With the 80th Annual Academy Awards taking place on Sunday, I thought that I’d dedicate this post to all of the movies starring BGs and guys that I feel deserved to win or at least be nominated for an Oscar, but were never recognized by the powers that be in Hollywood.
Sure Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson have all fairly recently won the gold and shiny statuette, but there are many other actors and actresses in movies with predominately ethnic casts that have been overlooked throughout the years.
Hollywood seems to be making small strides toward acknowledging and honoring the talents of all actresses and actors who do great work in film, but they still have a long way to go.
This year I’m rooting for Ruby Dee to take home the award for Best Supporting Actress for her outstanding performance in “American Gangster.”
Take a trip down memory lane and check out my list of should’ve-been-winners to see if you agree or can add to it:
Best Picture
“The Color Purple” in 1985
Best Supporting Actor
Laurence Fishburne in “Boyz in the Hood” in 1991
Best Actress
Angela Bassett in “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” in 1993
Best Actress
Jennifer Lopez in “Selena” in 1995
Best Musical Drama (I know that’s not a category! LOL)
“The Five Heartbeats” in 1991
Best Documentary
“Hoop Dreams” in 1994
Best Direction
Spike Lee for “Malcolm X” in 1992
i am rooting for sistalove ruby too.
My favorite movie of the year “American Gangster”
My vote for Ruby too.
I agree with you BG!, My nomination for an actress who should have won, is the woman who played Ray Charles’ mother in “Ray”, she deserved a nomination for that performance
Ashley-Nicole, I agree with you. That woman was awesome. She should have won big time and we should be seeing her all over the place. She was a natural. BGG, I agree with your pics. Ruby Dee is just amazing. Malcolm X was so good Denzel and Spike should have gone home with the win on that one. I’m looking forward to Sunday!
aw i remember when J-Lo was still cool…
I agree with all of your nominations except Selena. Part of me wants to admit she did a good job another part of me thinks no one would ever do the part justice.
I would add Beloved to the list. Le sigh. I know a lot of people didn’t like it but Oprah did a beautiful job bringing Toni Morrison’s words to the screen.
@Ananda – Yes, I hope Ruby Dee wins!!!
@Mimieyes – It was a good movie. Frank Lucas was a criminal, but a great businessman.
@Ashley-Nicole – I agree, Sharon Warren definitely deserved to win for her role in Ray.
@K-Bear – Spike Lee and Denzel did a phenomenal job with Malcolm X. I can’t understand why that didn’t win for Best Picture, Actor or Director!
@Kitty Vodka – Yes, long gone are the days when J. Lo was the “it” girl! Instead of “Jenny from the Block,” I guess she’ll be happy being the “New Mommy on the Block!”
@Emma – I think Jennifer Lopez did a great job portraying Selena, but the truth is that I wasn’t really familiar with Selena before she passed away.
As for Beloved, I never saw the entire movie. Maybe I should try to watch it again! 🙂
Great post! Don Cheadle also should have been nominated for best supporting actor for his role as “Mouse” in Devil in a Blue Dress; and Denzel definitely should have won for his role in The Hurricane. Kevin Spacey was good in American Beauty, but should not have won.
@ Travel Diva — I must admit that I have never seen “Devil in a Blue Dress” or “Hurricane!” I know, I should be ashamed after all these years! LOL
I guess I can always rent them.
I definitely agree with you on Hoops Dreams and Malcom X.
I kinda knew the Color Purple wasn’t going to win…it portrayed a positive message. lol.
Bassett was pretty good in Whats Love Got To Do With It?
I just knew Boyz in the hood would make the list lol. The five heartbeats is a classic! Lets try and get them nominated next year lol
i agree with: Best Direction
Spike Lee for “Malcolm X”
Best Supporting Actor
Laurence Fishburne in “Boyz in the Hood”
Best Actress
Angela Bassett in “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
i never saw the “The Color Purple” i heard it was good.
i hope rudy dee wins
Blacks are finally getting recognized but they never win for the movie/role they are supposed win for.
For example: Jennifer should have been credited as lead actress not supporting
Training Day was not Denzel’s best performance perhaps he should have won for John Q
I’m happy Halle won but Losing Isaiah was her best work
Bassett definitely was cheated!
Thanks for stopping by, you have a great blog here!
Miss BGG, Beloved was brutal. And it didn’t put a pretty spin on anything. It showed what happened to a person when you pushed them to far and the ramifications that arose when human beings were treated worse than animals. I will forever love Oprah Winfrey for that movie. And there are no words to describe how I feel about Toni Morrison. I read The Bluest Eye in junior high and knew there was no turning back.
I’m with you Ashley-nicole. I don’t know the lady who played Ray’s mother but she was awesome…
Thank God for the Oscars BGG style!I wouldn’t have it any other way. By the way, Ms.BGG herself is one bad sista, great job Karla!
The Five Heartbeats would be a tough sell for me. I’d like to add…
1. Sanaa Lathan for Best Actress in Love & Basketball.
2. Will Smith for Best Actor in The Pursuit of Happyness (sorry Forest)
And one day I’d like to see Jurnee Smollett, Paula Patton, Kerry Washington and Rosario Dawson win an Oscar for some gutsy indie role. Preferably by a script written by a screenwriter of color. That would be super!
Good list BG. I think American Gangster was terribly overlooked this year. Really good movie.
I definitely agree with your picks, especially The Color Purple!
@Samii Styles – I completely agree with you! Denzel should’ve won for anything besides “Training Day.” I actually fell asleep in the theater on that movie and have yet to see the whole thing.
BGG say it ain’t so!!!!!! LOL
You are sooooo right….Angela Bassett should have won for her role as Tina Turner. She played teh role so well, I forgot I it was Angela.
Unfortunately, Ruby Dee did not take home the gold last night. 🙁
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