Favorite Movie Monologues (1 Viewer)

[Optimus Prime]

I really should watch Network one of these days

 

[Saint_Ward]

So I've thought about it.
And it just perturbs me is all. 'White savior' moments in film.

Taraji's words and her performance are so impactful to me. But here you come with the, "Don't forget about the White Savior!" clip is irksome.

It's analogous of life in general. Like... just sit down and not be seen for like a minute. Let the spotlight be on anyone but you for like...Once.

I don't know if that helps. Probably not.

It does. But, I'd also say, you could interpret that as "her complaint was heard"

She knew, or at least assumed, she was getting fired after that.

What should the following scene have been? Her being walked out? Just another normal day like nothing happened and no resolution?

It may have been more meaningful if Jim Parsons Character was the one to come around after that, but it did make sense that the boss took care of it. I've never seen it as a savior moment.

And I replied because I love the movie.

Only other part that's better is her getting into the classified meetings and owning everyone. But that's not a monologue.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

So I've thought about it.
And it just perturbs me is all. 'White savior' moments in film.

Taraji's words and her performance are so impactful to me. But here you come with the, "Don't forget about the White Savior!" clip is irksome.

It's analogous of life in general. Like... just sit down and not be seen for like a minute. Let the spotlight be on anyone but you for like...Once.

I don't know if that helps. Probably not.

I can explain that if you like

 

[kizzy821]

It does. But, I'd also say, you could interpret that as "her complaint was heard"

She knew, or at least assumed, she was getting fired after that.

What should the following scene have been? Her being walked out? Just another normal day like nothing happened and no resolution?

It may have been more meaningful if Jim Parsons Character was the one to come around after that, but it did make sense that the boss took care of it. I've never seen it as a savior moment.

And I replied because I love the movie.

Only other part that's better is her getting into the classified meetings and owning everyone. But that's not a monologue.

If you loved Hidden Figures, you will adore this one



HF probably inspired the entire skit.

 

[kizzy821]

I can explain that if you like

Sure. I'd like to hear other POVs about why it happens

 

[Bleu Raeder]

Sure. I'd like to hear other POVs about why it happens

I know in some depictions there might be some sense that there is the "white savior" thing but here I don't think it is the case. If there was to be no moment to wrap up this little story arc, then the bathroom conflict should not have been brought up in the first place. So we have a question we need to answer:

Was the bathroom story important to the overall story? Did that arc add to or detract from what the movie was trying to say?

I have been studying writing for a long time and I find in many stories I watch or try to write that I will often add things that in editing should be taken out because they do not add to/support the story. Does the incident in question provide context and if it is a conflict (as this certainly was) how is it resolved? Is it as simple as showing a janitor taking down the sign or did something bigger need to be shown? Do we expect the reader/viewer to fill in the gaps? The janitor is taking down the sign so someone must have said something to someone about taking the sign down, right? Would that discussion about taking the sign down have been important to the story? Was the bathroom being half a mile away important to the story?

It is obvious that a lot of artistic license is at play here and the writers chose to go with something a bit more dramatic.

But, and maybe because I don't fully understand the history and underlying emotions, I see no "white savior" here. I see a man who thinks of the entity (NASA) being one entity with one purpose and so to him, everyone is equal. We are all just trying to achieve one goal and any/every obstacle to that must be removed, be it bathroom privileges or an understanding of orbital dynamics.

-----
As I reread this before clicking the 'post reply' button I also realize that my mention of a janitor here might have consequences too. When I think janitor, I think of an old Cajun man who was the janitor at my school. I don't think of him in terms of color, I think of him as the very quiet and kind man he was (he just passed away, God rest his soul). But in my scenario, I would also have to ask if the color of the janitor's skin makes a difference?

-----
Of course, this brings up another set of questions for me because I remember when, in fifth grade, I was put on a bus to another school and didn't fully understand all that surrounded that either. It was my introduction to racism and what I witnessed at the time was confusing and scary - but that is for another thread. I do understand that the issue in question is quite complex but I think it is time we start clarifying things so healing can take place.

 

[gboudx]

>>As I reread this before clicking the 'post reply' button I also realize that my mention of a janitor here might have consequences too.

Just to be clear, you refer to a janitor as taking down the sign. I assume you mean the "Coloreds only" or "Coloreds Bathroom" sign. In the movie, it was Kevin Costner's character, Al Harrison who bludgeoned the sign off the wall with a crowbar. Whether that makes a difference or not, I don't know. Just wanted to clarify this part.

 

[kizzy821]

I know in some depictions there might be some sense that there is the "white savior" thing but here I don't think it is the case. If there was to be no moment to wrap up this little story arc, then the bathroom conflict should not have been brought up in the first place. So we have a question we need to answer:

Was the bathroom story important to the overall story? Did that arc add to or detract from what the movie was trying to say?

I have been studying writing for a long time and I find in many stories I watch or try to write that I will often add things that in editing should be taken out because they do not add to/support the story. Does the incident in question provide context and if it is a conflict (as this certainly was) how is it resolved? Is it as simple as showing a janitor taking down the sign or did something bigger need to be shown? Do we expect the reader/viewer to fill in the gaps? The janitor is taking down the sign so someone must have said something to someone about taking the sign down, right? Would that discussion about taking the sign down have been important to the story? Was the bathroom being half a mile away important to the story?

It is obvious that a lot of artistic license is at play here and the writers chose to go with something a bit more dramatic.

But, and maybe because I don't fully understand the history and underlying emotions, I see no "white savior" here. I see a man who thinks of the entity (NASA) being one entity with one purpose and so to him, everyone is equal. We are all just trying to achieve one goal and any/every obstacle to that must be removed, be it bathroom privileges or an understanding of orbital dynamics.

-----
As I reread this before clicking the 'post reply' button I also realize that my mention of a janitor here might have consequences too. When I think janitor, I think of an old Cajun man who was the janitor at my school. I don't think of him in terms of color, I think of him as the very quiet and kind man he was (he just passed away, God rest his soul). But in my scenario, I would also have to ask if the color of the janitor's skin makes a difference?

-----
Of course, this brings up another set of questions for me because I remember when, in fifth grade, I was put on a bus to another school and didn't fully understand all that surrounded that either. It was my introduction to racism and what I witnessed at the time was confusing and scary - but that is for another thread. I do understand that the issue in question is quite complex but I think it is time we start clarifying things so healing can take place.

I know why the scene was made up and added to the story. The director told us, point blank: "white people need to see themselves doing the right thing."

And I think it's the same reason that clip was tacked on to my post.

So that's what I was inviting other POVs on: the need to follow up Taraji's monologue with a clip of Kevin Costner pretending to be her hero (not in the movie, but in this thread).

 

[Saint_Ward]

I know why the scene was made up and added to the story. The director told us, point blank: "white people need to see themselves doing the right thing."

And I think it's the same reason that clip was tacked on to my post.

So that's what I was inviting other POVs on: the need to follow up Taraji's monologue with a clip of Kevin Costner pretending to be her hero (not in the movie, but in this thread).

Well, that wasn't the reason. I don't exactly have skin in the game to make white people look better.

Maybe I need to get more sun.

 

[Torgo]

"Out of order? I'll show you out of order!"

"If I were the man I was 5 years ago, I'd take a flamethrower to this place!"

Dang, this was the first one I thought of when I saw the thread title and you beat me to it. I can't even watch this movie with someone who hasn't seen it before because I can't restrain myself from reciting this scene as it airs.

 

[kizzy821]

Well, that wasn't the reason. I don't exactly have skin in the game to make white people look better.

Maybe I need to get more sun.

"Mostly Euro" is white to me lol

 

[0rion]

 

[Bleu Raeder]

>>As I reread this before clicking the 'post reply' button I also realize that my mention of a janitor here might have consequences too.

Just to be clear, you refer to a janitor as taking down the sign. I assume you mean the "Coloreds only" or "Coloreds Bathroom" sign. In the movie, it was Kevin Costner's character, Al Harrison who bludgeoned the sign off the wall with a crowbar. Whether that makes a difference or not, I don't know. Just wanted to clarify this part.

I know that. I proposed a different scene.

 

[Optimus Prime]