Back in June Mary J. Blige announced she would be playing Malcolm X's wife, Dr. Betty Shabazz, in the Lifetime movie 'Betty and Coretta' about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King's wives [click here if you missed that].
Well Mary, I hope you've been taking your acting lessons because Angela Bassett has just been attached to the film...
Angela Bassett is slated to play Martin Luther King's wife Corretta Scott King.
Betty and Coretta follows both women as they try to move on after the assassinations of their husbands.
Malcolm X was murdered in front of his wife and four children during a speaking engagement at the Audubon Ballroom in New York in 1965 and Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on the balcony of the Loraine Hotel in 1968.
54 comments:
Angela will blow Mary away....Mary cannot act.
let the cat fightin' begin
HOW IN THE HELLcould they cast Mary s illiterate ass as Betty Shabazz. That's a shame that devil grandchild burned her up. women was highly educated and very articulate. It
thank you @10:38 am!
What is 'Assignations'? I have heard of an assassination, but never an assignation LOL
Singer want to be actors, actors want to be singers Actors want to rap, rappers want to act
Athletes want to act, actors want to be athletes
It’s all vanity based elements. Why don’t any
of them want to be Doctors, Lawyers of Financial Experts?
I can't stand this shit, you mean to tell me with all the talented black actress in hollyweird, you could not find another talented black actress to act opposite Angela Basset? Mary's no acting ass should never be paired up along side the mega talent that is Basset, this shit is an insult at this point I would even welcome that ho Gabby and her one trick pony acting ass, why is it you put singer, rappers (with the few exception of Tupac, Ludacris and DMX) up against real talent, I hope Mary's drunken, no acting, burger king chicken glorifying ass don't fuck up the flow of the film smh
Angela playing Betty Shabazz in one movie, Rosa Parks in another and Coretta Scott King in another with relative ease. Go head with your bad self!
Mary being cast as Betty Shabazz? I have no words for that casting decision. If the casting directors had any sense, then Viola Davis would gotten this role.
*would have
"Betty and Coretta follows both women as they try to move on after the assignations of their husbands."
Mary J, did you write this?
Angela Bassett, just wow. She's my favourite actress of all time. Why that woman is without an Oscar is beyond me. SMDH.
no way is she cast opposite angela bassett. if so, she should pull out and let jill scott have it.
@11:21 sometimes Angela can be too much though, because she is such a great actress. jumping the broom - that was a basic part anyone could've played and I thought angela was too dramatic.
Angela Bassett is so GORGEOUS!!!!!!
It's a Lifetime movie. Some of y'all can calm down.
It should be good. I'll watch it. Maybe Angela could give Mary some tips.
I would think after the brouhaha over Nina Simone's movie, some of 'us' might be a bit happier with this casting decision...
I guess it goes to show no matter how hard you try, you can't please simple niggas.
@11:11 Don't forget Tina!
Lol@ 11:47
I do believe most skipped over the 'Lifetime' part.
Angela definitely should have an Oscar by now. How she didn't get one for playing Tina Turner is beyond me. I get chills to this day watching that movie. Her talent is truly a rare gift.
I get that Mary J. Blige embodies the spirit of the long suffering black woman, however, she should not be allowed in the vicinity of the incomparable Ms. Basset. She should stick to Tyler Perry roles.
It is obvious that Halle has made better career moves than Angela BassettHOUND.
Angela said she turned down "Monster's Ball" because the character was slutty BUT Halle got an Oscar for that role.
Now Angela is doing cable tv!!!
Who's the slut now Angela,who's the slut now????
Mary J Blige?! They might as well have cast Beyonce for that role! Ugh!
"... in the Lifetime movie 'Betty and Coretta' about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King's wives."
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Did BET pass on this or didn't even consider? Do any of the families get any proceeds.
@ 1st 12:32
Please don't go there. Halle's got connections (men in high places) that Angela does not. The casting couch is very real. Halle has been linked to several white, influential men in the industry - real decision makers with real money and power. Let's not forget that Halle also has light skin and European features, which is a lot of currency for women in the entertainment industry. She has power and privilege just by virtue of what she looks like.
Now, I'm not down with black women bashing each other in any way, especially in an industry so small and exclusive. Angela was definitely wrong for what she said about Halle, however, let's be real here - Angela is the one with the real acting chops. She doesn't have Halle's looks to give her the access, though.
@12:54 casting couch? Just an FYI, Halle didn't use the couch for Monster's Ball, the director was gay and all three parties have noted that Angela was the first choice for that role.
After the chicken fiasco this is Mary's redemption
Go Mary and Angie!!!
@1:04
I didn't specify which movie. Halle has had a long career. I like her as an actress, but her talent has been called arguable by many. The original poster implied that Halle has made better acting choices than Angela has throughout her career, and that was the part I disagreed with and found it appropriate to remind people that skin color and sex appeal does play a significant role in the entertainment industry. It dictates which roles and the number of opportunities you are offered.
1. Angela Bassett is a beautiful, talented, EDUCATED dramatic actress with undergrad degree and MFA from Yale. Mary J Blige needs to stick to her like glue to get all the knowledge she can get.
2. Halle Berry is a beautiful MOVIE STAR who was a former model and beauty queen. She has gotten most of her roles based on her looks. As an actress, she has no depth or range, and she comes across as stiff and whiny when she is attempting to play a dramatic role.
3. Angela Bassett has the RANGE to pull off a great performance in anything she does... from stage productions, to Oscar buzzworthy films to television series, to Lifetime movies.
4. Last time I checked, Halle was another name for the word FLOP. Everything she's been in for the last 10 years has flopped at the box office. Halle is the black Jennifer Anniston; she keeps getting new film roles DESPITE her dismal box office record.
5. Money isn't everything. Angela is a respected actress. Halle is just a pretty face who is now lumped in to the group of people who "need to give their Oscars back", like Cuba Gooding Jr and others who obviously won only through some fluke or because the Academy felt it was time to stir up the pot and raise the ratings by giving a statue to someone black.
6. Angela Bassett will continue to get roles, big and small, because she has talent and is respected. Halle Berry's career has already begun to drop off; Paula Patton is getting the types of roles that Halle used get.
7. Halle is making most of her income these days from her modeling and spokesperson gigs, not from acting.
8. Maybe Mary will drop out of this movie and they'll replace her with Zoe Saldana, too?
9. Viola Davis is an excellent actress, but she cannot play every great role. No one even KNEW who she was until 4 years ago... Viola has been on the scene for 20 years as a character actress. She is the female William H. Macy.
10. This is the problem with movie fans. We put all our support into one or two people, and forget about the rest of the talented folks out there. We vote with our $$$, and that is why Tyler Perry's step-n-fetchit bullshit is always at the top of the box office, and why Mary J Blige is playing Betty Shabazz in a Lifetime Movie (household name = big ad $$$ for commercial TV).
Hollywood puts an 'it' girl in place every few years, which could explain Halle Berry's commercial success as an actress. She was chosen to represent black women in Hollywood much like how Beyonce was chosen to rep us in music. Unfortunately, 'they' feel there is only room for one black person at a time. Same thing applies to the Hispanic/Latino community - J. Lo's been their top girl for awhile now in music and film. They have Sofia Vergara now, too.
They have an agenda to push who they want and who they think will have the most crossover appeal. It's no coincidence that all of the women named have light skin and European features. Someone like Angela Basset does not fit the mold. Right now, they are trying to push Zoe Saldana as the next 'it' girl, but it appears that black people are rejecting her.
@1:56
I agree with you.
Halle has her issues, but she at least did not go around disparaging black women and making negative comments about her fellow black actresses.
I don't think black women in general would reject Zoe just because she's blatina. I think she has exposed the fact that she is resentful that she cannot win "latina" roles because those parts automatically go to white latina actresses, and Zoe is relegated to playing African American roles.
I also think this is why she has tried to present herself as an "action/adventure" star, to prevent being typecast as a "black" actress. She wants to have her cake and eat it too, but black viewers will not support this.
You can attempt to be "post-racial" all you want... but don't go around putting down the black actresses you are taking work from by pretending that you are better and more talented, when you are getting most of these roles based on your looks. This is just like white people who complain about Affirmative Action, but never fail to "cash in" when they can get some advantage out of claiming some long lost ethnic heritage.
WHY do producers continue to give MARY J any movie roles????
Halle Berry has had some flops, but y'all really gon' sit here and act like Angela hasn't had some duds either?
Mr. 3000
Notorious
Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns
Green Lantern
Viola Davis has replaced Angela Bassett as the "serious" black actress in Hollywood so y'all can continue to live like it's 1996 if you want to. If Angie really did have the "range" like y'all say she does then it would be her doing all the roles Viola has now.
Oooooh I luv me some Mary and Angela - hope Mary's bn takin those extra acting lessons, this movie is a must-see. Can't wait!
Y'all fuckers talking about Halle Berry.Halle has done more for us than Angela ever will.Halle supports her Bi-racial Identity.All these actresses claiming tjheir full Bi-racial heritage.She is the face of the Movement.Mariah and Obama took the baton from Halle and won.
Give Mary a chance she just might do a good job.
@2:17
Look Viola up on imdb, and you will see that she has made a career (until now), of taking bit parts and small roles on tv and in any and every type of film.
It has taken her TWENTY YEARS to get name recognition. Viola is also educated; she went to Juilliard.
I am not saying anything against her talent; I'm just saying she has paid her dues by doing bit parts and anonymous roles, and people are acting like she's been in the big leagues as long as Angela.
They BOTH deserve their shine, but do not try to rewrite history.
@2:40
You have issues. WTF does "full biracial heritage" even mean?
No one is giving out awards for "best biracial" anything.
And the last time I checked, all those people you listed in your post are repping for BLACK people, because they know what time it is in racist American society.
"Biracial" didn't even exist until white women stopped getting disowned by their families for having babies with black men. They got tired of losing their white privilege by automatically being lumped in with black folks, just because they were fucking/dating/married to ONE black man.
GTFOH with your ignorant bullshit!
Ok Off topic....we're talking about these older black actresses. What about the younger ones that is not getting any shine in Hollywood? I would hate for them to become the next Angela Basset and Viola Davis with limited roles and having their range/abilities being discussed because they got some role at the age of 40 being a 'mammy' or sucking off some white man's peen.. Isn't this a TV movie? Dark/Black actresses are not taken seriously on the silver screen.
@3:14
Sam Jackson complained back in the day that rappers were taking good roles away from trained actors, and he got a lot of flack for it.
Since acting is another form of entertainment, I think anyone who has the talent should be able to act. Whoever is best for a particular role should get it.
The problem is that the roles written for black people are just as limited and lacking as they were decades ago. While the public votes with their dollars, at the end of the day, the actors need to be proactive and fight for better roles and representation in the industry.
We have enough black people in Hollywood with money and stature to improve the situation. People with much less have taken a stand for much more.
@3:00 that's where your wrong, Viola was already a name on Broadway before she was noticed in Hollywood.
Angela has had SEVERAL chances to make up for her shortcomings in Hollywood but she seems to be comfortable just doing low-budget hood movies like Tyler Perry and Notorious. She should have preserved her brand better. And maybe playing every famous black woman that ever lived wasn't the right career move.
I love Angie but it is what it is. Bish is a one-note actress, cry-talking and teeth-gritting through every scene. Name me one movie where she's playing a character that's happy with her life, don't worry I'll wait. She fucked up her career several times over and it's too late for her old ass to recover. I know that'll piss some people off but oh the fuck well.
Y'all can't say it's a "black" thing either 'cause Viola is as black as the background on this page and is parlaying in white Hollywood. Come at me bro.
Angela is a beast in acting, and Mary looks like one.
@3:37
I agree with you for the most part. I was disappointed to see that Angela had been in a couple of Tyler Perry films, too.
I was just saying that people seem to supporting the very thing they complain about Hollywood doing.
Now that Viola Davis has been "discovered" (after all these years), people seem to conveniently forget about all the other talent out there.
Like when someone before brought up Halle Berry. Why does it have to be about Halle "or fill-in-the-blank-with-black-actress-of-the-moment"?
Also, you can plainly see that black folks will put up with just about anything, but we do NOT want to have just anybody portraying our heroes. We want only the best actors for that.
"2. Halle Berry is a beautiful MOVIE STAR who..has gotten most of her roles based on her looks. As an actress, she has no depth or range..."
I BEEN saying that about Halle since the mid-90s when she started becoming really popular after "Boomerang" and "Queen". At the time, I was the only person, it seems, who recognized how utterly mediocre she was an actress. Cute, yes. Loved the short hair cut. But I never hopped aboard the "Halle is SO talented!" train, not even after she won the Oscar for "Monster's Ball".
Mary has acted before and was quite good!. Stop tearing each other down. Watch the movie first, then make the comments. Furthermore since when have ANY of you been a casting director or the head of ANY major operation where you can place people in these positions?. It kills me when you blog from the projects, while sipping on a forty, when you know damn well you don't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out!! Signed, Go Get You're Blessings!!! Mary/Angela, have theirs!!!
@3:37
Again it goes back to having access in the industry. Angela took the roles that she's received in Hollywood and she's been brilliant. I'm not talking about Tyler Perry roles but hey, don't knock her, the woman's gotta eat. Angela would NEVER be considered for some of the roles that Halle's received throughout the years - Swordfish, Gothika, Catwoman, etc. because she doesn't have the same access (skin color, features) and crossover appeal as Halle. She has benefited greatly by her looks, while Angela has remained virtually unsung. I don't think anyone should feel sorry for her, though, because real recognizes real and she is definitely the real deal.
As for Viola, it's about damn time this woman is being recognized in Hollywood. You can still catch her on old episodes of Law &Order from back in the day. She's been grinding for a minute, but I wouldn't exactly say she's 'parlaying.' Parlaying would mean she has her pick of plum roles a la Cameron Diaz and I doubt that is the case. Hollywood still plays by the same antiquated rules, which means no matter how much they like her, she will still only get so far in the game.
@ 11:47 AM I was about to say the same thing you said. it's only a Lifetime movie. if Fantasia can make it on lifetime so can Mary and rememer Fanny fucked up the movie just playing herself.
That's the best I've seen Mary look.
She should donate Or burn them blonde wigs
I'm just sayin
Angela is a beast in acting, and Mary looks like one.
3:43 PM
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Then Halle is Beauty.
Y'all been hating on women like Halle all your life,even in school. Sorry Muthafuckas.
I would like to see a porn parody of this film
Betty and Coretta: the lesbian Chronicles
Betty and Coretta follows both women as they try to move on after the assassinations of their husbands through mutual oral stimulation and the occasional strap-on,starring Pinky and Jazmine Cashmere;-)
@3:32pm Like you facts and presentation, well said!
@6:32pm I suspect that you are my long lost twin. No one other than my twin could think exactly like me. Thx. you done youself proud!
The most unsung talent out there is Alfre Woodward. She runs rings around most of the actors out there today. Mary should not be counted out for this or any other role. She is a most talented artist that has yet to reached her platua in any area (acting or singing). Give her a chance and watch her shine.
@3:32 correction: Plateau
Angela Bassett is ok, never been a fan. She was believable as Tina Turner, a good performance, otherwise I'm not impressed. I find her exterior to be a bit hard /stoic, her facial expressions lack fluidity. Would not categorize her with Alfre Woodard, Viola Davis or Loretta Divine, these ladies bring wide width and breath to their characters very believable performances. Mary J. Blige is truly a diamond in the rough.
I know Nia Long is somewhere shaking her head and saying Fuck it! I ain't tripping. I'm glad I saved my chips cuz they full of shit. She's probably so sick of the Hollyweird games and won't play along.....
@8:46 I have to say I kinda agree with you. Sometimes her expression is hard and/or doesn't reflect what the character needs at the time. Just sayin...
@8:46 Yeah. She was AWFUL in as Biggie's mom. Horrible!!!
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