SAG awards for "The Help" and stars Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer bring the movie that much closer to an Oscar, reviving arguments about whether the movie is a step forward or backward for African-Americans in cinema.
Screenwriter James McBride posted this on Spike Lee's 40 Acres and a Mule website. We're running it as an oped, but in case you missed it...
I wonder if it comes down to a question of variety. If there more movies like "Red Tails" or "Pariah" (exec produced by Lee) featuring more African Americans in a much broader range of roles, maybe the award-season notoriety for "The Help" wouldn't stick out so much.
McBride's beef about Hollywood indifference to an "Inside Man" sequel seems legit -- why wouldn't a hit movie like that merit a sequel? Don Cheadle had to go to Ireland last year for a decent role (in "The Guard").