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Halle and Cuba's Casting Issues

Posted Aug 8th 2006 5:55PM by TMZ Staff

Who wouldn't want Halle Berry in their movie? Well, back before she won an Oscar for her role in "Monster's Ball," the film's producer, Lee Daniels, had his reservations about casting Berry in the career-making part.

Daniels tells AOL Black Voices that he was skeptical of Halle's talents because she was "at her worst publicity-wise. She had just run over somebody- backed up, took off and left them there; done the Flintstones [movie] and was being called a Black Barbie doll. But you know, I'm an underdog and at that moment she was an underdog and I'm always for an underdog"

Luckily, minus the blip known as "Catwoman", Halle's career has never been healthier.

Daniels latest project is the drama "Shadowboxer." As the director on the film Daniels also expressed concerns over hiring Cuba Gooding Jr.

Despite winning an Oscar for his role in "Jerry Maguire", Gooding has seen his once hot career fizzle.

Daniels adds "With Cuba, something wasn't sitting right with me but I remembered him in 'Boyz N the Hood.' That's when I saw the truth and went for him. [With this film], I think he's gangsta. I think he's thug. I think he's honest and good. And I think he's back."

Let's hope so because there aren't many people clamoring for sequels to "Snow Dogs" or "Boat Trip!"

Tags: Cuba Gooding Jr, CubaGoodingJr, Halle Berry, HalleBerry

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1. THATS BS WHY BLK MEN CAN ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL IN HOLLYWOOD IF THEY ARE CAST AS THUGS OR IN HOOD PLOTS HOLLYWOOD IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO INGNORANT

Posted at 6:54PM on Aug 8th 2006 by Nonya

2. I think this director has an issue with light skin, articulate, black actors-he wants everyone who is black to be ghettoe fabulous like Moniquie-who other than being a fat comic-is no black Meryl Streep her dam self-so I would say why would these talented african-american actors want to work with a director who trashed them??? It looks strange that you have no talents like Monique in this movie but you trash Halle and Cuba!

Posted at 7:14PM on Aug 8th 2006 by Susan

3. This guy is ridiculous! For someone who has only produced a few movies, he should be a little more careful of who he says is talented or not. After all, Cuba and Halle have had careers a lot more distinguished than Lee's. Black actors have a hard enough time as it is without people like this guy running their mouths like this.

Posted at 7:28PM on Aug 8th 2006 by Kimmie

4. I remember Halle's hit and run fiasco. Lmao she is crazy!

Posted at 8:34PM on Aug 8th 2006 by wtf

5. Well, since the director has all this negative stuff to spew out, I guess I will not see this film. I was interested in the film but I am not spendig a base of 8.00 to see a movie if the director is whining and b****ing. Saved me some money.

Posted at 10:06PM on Aug 8th 2006 by JOSEPH

6. Well, since the director has all this negative stuff to spew out, I guess I will not see this film. I was interested in the film but I am not spendig a base of 8.00 to see a movie if the director is whining and bitching. Saved me some money.

Posted at 10:07PM on Aug 8th 2006 by JOSEPH

7. This "director" needs to direct himself to a more open-minded reality. He is embarrasing and subconciously suffering from hurt, fear, and an inferior complex
of many kinds. I feel bad that he is holding ever so tightly to a stereotype that it's making him visibily uneasy and the rest of us uncomfortable. I'm sad he calls himself a director. He needs to focus in on his mind and think more positively as a human being in such a position, before even thinking about leading others, consciously and subconsciously!

Posted at 10:12PM on Aug 8th 2006 by Gale

8. LEVIN..... NEVER KNEW YOU WERE SUCH A JEWISH WHORE... AND A RACIST... WHY SO MANY BLACKS ON YOUR SITE ?? I MEAN REALLY
THEY ARE INFERIOR..... JUST LIKE YOU..... YOU ARE JEALOUS OF GIBSON ON MANY LEVELS.... SHAME, SHAME, SHAME SHAME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JESUS IS WAITING FOR YOU..... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... TOOOOOO BAD YOU ARE SUCH A MORON..... THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST VISIT TO YOUR
RACIST SITE.......... GOD BLESS YOU..... JESUS LOVES YOU.. BUT I DO
NOT UNDERSTAND WHY !!! REMEMBER WITHOUT WASPS .. YOU WOULD BE RIDING A CAMEL AND BOWING 5 TIMES A DAY TO THE DESERT AND ALLAH... AND NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WOMEN WEARING BLACK TENTS SMELL LIKE THE CAMELS YOU RIDE....

Posted at 12:33AM on Aug 9th 2006 by billy bob

9. Well....I sort of agree with all statements above, BUT......

I dont think his issue is with light-skinned black people. Honestly, I questioned Halle's acting talents for long time. I also felt that she was just a "pretty face". When an actor is known ONLY for being beautiful, it can mask any true talent they may have. Halle was great in Monster's Ball and did things I never thought she could or even would do.

Cuba Gooding is another actor that I had doubts about. I liked him in Boyz in Hood & Jerry Mcguire but I still didnt feel he was worth my time. Many of his movies have FLOPPED bigtime and I think he's boring.

This director/producer is the only person who had doubts about Halle & Cuba's acting talents....trust me!

Posted at 1:24AM on Aug 9th 2006 by nikki

10. Was that director high? I know he just didn't diss the actors who worked on his film. WOW. This guy gives black directors a bad name....because i don't know of any directors, black or white, who talked so negatively about the actors who just labored on their film like this guy just did. Great job buddy!!!

Posted at 2:38AM on Aug 9th 2006 by David

11. This producer has Macy Grey in the film???? You mean she sobered up enough to utter some lines!!! How can you talk about Halle Berry when you have cast the likes of Macy Grey??? It makes no sense. If the film flops it is the fault of this prodcer guy. I hate to hear about politics behind a film when the film is barely released or I havent seen it.

Posted at 7:26AM on Aug 9th 2006 by Mikhal G

12. Lee Daniels comments on Halle and Cuba are not about them but himself.
He shows himself to be a very insecure, arrogant man with issues. This is
not the first time he has debased Halle & Cuba in the media. I had heard that
he wanted Halle to possibly help finance one of his films and she turned him down. The truth be told he is simply jealous of the attention they receive. He is buring bridges he hasn't even made. Who in there right mind would want to work with him?

Posted at 8:22AM on Aug 9th 2006 by RCG

13. I like both actors-Cuba and Halle. However, it is time to start being honest-they are not the best the African American community has to offer. There are so many better actors which are going unnoticed within the white community. So you have to ask why them---you have to look at the face, complexion and body versus the talent.

I can remember a few scenes from Monster Ball but the only one including Halle is Halle's big sex scene. She didn't do anything else to remember.

Not to disrespect Halle or Cuba because I am fans of both but their acting talents don't compare to:

Morris Chestnutt, Jeffrey Wright, Michael Ealy, Leon, LaTonya Richardson, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox, C.C. H. Pounder, and the numerous nameless other African American actors/actresses.

It is good to support our people. However, we need to demand respect for our real talent. Why are we allowing our real acting talents to go unnoticed? Denzel Washington did a great job in Training Day....but he did a perfect job in Malcolm X which he didn't receive the much deserved Oscar. Halle did a superb job as Dorothy Dandrige which she didn't take the deserved prize....she slept with a white man and flashed her body in Monsters Ball and has been praised...she did a better acting performance in Jungle Fever. Cuba did an outstanding job in Boys In the Hood....he said Show Me the $$$ and won an Oscar. We need to stop accepting scraps and demand the respect that we deserve.

Posted at 8:27AM on Aug 9th 2006 by ADS

14. He is entitled to his own opinion but didn't Halle and Cuba just work for him? Not very nice to talk about them like that. They are both oscar winners and this guy should kiss the ground they walk on for them even wanting to be in his film. Ingrate Lee!

Posted at 9:43AM on Aug 9th 2006 by Miami Heat

15. I cant stop laffing at the fact she hit someone, backed into them and DROVE AWAY!!! WTF i know its not funnie but How the hell did she get away with that?!

I totally agree with number 8, neither arent bad actors but they're no where near the best black hollywood has to offer. IDK about cuba but they definately ovverrated halle too much.

Posted at 9:47AM on Aug 9th 2006 by Hell to the Naw

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