The Black Reel Awards

Cadillac Rocks the Black Reel Awards!

filmgordon — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:03:07 +0000

In one of the most highly contested votes in Black Reel Awards history, the story of a group of blues musicians in 1950’s Chicago edged out a cast of real-life singers to win Best Picture in the 2008 Black Reel Awards.

After snagging nine nominations, “Cadillac Records” took home three awards including Best Picture. In addition to winning the top prize, Jeffrey Wright won Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Blues pioneer Muddy Waters and the talented cast won for Best Ensemble.

Directed by Darnell Martin, “Cadillac Records” was the brilliant re-telling of the rise of Blues label Chess Records and it’s talented roster of future stars including Waters, Little Walter, Etta James, Chuck Berry and Howlin’ Wolf. Despite a tepid opening weekend, the film probably will do far better business on DVD than in the theater.

Also winning three awards apiece were “The Secret Life of Bees” and indie darling, “Slumdog Millionaire.” The coming-of-age tale of a young girl influenced by three cultured, strong women won two awards for writer/director Gina Prince Bythewood (Best Director and Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted). Queen Latifah took home Best Actress as the matriarch of the film’s Boatwright clan.

“Slumdog Millionaire” continued it’s impressive award season run winning Best Actor and Best Breakthrough Performance for Dev Patel and Best Soundtrack for it’s pulsating sounds.

The momentum continues for Viola Davis who has been generated plenty of buzz for her powerful performance opposite Meryl Streep in the morality tale, “Doubt.” Nominated for a Golden Globe, Davis is poised to receive an Oscar nod when they are announced late next month

While the year may change, the results remain the same for the most nominated person in Black Reel Awards history. Fifteen time nominee, Spike Lee and his film, “Miracle at St. Anna” were shutout. Lee, whose only win was for “When the Levees Broke,” remains the epitome of always a bridesmaid, rarely a bride!

“Cadillac” Cruises With Nine Black Reel Award Noms!

filmgordon — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:59:00 +0000

While the automotive industry is searching for a bailout, the critics have given their stamp of approval to a cinematic “Caddy.” The story of the rise and fall of a pioneering Blues studio, “Cadillac Records” secured nine nominations to lead the pack for the 2008 Black Reel Awards.

The bittersweet tale of blues legends Leonard Chess, Muddy Waters, Lil’ Walter, Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon and Etta James was artfully reproduced although it struggled to find an opening weekend audience. The literally tale of sex, drugs and the blues featured outstanding performances which were rightfully rewarded.

Jeffrey Wright, Mos Def and Eamonn Walker all received Best Supporting Actor nominations while Columbus Short was recognized in the Best Breakthrough Performance category. The “Caddy” continued to flex it’s muscles garning honors in several other categories including nominations for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted (both for Darnell Martin), Best Ensemble as well as Best Soundtrack.

Another film that had a strong showing was the coming of age story, “The Secret Life of Bees” which took home eight nominations. This estrogen-laden tender tale garnered nominations for Queen Latifah (Best Actress), Jennifer Hudson (Best Actress) and the outstanding Sophie Okenedo (Best Supporting Actress). After an eight-year hiatus, Gina Prince Bythewood received nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted. “Life” was nominated for Best Film, Best Ensemble and Tristan Wilds (Best Breakthrough Performance).

Other notable films that received multiple nominations included Spike Lee’s WWII epic, “The Miracle at St. Anna,” the little indie that could, “Slumdog Millionaire,” Tyler Perry tale of interracial deceit between two families, “The Family That Preys,” the Don Cheadle-produced espionage thriller, “Traitor,” the Will Smith holiday weeper, “Seven Pounds,” Bernie Mac buddy farewell film, “Soul Men” and an earlier blues-tinged tale, “Honeydripper.”

Both Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis continued their strong years with Best Supporting Acting nods in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Doubt.”

The rest of the nominations are below and the winners will be announced on Monday.

Best Actor
Don Cheadle – Traitor
Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire
Derek Luke – Miracle at St. Anna
Mos Def – Be Kind Rewind
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Redbelt

Best Actress
Jennifer Hudson – The Secret Life of Bees
Queen Latifah – The Secret Life of Bees
Alfre Woodard – The Family That Preys
Keke Palmer – Longshots
Sanaa Lathan – The Family That Preys

Best Supporting Actor
Jeffrey Wright – Cadillac Records
Brandon T. Jackson – Tropic Thunder
Mos Def – Cadillac Records
Terrence Howard – Iron Man
Eamonn Walker – Cadillac Records

Best Supporting Actress
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Viola Davis – Doubt
Sophie Okenedo – The Secret Life of Bees
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Alice Braga – Blindness

Best Director
Gina Prince Bythewood – The Secret Life of Bees
Darnell Martin – Cadillac Records
Spike Lee – The Miracle at St. Anna
Gabriele Muccino – Seven Pounds
Malcolm Lee – Soul Men

Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted
Gina Prince Bythewood – The Secret Life of Bees
Darnell Martin – Cadillac Records
James McBride – The Miracle at St. Anna
Tyler Perry – The Family That Preys
Tyler Perry – Meet the Browns

Best Breakthrough Performance
Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire
Said Taghmaoui – Traitor
Omar Benson Miller – Miracle at St. Anna | The Express
Columbus Short – Cadillac Records
Tristan Wilds – The Secret Life of Bees

Best Breakthrough Performance

filmgordon — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:25:13 +0000

Everything must change and that includes the talent that flows into this industry. We have been honored to spotlight many exciting film debuts during our history and without further ado we give you our Best Breakthrough Performances.

2009
Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire
Said Taghmaoui – Traitor
Omar Benson Miller – Miracle at St. Anna | The Express
Columbus Short – Cadillac Records
Tristan Wilds – The Secret Life of Bees

* * * * * * * * * *

2008
No awards presentation

* * * * * * * * * *

2007
Shareeka Epps – Half Nelson
Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls
Keke Palmer – Akeelah and the Bee
Paula Patton – Déjà Vu
Jaden Smith – The Pursuit of Happyness

* * * * * * * * * *

2006
Ashanti – Coach Carter
Tyler Perry – Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Brandon T. Jackson – Roll Bounce

* * * * * * * * * *

2005
Anthony Mackie – She Hate Me
C.J. Sanders – Ray
Sharon Warren – Ray

* * * * * * * * * *

2004
Wentworth Miller – The Human Stain
Naomie Harris – 28 Days Later
Lil’ Romeo – Honey

* * * * * * * * * *

2003
Derek Luke – Antwone Fisher
Nick Cannon – Drumline
Raven Goodwin – Lovely and Amazing
Lil’ Bow Wow – Like Mike
Beyonce Knowles – Austin Powers in Goldmember

Best Picture Nominees

filmgordon — Mon, 13 Dec 1999 02:10:33 +0000

For almost ten years, our organizations has looked at thousands of films to compile our list of Best Picture nominees. Here is a list of “Top Gun” films, the best of the best.

2007
Akeelah and the Bee/Lions Gate Film

Dreamgirls/DreamWorks SKG

Inside Man/Universal

The Pursuit of Happyness/Columbia

Something New/Focus Features

* * * * * * * * * *

2006
Hitch/Columbia

Coach Carter/Paramount

Crash/Lions Gate

Hustle & Flow /Paramount Classics

Four Brothers/Paramount

* * * * * * * * * *

2005
Musical or Comedy
Barbershop 2: Back in Business/MGM/UA

Lightning in A Bottle/Sony Pictures Classics

Fade to Black/Paramount Classics

Drama
Baadasssss!/Sony Pictures Classics

I, Robot/20th Century Fox

Ray/Universal

* * * * * * * * * *

2004
Tupac: Resurrection/Paramount

Out of Time/MGM/UA

The Fighting Temptations/Paramount

The Italian Job/Paramount

S.W.A.T./Columbia

* * * * * * * * * *

2003
Antwone Fisher/Fox Searchlight

Standing in the Shadows of Motown/Artisan

Drumline/20th Century Fox

Barbershop/MGM

The 25th Hour/Touchstone

* * * * * * * * * *

2002
Ali/Columbia

Baby Boy/Columbia

The Brothers/Screen Gems

From Hell/20th Century Fox

Training Day/Warner Bros.

* * * * * * * * * *

2001
Bamboozled/New Line

Girlfight/Screen Gems

Love & Basketball/New Line

Men of Honor/20th Century Fox

Remember The Titans/Disney

* * * * * * * * * *

2000
The Best Man/Universal

Life/ Universal

The Hurricane/Universal

The Wood/Paramount

Best Actor Nominees

filmgordon — Mon, 13 Dec 1999 02:00:21 +0000

Since the inception of The Black Reel Awards in 2000, the following men have annually been recognized with our organization’s highest honor. Here is year-by-year look at the men who were able to lose themselves in various characters, the thespians, our Black Reel Awards Best Actor nominees.

2007
Jamie Foxx | “Dreamgirls”

Derek Luke | “Catch a Fire”

Will Smith | “The Pursuit of Happyness”

Denzel Washington | “Inside Man”

Forrest Whitaker | “The Last King of Scotland”

* * * * * * * * * *

2006
Will Smith | “Hitch”

Samuel L. Jackson | “Coach Carter”

Don Cheadle | “Crash”

Terrence Howard | “Hustle & Flow”

Idris Elba | “The Gospel”

* * * * * * * * * *

2005
Musical or Comedy

Ice Cube | “Barbershop 2: Back in Business”

Jamie Foxx | “Breakin’ All the Rules”

Bernie Mac | “Mr. 3000″

Drama

Mario Van Peebles | “Baadasssss”

Jamie Foxx | “Ray”

Don Cheadle | “Hotel Rwanda”

* * * * * * * * * *

2004
LL Cool J | “Deliver Us From Eva”

Chiwetel Ejiofor | “Dirty Pretty Things”

Denzel Washington | “Out of Time”

Cuba Gooding, Jr. | “Radio”

Wentworth Miller | “The Human Stain”

* * * * * * * * * *

2003
Samuel L. Jackson | “Changing Lanes”

Derek Luke | “Antwone Fisher”

Ice Cube | “Barbershop”

Denzel Washington | “John Q”

Wesley Snipes | “Undisputed”

* * * * * * * * * *

2002
Will Smith | “Ali”

Tyrese | “Baby Boy”

Mekhi Phifer | “O”

Hill Harper | “The Visit”

Denzel Washington | “Training Day”

* * * * * * * * * *

2001
Omar Epps | “Love & Basketball”

Morgan Freeman | “Nurse Betty”

Cuba Gooding, Jr. | “Men of Honor”

Samuel L. Jackson | “Shaft”

Denzel Washington | “Remember the Titans”

* * * * * * * * * *

2000
Taye Diggs | “The Best Man”

Laurence Fishburne | “The Matrix”

Eddie Murphy | “Bowfinger”

Sean Nelson | “The Wood”

Denzel Washington | “The Hurricane”

Best Actress Nominees

filmgordon — Mon, 13 Dec 1999 01:55:51 +0000

For close to a decade, the ladies have lit up the Silver Screen with a variety of passionate and winning roles. This latest generation of young actresses annually continue to excel with class and dignity leaving a lasting legacy of roles for us to enjoy. Here is a list of the women who have received our organization’s highest honor, the Best Actress nominees.

2007
Beyonce Knowles | “Dreamgirls”

Sanaa Lathan | “Something New”

Keke Palmer | “Akeelah and the Bee”

* * * * * * * * * *

2006
Kimberly Elise | “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”

Queen Latifah | “Beauty Shop”

Nona Gaye | “The Gospel”

Rosario Dawson | “Rent”

Zoe Saldana | “Guess Who”

* * * * * * * * * *

2005
Musical or Comedy

Irma P. Hall | “The Ladykillers”

Gabrielle Union | “Breakin’ All the Rules”

Angela Bassett | “Mr. 3000″

Drama

Regina King | “Ray”

Kerry Washington | “Ray”

Sophie Okonedo | “Hotel Rwanda”

* * * * * * * * * *

2004
Gabrielle Union | “Deliver Us From Eva”

Queen Latifah | “Bringing Down the House”

Beyonce Knowles | “The Fighting Temptations”

Sanaa Lathan | “Out of Time”

Halle Berry | “Gothika”

* * * * * * * * * *

2003
Angela Bassett | “Sunshine State”

Aunjuane Ellis | “Undercover Brother”

Kimberly Elise | “John Q”

Thandie Newton | “The Truth About Charlie”

Sanaa Lathan | “Brown Sugar”

* * * * * * * * * *

2002
Taraji P. Henson | “Baby Boy”

Pam Grier | “Bones”

Rae Dawn Chong | “The Visit”

Halle Berry | “Monster’s Ball”

Vivica A. Fox | “Two Can Play That Game”

* * * * * * * * * *

2001
Angela Bassett | “Boseman and Lena”

Sanaa Lathan | “Love & Basketball”

Michelle Rodriquez | “Girlfight”

Jada Pinkett-Smith | “Bamboozled”

Alfre Woodard | “What’s Cooking”

* * * * * * * * * *

2000
Rosario Dawson | “Light It Up”

Nia Long | “The Best Man”

Thandie Newton | “Besieged”

Rosie Perez | “The 24 Hour Woman”

Malinda Williams | “The Wood”

Best Supporting Actor Nominees

filmgordon — Mon, 13 Dec 1999 01:49:53 +0000

Many times in films, the supporting actor is overlooked by the star. But as these gifted men demonstrated with their various performances, it is the supporting actor who provides the strong foundation that many successful films are built. Here is a list of the extraordinary actors that made it happen time after time.

2007
Chiwetel Ejiofor | “Kinky Boots”

Chiwetel Ejiofor | “Children of Men”

Laurence Fishburne | “Akeelah and the Bee”

Djimon Hounsou | “Blood Diamond”

Eddie Murphy | “Dreamgirls”

* * * * * * * * * *

2006
Terrence Howard | “Crash”

Chris “Ludacris” Bridges | “Crash”

Anthony Andersen | “Hustle & Flow”

Jeffrey Wright | “Syrianna”

Chiwetel Ejiofor | “Serenity”

* * * * * * * * * *

2005
Cedric the Entertainer | “Barbershop 2: Back in Business”

Morgan Freeman | “Million Dollar Baby”

Jeffrey Wright | “The Manchurian Candidate”

Jamie Foxx | “Collateral”

Clifton Powell | “Ray”

* * * * * * * * * *

2004
Ving Rhames | “Dark Blue”

Morgan Freeman | “Bruce Almighty”

Mos Def | “The Italian Job”

Forest Whitaker | “Phone Booth”

Djimon Hounsou | “In America”

* * * * * * * * * *

2003
Dennis Haysbert | “Far From Heaven”

Denzel Washington | “Antwone Fisher”

Cedric the Entertainer | “Barbershop”

Forrest Whitaker | “Panic Room”

Morgan Freeman | “The Sum of All Fears”

* * * * * * * * * *

2002
Jamie Foxx | “Ali”

Ving Rhames | “Baby Boy”

Omar Epps | “Brother”

Eddie Murphy | “Shrek”

Anthony Anderson | “Two Can Play That Game”

* * * * * * * * * *

2001
Robert Brown | “Finding Forrester”

Don Cheadle | “Traffic”

Tommy Davidson | “Bamboozled”

Chris Rock | “Nurse Betty”

Marlon Wayans | “Requiem for A Dream”

* * * * * * * * * *

2000
Michael Clarke Duncan | “The Green Mile”

Ice Cube | “Three Kings”

Jamie Foxx | “Any Given Sunday”

Terrence Howard | “The Best Man”

Delroy Lindo | “The Cider House Rules”

Best Supporting Actress Nominees

filmgordon — Mon, 13 Dec 1999 01:45:53 +0000

Much like their male counterparts, Hollywood has consistently relegated women to secondary roles. Much to their credit, this talented group of ladies refused to stay in the background. Here is our list of Black Reel Awards Best Actress nominees.

2007
Angela Bassett | Akeelah and the Bee

Shareeka Epps | Half Nelson

Clare-Hope Ashitey | Children of Men

Jennifer Hudson | Dreamgirls

Kerry Washington | The Last King of Scotland

* * * * * * * * * *

2006
Rosario Dawson | Sin City

Wanda Sykes | Monster-in-Law

Thandie Newton | Crash

Taraji Henson | Hustle & Flow

Tracie Thoms | Rent

* * * * * * * * * *

2005
Joy Bryant | Baadasssss

Kimberly Elise | The Manchurian Candidate

Jada Pinkett-Smith | Collateral

Sharon Warren | Ray

Nia Long | Alfie

* * * * * * * * * *

2004
Michael Michelle | Dark Blue

Vivica A. Fox | Kill Bill, Vol. 1

Anna Devere Smith | The Human Stain

Gloria Foster | The Matrix Reloaded

Mary Alice | The Matrix Revolutions

* * * * * * * * * *

2003
Queen Latifah | Chicago

Joy Bryant | Antwone Fisher

Rosario Dawson | The 25th Hour

Halle Berry | Die Another Day

Viola Davis | Solaris

* * * * * * * * * *

2002
Adrienne-Joi Johnson | Baby Boy

Gabrielle Union | The Brothers

Marla Gibbs | The Visit

Kerry Washington | Save The Last Dance

Nona Gaye | Ali

* * * * * * * * * *

2001
Lisa Bonet | High Fidelity

Eartha Kitt | The Emperor’s New Groove

Nia Long | Boiler Room

Sheryl Lee Ralph | Deterrence

Gabrielle Union | Bring It On

* * * * * * * * * *

2000
Angela Bassett | Music of the Heart

Erykah Badu | The Cider House Rules

Lisa Gay Hamilton | True Crime

Rebekah Johnson | Liberty Heights

Queen Latifah | The Bone Collector

Best Director Nominees

filmgordon — Mon, 13 Dec 1999 01:40:18 +0000

Since director Spike Lee launched the “third renaissance” of Black films in 1986, a bold, new group of auteurs have crafted a slew of impressive cinematic credentials. Here is a list of Best Director nominees.

2007
Bryan Barber – Idlewild

Sanaa Hamri – Something New

Clark Johnson – The Sentinel

Spike Lee – Inside Man

Chris Robinson – ATL

* * * * * * * * * * *

2006
Thomas Carter – Coach Carter

F. Gary Gray – Be Cool

Malcolm Lee – Roll Bounce

John Singleton – Four Brothers

Tim Story – The Fantastic Four

* * * * * * * * * * *

2005
Ernest Dickerson – Never Die Alone

Mario Van Peebles – Baadassss!

Antoine Fuqua – King Arthur

Spike Lee – She Hate Me

Charles Stone III – Mr. 3000

* * * * * * * * * * *

2004
Gary Hardwick – Deliver Us From Eva

Antoine Fuqua – Tears of the Sun

F. Gary Gray – The Italian Job

John Singleton – 2 Fast 2 Furious

Carl Franklin – Out of Time

* * * * * * * * * * *

2003
Charles Stone III – Drumline

Denzel Washington — Antwone Fisher

Tim Story – Barbershop

Spike Lee – The 25th Hour

Malcolm D. Lee – Undercover Brother

* * * * * * * * * * *

2002
John Singleton – Baby Boy

Gary Hardwick – The Brothers

Allen and Albert Hughes – From Hell

Thomas Carter – Save the Last Dance

Antoine Fuqua – Training Day

* * * * * * * * * * *

2001
Gina Prince-Blythewood – Love & Basketball

Allen and Albert Hughes – American Pimp

Karyn Kusama – Girlfight

Spike Lee – Bamboozled

John Singleton – Shaft

* * * * * * * * * * *

2000
Rick Famuyiwa – The Wood

Malcolm Lee – The Best Man

Spike Lee – The Summer of Sam

Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted

filmgordon — Mon, 13 Dec 1999 01:35:02 +0000

Just as they say in real estate that it’s location, location, location it’s no different in films. These talented screenwriters are the engine to every film’s story, making us laugh, cry or setting our souls on fire! Here are the nominees for Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted.

2007
Bryan Barber | “Idlewild”

Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois | “Glory Road”

Tina Gordon Chism | “ATL”

Tyler Perry | “Madea’s Family Reunion”

Kriss Turner | “Something New”

* * * * * * * * * * *

2006
Tyler Perry | “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”

Norman Vance, Jr. | “Roll Bounce”

Rob Hardy | “The Gospel”

* * * * * * * * * * *

2005
Michael Genet and Spike Lee | “She Hate Me”

Don D. Scott | “Barbershop 2: Back in Business”

Mario Van Peebles | “Baadasssss!”

Shonda Rhimes | “The Princess Diaries 2″

James L. White | “Ray”

* * * * * * * * * * *

2004
Gary Hardwick, James Iver Mattson and B.E. Brauner | “Deliver Us From Eva”

Elizabeth Hunter & Saladin K. Patterson | “The Fighting Temptations”

Chris Rock & Ali LeRoi | “Head of State”

* * * * * * * * * * *

2003
Antwone Quenton Fisher | “Antwone Fisher”

Mark Brown and Don D. Scott | “Barbershop”

John Ridley | “Undercover Brother”

Jordan Moffet and Michael Elliot | “Like Mike”

Michael Elliot | “Brown Sugar”

* * * * * * * * * * *

2002
Gregory Alan Howard | “Ali”

John Singleton | “Baby Boy”

Darryl Quarles and Peter Gaulke | “Black Knight”

Gary Hardwick | “The Brothers”

Mark Brown | “Two Can Play That Game”

* * * * * * * * * * *

2001
Gina Prince-Blythewood | “Love & Basketball”

Gregory Allen Howard | “Remember the Titans”

Kywn Bader | “Loving Jezebel”

Spike Lee | “Bamboozled”

Scott Marshall Smith | “Men of Honor”

* * * * * * * * * * *

2000
Malcolm Lee | “The Best Man”

Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon | “The Hurricane”

Rick Famuyiwa | “The Wood”