Comments on: The Role of the Obese In 21st Century Hollywood (Episode 78) http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/ With Jimmy Moore Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:22:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Jimmy Moore http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6516 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 22:46:19 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6516 Good points, Melodie! Still, it would be nice to see some of the talented "bigger" actors getting their props on the silver screen. Oh, Linda, I got to thinking about "Hairspray" and forgot to mention that they even had to get a thin MAN to play an obese WOMAN--John Travolta! Why did they have to do that other than the shock factor for the audience? Good points, Melodie! Still, it would be nice to see some of the talented “bigger” actors getting their props on the silver screen.

Oh, Linda, I got to thinking about “Hairspray” and forgot to mention that they even had to get a thin MAN to play an obese WOMAN–John Travolta! Why did they have to do that other than the shock factor for the audience?

]]> by: Melodie Gale http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6511 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:29:28 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6511 Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, Did I detect sort of a rant here. Art imitates life, at least life as we'd like it to be. Take the movie "Rudy" for instance, it was about a very small guy with a lot of heart who got to play football at Notre Dame. Or how about the age old fairytale of Cinderella, who got the prince in the end. Think about the poor guy from the wrong side of the tracks who marries the rich beautiful woman. These are all stories about the same thing, the underdog who wins the day. I think you are right, they are picking on the obese in an effort to find an audience because it is a growing audience (no pun intended). I think maybe you identified heavily with the charater you spoke about, and it created enough emotion in you to do a podcast on the subject. That's what they want. They want a character that people can identify with. I happen to have a friend who is nearly 40 and has never been married and is drop dead gorgeous. He could probably have most any woman he wanted, but he could identify with this charater. Do you know why? Because he has confidence issues, and does not see himself as handsome. All of us have our insecurities real or imagined, but because of that we can identify. Unfortunately, people who do not fall within the average ranges as dictated by society (fair or not) such as short people, the poor, especially the obese(this is a society obsessed with thinness) are deemed to be underdogs. I have to go back a bit here, but one of the most beloved characters of all time "Perry Mason" played by Raymond Burr, was strong, intelligent, and hardly diminutive. Brian Dennehy (one of my favorites) not thin, but very sexy in his way, and always capable, playing a strong cop like figure who always get his man, and his share of the ladies too. Who didn't love John Candy, yes funny, but never the buffoon that I can remember. And there is John Goodman, who has been featured in many lead roles including the great "Babe Ruth". I especially loved Bridget Jones, and while Rene Zellweger is not naturally heavy, she certainly put on a few pounds for that role. She was funny and sexy at the same time, and you could do a lot worse than Hugh Grant or Colin Furth. Think about this. A lot of these movies involve plots that portray one individual as being fat and then thin. You can't do that with a fat actor or actress. Logistically it's a lot easier to put a fat suit on someone skinny than it is to reduce a fat actor or actress in the span of production. Maybe a different take from everybody else's, but it's mine. Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy,

Did I detect sort of a rant here. Art imitates life, at least life as we’d like it to be. Take the movie “Rudy” for instance, it was about a very small guy with a lot of heart who got to play football at Notre Dame. Or how about the age old fairytale of Cinderella, who got the prince in the end. Think about the poor guy from the wrong side of the tracks who marries the rich beautiful woman. These are all stories about the same thing, the underdog who wins the day.

I think you are right, they are picking on the obese in an effort to find an audience because it is a growing audience (no pun intended). I think maybe you identified heavily with the charater you spoke about, and it created enough emotion in you to do a podcast on the subject. That’s what they want. They want a character that people can identify with. I happen to have a friend who is nearly 40 and has never been married and is drop dead gorgeous. He could probably have most any woman he wanted, but he could identify with this charater. Do you know why? Because he has confidence issues, and does not see himself as handsome. All of us have our insecurities real or imagined, but because of that we can identify.

Unfortunately, people who do not fall within the average ranges as dictated by society (fair or not) such as short people, the poor, especially the obese(this is a society obsessed with thinness) are deemed to be underdogs.

I have to go back a bit here, but one of the most beloved characters of all time “Perry Mason” played by Raymond Burr, was strong, intelligent, and hardly diminutive. Brian Dennehy (one of my favorites) not thin, but very sexy in his way, and always capable, playing a strong cop like figure who always get his man, and his share of the ladies too. Who didn’t love John Candy, yes funny, but never the buffoon that I can remember. And there is John Goodman, who has been featured in many lead roles including the great “Babe Ruth”.

I especially loved Bridget Jones, and while Rene Zellweger is not naturally heavy, she certainly put on a few pounds for that role. She was funny and sexy at the same time, and you could do a lot worse than Hugh Grant or Colin Furth.

Think about this. A lot of these movies involve plots that portray one individual as being fat and then thin. You can’t do that with a fat actor or actress. Logistically it’s a lot easier to put a fat suit on someone skinny than it is to reduce a fat actor or actress in the span of production.

Maybe a different take from everybody else’s, but it’s mine.

]]> by: Jimmy Moore http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6507 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:40:31 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6507 Will do, Linda! But those kind of movies are few and far between unfortunately. Will do, Linda! But those kind of movies are few and far between unfortunately.

]]> by: Linda Pickett http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6500 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:27:30 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6500 From BEAUTY SHOP with Queen Latifah: "Do these pants make my behind look big?" Queen Latifah asks. Her daughter says solemnly, "Yes, mama, they do." Queen Latifah breaks into a smile. "Perfect," she says, and struts out the door. Now that's what we need more of. Accepting how you are regardless of your size is truly priceless. Jimmy, definitely see REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES; it is a beautiful movie. From BEAUTY SHOP with Queen Latifah: “Do these pants make my behind look big?” Queen Latifah asks.

Her daughter says solemnly, “Yes, mama, they do.”

Queen Latifah breaks into a smile. “Perfect,” she says, and struts out the door.

Now that’s what we need more of. Accepting how you are regardless of your size is truly priceless. Jimmy, definitely see REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES; it is a beautiful movie.

]]> by: Jimmy Moore http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6499 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:10:27 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6499 Hey Linda, My wife Christine mentioned Hairspray to me (which I want to see, by the way!). And I LOVED LOVED LOVED Dreamgirls, too! JH was amazing! Haven't heard of Real Women Have Curves, but I'll look it up! GREAT STUFF, Linda! Anyone else know some good positive obese people in leading movie roles? Hey Linda,

My wife Christine mentioned Hairspray to me (which I want to see, by the way!). And I LOVED LOVED LOVED Dreamgirls, too! JH was amazing!

Haven’t heard of Real Women Have Curves, but I’ll look it up! GREAT STUFF, Linda!

Anyone else know some good positive obese people in leading movie roles?

]]> by: Linda Pickett http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6498 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:08:49 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6498 I was trying to think of more movies, I am a fanatic about movies,featuring positive fat characters but besides Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah I am drawing a blank. It is a rarity to have plus size stars; I think Hairspray is a curvy exception to the skinny rule. I was trying to think of more movies, I am a fanatic about movies,featuring positive fat characters but besides Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah I am drawing a blank. It is a rarity to have plus size stars; I think Hairspray is a curvy exception to the skinny rule.

]]> by: Linda Pickett http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6496 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:53:10 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6496 Jimmy, you can find strong positive fat characters in the movie Hairspray.It features Nikki Blonsky and Queen Latifah ,2 plus sized actresses dominating roles in a feature film.And lets not forget Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls. Another great character is played by America Ferrara in the film Real Women Have Curves. The world would truly be a boring place if all women were a size 6. I think my left thigh is that big lol! Jimmy, you can find strong positive fat characters in the movie Hairspray.It features Nikki Blonsky and Queen Latifah ,2 plus sized actresses dominating roles in a feature film.And lets not forget Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls. Another great character is played by America Ferrara in the film Real Women Have Curves. The world would truly be a boring place if all women were a size 6. I think my left thigh is that big lol!

]]> by: Jimmy Moore http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6473 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:24:00 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6473 I apologize, Orvette! Kevin is right about my position. THANKS for making your excellent point. I apologize, Orvette! Kevin is right about my position. THANKS for making your excellent point.

]]> by: Orvette http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6466 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:02:08 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6466 Kevin, Point well taken. Gosh, we can't have an obese man appearing sexy or showing sexual interest in someone.... It's like they have to be portrayed as asexual in order not to be scary. By that token, Elvis would have stopped selling out his concerts after he gained all his weight. That didn't exactly happen, did it? It must be that he was so non-sexual in his performances that he didn't intimidate the skinny women... ;) Kevin,

Point well taken. Gosh, we can’t have an obese man appearing sexy or showing sexual interest in someone…. It’s like they have to be portrayed as asexual in order not to be scary. By that token, Elvis would have stopped selling out his concerts after he gained all his weight. That didn’t exactly happen, did it? It must be that he was so non-sexual in his performances that he didn’t intimidate the skinny women… ;)

]]> by: Kevin Kennedy-Spaien http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6464 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:36:31 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6464 I think Jimmy's point is that film makers want to show fat men as sexually non-threatening, therefore they are taking the sloppy way out and having them often portrayed as overly effeminate. The way they apply it is by using the same bogus stereotype they often apply to gay male characters. Lazy in both cases. I think Jimmy’s point is that film makers want to show fat men as sexually non-threatening, therefore they are taking the sloppy way out and having them often portrayed as overly effeminate.

The way they apply it is by using the same bogus stereotype they often apply to gay male characters. Lazy in both cases.

]]> by: Orvette http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6463 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:05:20 +0000 http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/the-role-of-the-obese-in-21st-century-hollywood-episode-78/#comment-6463 Jimmy, be careful not to trade one kind of bigotry for another. Not all gay men lisp and have effeminate characteristics, and many straight men do. If you're commenting about why obese male characters in movies are portrayed as less masculine, please just say so. It was highly unncessary for you to associate femininity with homosexuality. Surprisingly, not all gay women are masculine either. Stereotyping is not reserved exclusively for the obese, and we all need to watch how we characterize groups of people. Jimmy, be careful not to trade one kind of bigotry for another. Not all gay men lisp and have effeminate characteristics, and many straight men do.

If you’re commenting about why obese male characters in movies are portrayed as less masculine, please just say so. It was highly unncessary for you to associate femininity with homosexuality. Surprisingly, not all gay women are masculine either. Stereotyping is not reserved exclusively for the obese, and we all need to watch how we characterize groups of people.

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