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Mariah Carey is clearly well-versed in Oscar strategy. Or, at least, one strategy in particular: the “uglying-up” route that has won kudos for multiple attractive actresses (Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Marion Cotillard et al) “brave” enough to shed makeup and/or don prosthetics for their art.
I say this because Carey currently seems to be telling anyone who will listen about the makeunder she endured for her extended cameo in “Precious.” To the New York Times, she recently gushed, “People say to me, ‘You’re so ugly in this movie,’ and I take that as a compliment,” before revealing how Lee Daniels ordered her to remove her blush. (Quelle horreur!)
Meanwhile, she tells Us Magazine that she “drank some ugly juice” to achieve her level of “hideousness” in the movie. And in case we hadn’t got the idea, she reiterates in an interview in today’s LA Times that she’s unable to so much as look at her “hideosity” on screen.
Is it just me, or is she rather over-egging the pudding here? Carey’s appearance in “Precious” is commendably natural and unaffected, but does she really look “hideous” … or just like a normal woman? In truth, doesn’t she look more or less like, well, Mariah Carey without makeup? Compared to the film’s decidedly unflattering presentation of Mo’Nique, the diva hasn’t anything to protest about.
Anyway, once she eventually gets past the non-issue of her physical appearance, the LAT piece hints at a more interesting personal connection to her character — a weary social worker whose tough-love approach is shaken by the extremities of Precious Jones’s case — though she stops short of specifics:
When people say, ‘I didn’t know she had it in her,’ they don’t know my life. They don’t know my childhood and what I went through except for a very basic story because I don’t choose to tell the world … I went, ‘What does this woman feel every day with people coming at her, wanting something from her?’ And there may be people who are slightly disingenuous. Because I know a little of what goes on, believe it or not.
Whatever she knows, it obviously went into the performance, in which she exhibits an assured, hard-edged screen presence few suspected she had. (It’s common knowledge by now that she was a last-minute replacement for Helen Mirren, but I’d suggest she was actually more appropriately cast than the British Oscar-winner.)
It’s a largely reactive role, and I can’t agree with Kris’s stand that it’s an awards-worthy turn. (I think the surprise factor is principally responsible for the level of attention the performance is getting.) But good for Carey for turning herself from industry punchline to credible ensemble player.
UPDATE: MTV Movies has further praise for Carey from fellow “Precious” star Paula Patton and Sapphire, author of the film’s source novel. It’s more of the usual “I didn’t recognize her” talk, but I really like Sapphire’s description of Carey’s transformation that looks beyond the merely physical:
So she literally disappears … The singer disappears, and she becomes what an actress has to become, almost a blank slate so another soul can come out. And she does it.
That’s the kind of endorsement that makes concerns of real or imagined “hideousity” seem rather insignificant.
17 responses so far
1 11-05-2009 at 4:11 pm
Benito Delicias said...
It’s ridiculous how this is considered deglaming…
Deglam is Charlize Theron in Monster (not Nicole Kidman in The Hours either, not even the nose)….
This is just how Mariah must wake up every morning before whoring it up to turn into Mimi…
2 11-05-2009 at 4:17 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
So then “un”-glam.
3 11-05-2009 at 4:37 pm
James D. said...
Call me an idiot, but I didn’t know that that was Carey at all.
4 11-05-2009 at 4:41 pm
AmericanRequiem said...
charlize certainly wins this award
5 11-05-2009 at 4:53 pm
Jim T said...
She certainly doesn’t look hideous but it really is “uglying-up” since she is not only by far less glamorous as she appears on videos but she is wthout a doubt much less happy looking. She looks really broken and sad which makes her look even less attractive.
6 11-05-2009 at 5:31 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
This de-glam bullshit is just another type of vanity.
7 11-05-2009 at 6:22 pm
qwiggles said...
She looks like a good looking woman in her late 30s. A startling transformation!
Anyway, she’s wonderful in the film and I’d be happy if she wrangled enough support for a sneak nomination, however unlikely.
8 11-05-2009 at 6:43 pm
Dan said...
STFU, Mariah. This is just what you really look like without makeup.
But I agree with Jim T, too.
9 11-05-2009 at 6:46 pm
Katie said...
When someone does a decent job, or just does their job, it’s called awards worthy. Ridiculous. It should be the above and beyond that we hype and reward, not the “courage” of appearing in a movie without your makeup, photoshop, and Oprah lighting.
She really does look just normal in the movie. There is no “hideous”.
10 11-05-2009 at 8:12 pm
Aaron said...
I think Mariah is quite solid, and I agree Guy that she was (surprisingly) a more logical choice than Helen Mirren (I just could not see her playing that part). Mariah’s last scene with Gabourey and Mo’Nique is quite powerful, but I do kind of doubt it’s enough to warrant a nomination–but I have a feeling she will fight hard for it.
11 11-05-2009 at 8:53 pm
henry said...
As far as Charlize Theron goes, it wasn’t just the “uglying up” that won her kudos. It was definitely a point of conversation, but if that was all there was, she wouldn’t have won that Oscar, or at least she wouldn’t have deserved it. She won and deserved to win because she turned in an amazing performance, one she has yet to match since. I haven’t seen Precious yet, but I don’t think Carey can come anywhere near the level of raw intensity that Theron displayed. Her turn in Monster still gives me chills, even just thinking about it.
12 11-05-2009 at 9:47 pm
Jilda said...
I’m gonna say it:
If Mariah thinks she’s ugly in this movie…then she just thinks she’s really ugly without a bunch of pancake batter.
13 11-05-2009 at 11:00 pm
Ed said...
I saw Precious last nite and quite impressed with the cast, Sibide, Mo’nique and Carey (redeeming herself from Glitter). I did’nt like the film that much, worthy of Oscar noms. It would be a delight to see the 3 actresses getting nominated for the Oscars. But Mariah is already campaigning, in Ellen, Larry King etc. Well, she knows how to compete. She actualy can be nominated.
14 11-06-2009 at 12:24 am
tim said...
Supporting actress is already overflowing with possible nominees. Carey won’t make it. Though maybe ‘Nine’ will come out and be a disaster and I’ll eat my words come Oscar time.
15 11-06-2009 at 3:30 am
mike said...
c/s katie. a lot of roles that win oscars aint even all that when u finally see them. I feel every supporting actor/actress win should be Joe Pesci in Goodfellas level outstanding. some of this stuff is just blank stares into the cameras and moody music in the background.
And others is some serious overacting, like Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood,when i finally saw that shit, i thought the ish was way over the top and badly done.
As 4 Carey, good luck 2 her, she had a real hard time after Glitter and this redemption should be great 4 her.
16 11-06-2009 at 9:23 am
David said...
I agree with Chad. I think Carey’s self-indulgent qualities are seeping through a bit.
17 11-07-2009 at 2:25 am
Glenn said...
Carey won’t make it for the same reason Madonna had no hope for “Evita”. She’s MARIAH CAREY. No way is Lauren Bacall, Sophia Loren or Jack Nicholson going to seriously put a vote for her on their ballot.
“Carey (redeeming herself from Glitter)”
Why does she have to redeem herself for one of the single greatest pieces of filmmaking ever witnessed?