It’s interesting that David Carr’s interview with Mo’Nique in today’s New York Times appears on the main page of the paper’s website — there isn’t much more to say about her, shall we say, passive campaign for “Precious,” but it’s clearly become one of the dominant stories of the awards season.
Not that she needs much of a boost, but I think this interview helps her cause: where some industry wags have made a shrill fuss over the actress’s reluctance to play the publicity game, portraying her as egotistical or ungrateful, with Carr she put forth her perspective in very rational, matter-of-fact terms:
“Anytime I’ve been given an award, it has been because of the performance; what else goes into it?” she said, appearing genuinely mystified. “Look, it makes me appreciative any time someone says they may want to honor your performance. I’m appreciative at any talk in reference to any award, but there’s not much I can do about it now. The performance is done.”
“I also have this show called ‘The Mo’Nique Show’ where I tape six shows a week. I have twins who are 4, so I have babies, I have an amazing husband and a son who’s 19. What I can participate in I’m more than happy to.”
I must say I like the way she’s playing the game. I’m also mystified by those who complain that she’s “not doing enough” for her campaign, as if that somehow makes her less deserving. In many cases, these are the same people who complain annually (as we all do) that Academy voters are routinely persuaded by factors beyond the work itself. By making herself less available, Mo’Nique is essentially challenging awards voters to vote for her performance, rather than for her. And so far, it’s working. Isn’t there something encouraging about that?
There’s a reason she’s winning everything in sight without working the publicity trail — because her performance, wherever you stand on “Precious,” is hard to shake. (It helps that her competition is weak, but this is the kind of showy, high-impact turn that would lead the field in most years.)
Mo’Nique knows this: it takes confidence to let your work represent itself, but it also takes a kind of modesty. She is surely aware that she isn’t improving her chances by taking this tack, but if she wins — and she will — she wants to win fair. Good for her.
Comments
34 responses to “Mo’Nique: “The performance is done.””
She will win, there’s no doubt.
I am very gald to see a woman decides her performance to be noticed and not her. The publicity game has always been of selling the actress and not the performance.
Art should be rewarded not celebrity status.
Good on her.
I thought most of the negativity around her came from her asking for money (allegedly) for appearances, and Jeff Wells being Jeff Wells.
I imagine she’ll give a phenomenal Globes speech (as will Waltz) and that’ll be that.
her and waltz are a done deal it seems0 i know you dont agree though kris
i think meryls gonna win to
im worried about bridges though, thats an interesting race this year
If I were forced to bet, I’d certainly bet on the two of them, Req. After all:
http://incontention.com/?p=19772
good point kris, a betting man has to go with waltz
have any of these changed ?Best Art Direction: “Nine”
Best Cinematography: “Nine”
Best Costume Design: “The Young Victoria”?
also its interesting how the best picture front runner keeps changing, a month ago it was up int the air, and the front runner status seems to keep pushing movies back, two months ago i would have guessed it was Precious for the win, how long can the hurt locker survive the front runner status i wonder and what will it lead us with
Good for Mo’Nique. Even if she’s a bit abrasive in her approach, at least she GETS it: This shouldn’t be about hand-shaking and baby-kissing; ideally, it should be solely about the peformance. In any case, I’m not that worried that she won’t win it.
And I’m insanely excited for Waltz this whole awards season. The man sends my heart a-flutter with his talent, skill, grace, an ridiculous level of itelligence and embodies what a true actor should be (doesn’t hurt that he’s a babe). He’s a rarity.
I’m just excited for the Oscar in general–this should be a damn exciting edition.
@AmericanRequiem – Yes the BP frontrunner keeps getting pushed back, but even now, I don’t know that I could call “The Hurt Locker” any more the frontrunner than I could “Avatar”. And even with either of those films holding onto that title, I can’t say I’d be surprised to see “Up In The Air” walk away with the prize either. Certainly NOT a boring Best Picture race this year. Though am I the only one that subconsciously disregards the other 5 slots in play and just looks at this as any other year with 5 amazing pics in play? (amazing for the line-up, not necessarily the individual films themselves)
Kris look back to a few years ago when Cate Blanchett lost the Oscar to Tilda Swinton. Supporting George Clooney has its perks and I honestly think this year, for Anna Kendrick, its going to pay off. All the precursors in the world will never convince me that MoNique is going to be an Oscar winner. Seriously Precious (which suprised me and I really LOVED) is like the Color Purple this year and will more than likely come up completely empty handed come Oscar night. Mark my words.
Marked.
“All the precursors in the world will never convince me that MoNique is going to be an Oscar winner.”
I don’t agree. I believe Precious will go home empty-handed EXCEPT for Supporting Actress. Anyway, anything otherwise would be a crime.
“Certainly NOT a boring Best Picture race this year. ”
Couldn’t agree more. Just a fantastic, eccectic collection of pics this year. I’m shakin’ in my boots.
>eclectic.
(Is there any way we can get an edit option for dimwits like me who type too fast?)
One of the best OSCAR races i’ve ever been into it
I agree with Gareth about narrowing the focus to 5 BP possibilities. Actually, I would say 3 real possibilities: AVATAR, HURT LOCKER, AND UP IN THE AIR. Mr. Tapley, do you know anything about how older academy voters are said to respond to INGLORIOUS BASTERDS?
I can’t wait to see all those people who gave Mo’Nique shit for not playing the campaign game have to eat crow when her name is announced on the big night.
I think it is WONDERFUL that she isn’t playing a game and letting the performance speak for itself. It seems to me that she doesn’t really care if she wins or loses; just that the picture was made and people are realizing this is a part of society. (But, she BETTER win, darn it!)
Also, as a side note, I think Christopher Plummer is going to win Supp. Actor. Remember — they LOVE to use that category as a lifetime achievement award. Think Alan Arkin coming from out of nowhere.
“I can’t wait to see all those people who gave Mo’Nique shit for not playing the campaign game have to eat crow when her name is announced on the big night.”
especially jeffrey wells and his cadre of bigoted yes-men. and especially when mo’ *and* waltz win.
Alan Arkin didn’t come “out of nowhere,” exactly. He was riding the wave of a very popular Best Picture nominee that picked up a lot of momentum — Plummer won’t have the same advantage.
Plus, Arkin’s win can be attributed as much to “Norbit” as it can “Little Miss Sunshine”
(I predicted Arkin.)
(As did I.)
I think it’s good to actually get to hear these things from Mo’Nique herself. So much of what’s been going on feels like it partially has to do with her mostly staying out of it and not commenting on it. The rumors kept spreading, exaggerating themselves at every turn, and without her saying anything the reaction was as if it must be true. So it is certainly nice to hear her explain things how she sees it.
And frankly, a lot of it seems to do with the fact that everyone in this game expects people to jump through a hoop of fire whenever you say jump. Like those snarky comments from NYFCC members when she wasn’t coming to her gala, just bitter reactions to the fact that she actually though other things were more important to her, bitter reactions to the fact that she wouldn’t jump through their hoop.
These days it’s like people can’t possibly imagine that there ever could be someone who actually doesn’t think winning an Oscar is the ultimate goal that they’re willing to do anything for, and people are forgetting it wasn’t that long ago that George C. Scott refused his Best Actor Oscar and Marlon Brando sent a fake Indian in his place.
“Isn’t there something encouraging about that?”
Absolutely.
But I don’t know why everyone writing about this keeps missing the most important factor of the scandal. The controversy comes from allegations of GREED. As in demanding monetary compensation for her campaigning efforts, which is highly unusual.
That’s the main reason for the uproar.
Whether she actually demanded money to make promotional appearances is very very questionable, but most people have, unfortunately, already believed it to be true.
Basically, it’s not so much “How dare you not promote yourself for an Oscar!” – but more “How dare you request money to promote yourself for an Oscar!”.
I haven’t seen Precious yet but all I hear about is how brilliant she is in it. I have no beef with how she is being on the down low in the pr for Oscar – in fact, I say kudos to her for keeping her priorities straight and taking care of her daily duties. If she wins, I reckon she’ll be the first acting Oscar winner who didn’t whore themselves, and that’s good.
Ya, a Plummer win would be more like Don Ameche winning for Cocoon. Plenty of similarities there, right down to them both being long time actors who have been leads and been supporting actors who had given them chances to nominate them which they’d passed on.
But, Ameche had the advantage of a VERY weak year and no real front runner…
So Harrelson is the only real competition for Waltz?
It sure seems that way, although Waltz has so thoroughly dominated the critics awards and the general Oscar climate that it’s hard to say.
I still think it sure is somethin’ that Mo’Nique of all people and Christoph Waltz, a man nobody (in America, at least) had ever heard of are going to win Oscars.
Good on Mo’Nique and thumbs down to the haters.
I know several Academy voters and the concensus is that Monique gave a great performance and that speaks for itself. I guess people expect her to send out expensive watches like Sharon Stone sent the HFPA when she was nominated for CASINO.
“look back to a few years ago when Cate Blanchett lost the Oscar to Tilda Swinton. Supporting George Clooney has its perks and I honestly think this year, for Anna Kendrick”
I’ve held onto this notion that Swinton’s win, was the Academy doting the – I[s] and crossing the T[s] – making sure to award an actress they’re already ignoring for future brilliant work?
If she wants her performance to speak for itself than she should lose because its the single most overrated overhyped performance in quite some time.
Her sweep just proves if your loud, in your face, and showy, the morons following awards season will eat and swallow it up.
Well if we’re going to mention overrated performances, please, let’s not fail to mention Anna Kendrick’s performance.
ditto Anna Kendrick. Saw Up in the Air for a second time recently, and while I do not think she is bad at all, she is completely outshined by Vera Farmiga…she’s the best supporting actress this year, IMO.
If Viola Davis can’t win in this category, I don’t think Monique is a sure bet to win especially with her no nonsensical approach that the performance speaks for itself? If you win an award, if it was me, i’d drive where ever it is, nothing could stop me. Not monique. It’s a slap in the face and why would you want to reward an actress who doesn’t really want it and who might not even show up to the oscars.