The Snob On NPR, Talking DSK, Kim Kardashian and Zoe Saldana's 'Angelina Jolie' Moment

The Snob was on NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin Tuesday, participating in the Beauty Shop roundtable segment. Joined by Jezebel.com Editor-in-Chief, Jessica Coen, blogger Viviana Hutardo of The Wise Latina Club, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and now University of Georgia journalism visiting professor Cynthia Tucker, we talked about the charges being dismissed in the sexual assault case involving former IMF chairman Dominique Strauss-Kahn; the over-the-top tackiness of reality TV star Kim Kardashian's wedding to that NBA guy no one's ever heard of until now, Kris Humphries; and black Latina actress Zoe Saldana's turn to go all Angelina Jolie and get herself some lady-tinged revenge in her new film, "Colombiana." 

To sum up my opinions -- I'm disappointed with the DSK dismissal but not surprised; bemused with the Kardashian fame enterprise and happy for Saldana. Men have been able to seek vengence in films for everything from their dead parents to dead wives to dead girlfriends to dead buddies to dead pets. Heck. I'm almost positive I've seen a few revenge movies over job loss. Let a lady go murder-bot all over a bunch of extras over some poor red shirt they had sentimental ties to. That sounds awesome! I just want her to get to live in the end. Just like (1971 spoiler alert!) ... Sweetback. 

Check out the audio below.

Comments

[dnL]

I've got to admit, I'm beginning to enjoy these Beauty Shop discussions. Your point about reality shows being like the porn of drama seems like the most logical explanation of why people enjoy them. I may have to use that sometime (I'll try and credit you though).

And even though I'm happy that Zoe's getting more work, I don't just understand the hype about this movie. I really don't find women in revenge films all that groundbreaking (having a sista play the lead role is something to make note of, but I feel that way about a sista playing any lead role in a movie). Since w/ the exploitation films of the 70s, there's been a great deal of revenge films w/ women as the lead protagonist; Enough (2002), The Brave One (2007), Kill Bill vol 1 & 2 (2003/2004), and Inglourious Basterds (2009) are just a few modern examples that I can readily name off the top of my head (sorry, I'm a movie geek). Now that I think about it, the revenge film sub-genre is probably to only type of action movie filmmakers are comfortable casting a woman as the lead role. Besides the Aliens franchise, I can't think of many other action films. Personally, I'd like to see women play convincing traditional villains w/ a proper comeuppance in the end more often (equal to the treatment that a male villain would get).

Anyway, good job, Danielle, and keep up the good work. Sorry about the long post.