January 24, 2019
By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D.
The 2019 Oscar nominations are out and it is safe to say the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is acknowledging the phenomenal work of Black filmmakers and performers this season.
While there were some surprises — Ryan Coogler was not included in the Best Director category for “Black Panther” and John David Washington was excluded from the Best Actor category for “BlacKkKlansman” — there were many delights like Regina King’s nomination for Best Actress for “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
Ruth Carter earned a nomination for Best Costume Design and Hanna Beachler is nominated for Best Production Design for “Black Panther.” It is lovely to see Carter whose amazing body of work goes back to 1988 with Spike Lee’s “School Daze,” is finally getting the recognition she deserves, having long been honored in African American film circles. Beachler’s nomination makes her the first African American to be recognized in this category.
Spike Lee’s first-ever nomination for Best Director for “BlacKkKlansman” is history making and the film’s producer Jordan Peele could take home the statue to match his Best Original Screenplay win for “Get Out.” Lee, who won an honorary Oscar for his body of work in 2016, has yet to win a competitive Academy Award.
Mahershala Ali, 2017 Academy Award winner for best supporting actor for his performance in Barry Jenkins’ Academy award-winning film “Moonlight,” scored a nomination for the same category for his role as Dr. Don Shirley in “Green Book.” Peter Ramsey earned an Oscar nod for Best Animated Feature for co-producing “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which is the first time an African American has been nominated in that category.
Academy award-winning writer Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”) received another nod for best adapted screenplay despite not being nominated for Best Director or receiving a Best Picture nod for “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Iconic filmmaker Spike Lee along with co-writers Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott also received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for “BlacKkKlansman.”
Nominated documentary short “Black Sheepexamines” race in the United Kingdom and “Lifeboat” takes a harrowing look at North African migrants fleeing Libya and attempting to make it across Mediterranean sea. Director and cinematographer RaMell Ross could bring home an Oscar for his documentary “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” which explores the intimate lives of two black men in rural Alabama and their life choices.
Based on today’s announcements, it seems that we’re in the midst of an #OscarsSoBlack moment.
Fans familiar with the history of the Oscars and racial inclusion know by now that the Oscars aren’tthe NAACP Image Awards and aren’t trying to recreate that experience for Black fans. However, it is evident — at least this year — that Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs’ A2020 mandatefor more diversity and representation has been heard and is working.
Black filmmakers and performers have been working in the film industry for more than 100 years, so why shouldn’t they be acknowledged by the world’s preeminent motion picture association?
One of the great qualities about being black is resiliency which is reflected in Black cultural production. While many are proud of these significant accomplishments, Black filmmakers and performers will continue to make movies and memories for years to come, with or without Academy Award nominations.
Check out the entire list of 2019 Oscar nominations. Who will you choose? Tell us on Facebook (BlackPressUSA NNPA) and Twitter (@BlackPressUSA) or use the comments form below.
BEST PICTURE
“Black Panther”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“The Favourite”
“Green Book”
“Roma”
“A Star Is Born”
“Vice”
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams, “Vice”
Marina de Tavira, “Roma”
Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Emma Stone, “The Favourite”
Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite”
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Mahershala Ali, “Green Book”
Adam Driver, “BlackKKlansman”
Sam Elliott, “A Star Is Born”
Richard E. Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Sam Rockwell, “Vice”
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“Capernaum”
“Cold War”
“Never Look Away”
“Roma”
“Shoplifters”
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)
“Black Sheep”
“End Game”
“Lifeboat”
“A Night at the Garden”
“Period. End of Sentence.”
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“Free Solo”
“Hale County This Morning, This Evening”
“Minding the Gap”
“Of Fathers and Sons”
“RBG”
ORIGINAL SONG
“All The Stars” – Black Panther
“I’ll Fight” – RBG
“Shallow” – A Star Is Born
“The Place Where Lost Things Go” – Mary Poppins Returns
“When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” – The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“Incredibles 2”
“Isle of Dogs”
“Mirai”
“Ralph Breaks the Internet”
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“A Star Is Born”
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“First Reformed”
“Green Book”
“Roma”
“The Favourite”
“Vice”
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Christian Bale, “Vice”
Bradley Cooper, “A Star Is Born”
Willem Dafoe, “At Eternity’s Gate”
Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Viggo Mortensen, “Green Book”
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Yalitza Aparicio, “Roma”
Glenn Close, “The Wife”
Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born”
Olivia Colman, “The Favourite”
Melissa McCarthy, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
DIRECTOR
Spike Lee, “BlacKkKlansman”
Pawel Pawlikowski, “Cold War”
Yorgos Lanthimos, “The Favourite”
Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma”
Adam McKay, “Vice”
PRODUCTION DESIGN
“Black Panther”
“The Favourite”
“First Man”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Roma”
CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Cold War”
“The Favourite”
“Never Look Away”
“Roma”
“A Star Is Born”
COSTUME DESIGN
“Mary Queen of Scots”
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Black Panther” Sandy Powell
SOUND EDITING
“A Quiet Place”
“Black Panther”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“First Man”
“Roma”
SOUND MIXING
“Black Panther”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“First Man”
“Roma
“A Star Is Born”
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
“Animal Behaviour”
“Bao”
“Late Afternoon”
“One Small Step”
“Weekends”
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
“Detainment”
“Fauve”
“Marguerite”
“Mother”
“Skin”
ORIGINAL SCORE
“Black Panther”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Isle of Dogs”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
VISUAL EFFECTS
“Avengers: Infinity War”
“Christopher Robin”
“First Man”
“Ready Player One”
“Solo: A Star Wars Story”
FILM EDITING
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“Green Book”
“The Favourite”
“Vice”
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
“Border”
“Mary Queen of Scots”
“Vice”
Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. is entertainment and culture editor for NNPA/BlackPressUSA. A film and media scholar, Dr. Burton is founder and editor-in-chief of the award-winning news blog The Burton Wire, which covers news of the African diaspora. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectualor @TheBurtonWire.
January 24, 2019
City News Service
Angela Bassett, Bradley Cooper and Rami Malek were among those tabbed today as presenters for this weekend’s 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony.
Also named as presenters were Chadwick Boseman, Adam Driver, Sam Elliott, Lady Gaga, Henry Golding, Ben Hardy, Ken Jeong, Gwilym Le, Joe Mozzello, John David Washington, Constance Wu and Michelle Yeoh.
They will join previously announced presenter Tom Hanks, who will present the SAG Life Achievement Award to Alan Alda during Sunday night's ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium.
Megan Mullally, best known for her work on NBC’s “Will & Grace,” will host the ceremony. It will be the second year in a row the ceremony has had a host, after going without one for its first 23 years. Kristen Bell hosted the 24th annual SAG Awards in January 2018.
January 24, 2019
Aries
MAR 21 - APR 19
Your heart is full, that's for sure. There is someone you love deeply, and you and this treasure of yours are bound to express how much you adore each other this week. As a matter of fact, you might feel as if all of your dreams have finally come true as it relates to matters of the heart. You've waited a long time for this, and although you're not the most patient of signs, you can recognize this week that the wait was for a very good reason. Sometimes the universe saves the best for last.
Taurus
APR 20 - MAY 20
You might hit the jackpot when it comes to your partner's money. It's possible that you'll hear the most amazing news about your mate's finances. If so, you'll surely benefit from it. Another possibility is that you and your sweetheart have made a joint investment together and this is the week you'll see it pay off. You might also be sealing a real estate deal with your partner, perhaps signing a lease together or buying your very own home. Playing house has never been more fulfilling!
Gemini
MAY 21 - JUN 20
You've won the lottery when it comes to love. Are you sick of hearing this yet? Well, it's different this week. It's like winning the lottery and then getting another bonus lottery payment. Venus, the ruler of your true love sector, will embrace Jupiter on Tuesday in your partnership sector. You could be getting engaged or married. A fulfilling commitment is likely, no matter what your situation is. Adding to the mix is the fact that a Lunar Eclipse on Monday in your communication sector will bring a message from the heart that makes you smile wide. Enjoy the bliss!
Cancer
JUN 21 - JUL 22
You might have little patience for your partner. There's so much happening in your career these days -- and it's all amazing. There's more money, more fulfilling work, and more incredible opportunities everywhere you turn. While you're ecstatic, it seems that your partner is being an absolute Grinch about everything. He or she is bringing you down and doesn't appear supportive as you move towards your brand-new starts. Is it his or her own lack of fulfillment being misdirected as jealousy or anger towards you? Maybe. Still, that's no reason to kill your vibe. You're not having it.
Leo
JUL 23 - AUG 22
A Lunar Eclipse in your sign on Monday has you feeling all the feels and expressing them as openly as you possibly can. Fortunately, declaring your sentiments will likely work in your favor. In fact, being brave enough to speak up about your love for someone is likely to be rewarded with the most amazing reciprocation of that love that you've ever experienced. A gorgeous Venus-Jupiter alignment in your romance sector on Tuesday guarantees it. Go ahead and love out loud. You'll never regret it.
Virgo
AUG 23 - SEP 22
Keeping your heart to yourself is somehow fulfilling to you this week. Maybe you have decided that you need to love yourself more than you are loving someone else. This might be the case, especially if you're in a situation where you give and give and give and don't get what you need in return. Unconditional love is one thing, but there comes a point when you need to ask yourself why you're the only one investing in a relationship. This is the week you're going to make investing in yourself number one priority. It's about time.
Libra
SEP 23 - OCT 22
A romantic dream might come to fruition for you this week thanks to a gorgeous Lunar Eclipse that lands in the area of your chart connected to your greatest hopes. Since this eclipse is in Leo, there is a strong possibility that a wish you have about matters of the heart is about to be granted. How beautiful! Adding to the stunning cosmic energy this week is the fact that Venus and Jupiter will embrace in your message sector on Tuesday. Talking about love, making a decision about love, and speaking from your heart will bring incredible rewards now. Don't hold back!
Scorpio
OCT 23 - NOV 21
This will be an unforgettable week for you in terms of career and finances. If you're in a relationship, your partner is likely to be celebrating you and all your glory in a way that really makes you beam. He or she will let you know how much faith they've got in your talents and how proud of you they are for all you've already achieved. This level of support will drive you to go even farther than you already have. You are blessed!
Sagittarius
NOV 22 - DEC 21
Could your love life possibly get any better? It can, and it will ... but it might cost you something. There is a price to pay for love this week, and it looks like you might not want to cough up the cash at first. This may or may not be about literal money. It might be about you deciding that love is worth putting yourself second, because of a specific situation you find yourself handling this week. Fortunately, it appears that you are ready to make whatever concessions are necessary in order to hold on tight to the love that you've got. Once you do, the magic sets in.
Capricorn
DEC 22 - JAN 19
The most amazing possibilities in love and romance are likely for you this week -- behind closed doors. You and your sweetheart are likely to steal away time and remove yourselves from all the chaos that might be happening in your environment. When you do, you'll discover that sparks are flying and magical memories are made. There might be exquisite intimacy between you and your mate, but it's also possible that someone you've been secretly crushing on finally reveals that he or she wants you as much as you want them. Yes!
Aquarius
JAN 20 - FEB 18
Your love relationship will certainly be a focal point this week. Something is coming to a head between you and your mate. Alternatively, it's possible that there will be a grand scale level of illumination about your partnership. None of this has to be negative, but it certainly will be emotional. A Lunar Eclipse in your 7th House of Commitment will either deepen a bond or be the catalyst that makes it come undone. Much depends on where you are in your current situation. Either way, buckle up. Your love life is about to change.
Pisces
FEB 19 - MAR 20
Communication between you and your mate might be sketchy this week. Either your lover might become MIA and stop answering your texts and calls, or there will be a clear indication that one of you needs a break from talking to each other so much. It might not be a bad thing to take this time for yourself to really internalize and mull over the current status of your partnership. Another possibility is that you are having secret conversations with a love interest because this person is in another relationship. Messy!
January 17, 2019
Associated Press
The NFL on Sunday ended months of uncertainty by officially announcing Maroon 5, Big Boi and Travis Scott as the performers at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.
Maroon 5 had been the widely reported halftime show act since September, but the NFL didn't confirm the band as its headliner until Sunday. The league said Maroon 5 will be joined by Big Boi, the Atlanta-based rapper from Outkast, and Scott.
Typically one of the most fiercely sought gigs in music, the Super Bowl halftime show has this year been the subject of boycott and protest. Numerous acts have turned down the NFL in support of Colin Kaepernick and other players who have taken a knee during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice.
Gerald Griggs, vice president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP, has said the NAACP asked performers who have signed up to reconsider their participation. More than 84,000 have signed an online petition urging Maroon 5 to withdraw from the Super Bowl “until the league changes their policy and support players’ constitutional right to protest.”
Billboard reported that Scott, who reportedly signed on in December, only agreed to perform if the NFL made a joint donation to an organization fighting for social justice. With the NFL, Scott made a $500,000 donation to Van Jones' Dream Corps.
This year's Super Bowl will be broadcast from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta by CBS on Feb. 3.