.  Fletcher

                                                         

After winning his Best Screenplay Oscar, Geoffrey went right on to his next project. In 2010 he started shooting on his directorial debut Violet & Daisy due out next month. As well as collaboration on a film re-creation of the 1971 Attica state prison rebellion.

Oscar History: First black person to win a screenplay Academy Award.

                                 

      MoNique

 After her Golden Globe, SAG, NAACP Image Award & Oscar glory for Best Supporting Actress, she kind of faded in the background (which upset me!)  After her ferocious performance, I like the rest of us were sure she would be booking roles left and right! She still had The Mo’Nique Show on BET (The first African American Woman to host a late night Talk show) until 2011 in which it was cancelled. And as far as her film presence there was no sign of her anywhere. Not as much as a cameo or TV spot. Then the Oprah scandal involving her brother and  her landlord issue we begin to wonder if it’s the Oscar curse !( For those who don’t know it’s an urban legend so to speak that once someone wins an Oscar (particularly women) either their career takes off or just fizzle. )

 In Mo’Nique’s defense, she revealed Tuesday in an interview that her M.I.A was due to working on her personal 3 year weight loss journey. She has dropped 82 pounds and is feeling great. I commend her, but find intriguing. Gabby was the one battling the pressures of Hollywood’s constant image obstacles but she still has persevered to be landing gigs. But none the less MoNique is an amazing actress!! After wetting our appetite in Precious, we want more!

Oscar History: She is the Fourth Black actress to win in the category.

                  

         

From the looks of everybody it seems to have improved but not by much. It seems that gaining critical acclaim is a blessing, but it doesn't guarantee immediate Movies, TV shows etc. It just establishes that you have the goods, but it might able awhile before we see you again. Unless you’re blessed like Hilary Swank and you get Oscars Twice in 5 years! But being the first black director to earn a Best Picture nomination & First black person to win a screenplay Academy Award, and Second film to feature black nominees for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress  Isn't half bad! Don’t you think?