Madison Messenger - April 5th, 2020

www.madisonmessengernews.com April 5, 2020 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 5
opinions
‘Self Made’ is well-acted but kind of a mess
With theaters closed for the time being,
a handful of distribution studios have decided
to release their upcoming attractions
on Video on Demand, which in the past has
been the place where movies go to escape
widespread public shame.
Pricing has been debated, with some studios
allowing 48-hour rentals for $6.99
while others are dropping theirs for $20.
While families may have paid the latter
amount for tickets and food before, it’s a little
much to ask an individual to fork over
that kind of dough, especially in this economy.
And, if I’m being really honest, most
movies are not worth the $5 admission to
the matinee, but I digress.
While I will continue to peruse those offerings,
I will largely be searching other
streaming platforms for potentially entertaining
movies, limited television series and
television shows.
The show that seems to have everyone
abuzz is Netflix’s “Tiger King,” which I had
planned to review. Upon watching the first
episode of the seven-part docuseries, however,
I realized my tolerance for stupidity is
immensely low right now, so I passed on it.
As I was browsing the other new releases,
I saw Octavia Spencer’s face pop up
on the screen for “Self Made: Inspired by the
Life of Madam C.J. Walker” and decided to
check it out. With the exception of “Ma,” it
is always a delight to watch her performances,
so I thought this might follow suit.
For the most part, this four-episode series
does that just, allowing Spencer to
the reel deal
showcase her intensive
range of emotion
as she brings a
pioneer of the black
beauty industry to
life on screen. The
overall series, however,
is a bit of a
mess with the use of a modern soundtrack
and filming tricks set against its depiction
of early 1900s life. While I understand the
viewpoint of the writers and directors, it
made for an occasionally jarring viewing experience.
It begins in 1908 St. Louis where a beleaguered
Sarah Breedlove is working as a
laundress to the affluent. With her husband
deceased and her daughter Lelia (Tiffany
Haddish) in school, she has no time for the
finer things in life, especially concern for her
appearance.
After a particularly hard day, she meets
Addie Munroe (Carmen Ejogo), a businesswoman
in the beauty industry who wants to
employ Sarah’s services. Addie takes the
downtrodden Sarah under her wing and
tries to get her to rediscover a zest for life.
Through work and companionship, the
two bond over life’s ills and celebrate as
Sarah finds comfort in her appearance
through hair growth attributed to Addie’s
products. Inspired by her friend, Sarah
pitches the idea of becoming a spokeswoman
letters to the editor
Humane Society
seeks donations
The Humane Society of Madison County
(HSMC) is facing some major challenges
right now, and we need your help. The coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic has caused
us to postpone our fundraisers into the unforeseeable
future which has dramatically
effected our day-to-day operations.
So, we are reaching out for assistance.
Can you find it in your hearts to make your
best gift donation to date? By donating, it
would help us to continue our care for the
animals that stream through our doors
daily. It will keep the lights on and food in
their bowls. It will help us to purchase any
medication that they may require, and we
will be able to continue our efforts to pull
dogs from high-kill shelters and give them
a fighting chance.
Please go to our website, www.hsmcohio.org,
and click the donate button on the
home page. You can also donate by check
and mail it to: HSMC, P.O. Box 84, West
Jefferson, OH 43162.
No one is sure how long this crisis is
going to last, but we, the HSMC, are here
for the long haul. We are going to continue
to find our dogs and cats forever homes.
If you have any questions, call the shelter
at (614) 879-8368 or click on the “contact
us” link at the bottom of each page on our
website.
Please, we need your help to help them.
Donate today. Thank you!
Cathy Leistikow
Humane Society of Madison County
Message of hope
We are going through some hard times
right now. We will get out of this. Through
our country’s history, we have had tough
times, but we find a way to get going and
winning. Just keep listening to our leaders,
and we will get a win over this virus. God is
with us.
David Timmons
Mount Sterling
to the masses but is quickly rebuffed.
Believing that Addie does not want her
to become a business partner due to her
physical looks, the two bitterly part ways.
Afterward, Sarah becomes determined to
make a better hair product for all black
women and market it to all women, not just
those deemed physically acceptable by society’s
ridiculous standards.
The subsequent episodes follow Sarah
(who takes on the name Madam C.J.
Walker) as she gains a cult following for her
hair products, marries advertising rep
Charles James Walker (Blair Underwood),
moves to Indiana and opens a factory and
works to become the next Rockefeller. Her
dreams come to fruition to an extent but at
great personal cost.
The writers and directors were wise to
use the wording “inspired by the life of,”’ as
the series seems to take several liberties
with Walker’s story. The most outlandish
comes at the expense of Annie Turnbo Malone,
the real-life woman on which Addie
Munroe in based. In the series, the running
conflict between the two self-made millionaires
has more to do with appearance while
most historians believe it had more to do
with claims of formula theft. That in of itself
could propel a series as it is ripe with
drama, but instead this adaptation turns
Addie into a one-note villain hell-bent on
the destruction of Walker’s burgeoning
manufacturing company.
While the theatrics and ensuing conflict
between the two women were mildly amusing
to watch, it ultimately proved to be a
distraction into what was otherwise a decent
general public introduction of an inspiring
woman who used her fortune to
uplift the arts community, historical black
colleges and other civil rights causes and organizations.
So if you’re looking to know more about
this great trailblazer, maybe stick to the
written word, such as “On Her Own
Ground,” a biography written by her greatgreat-granddaughter,
A’Lelia Bundles. But
if you’re looking for a well-acted but odd
mixture of flash and embellished strife, it’s
a good way to pass the time.
Grade: C-
Dedra Cordle is a Messenger staff writer
and columnist.