Happy Oscar Sunday MMT Fam! I must admit, since I’ve only posted an award schedule previously this year, that I’m a bit disinterested in the Academy Award area – but not for lack of something to celebrate! I am very much aware, and proud to say, that this year we’ll witness a record six black actors – Denzel Washington, Ruth Negga, Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis – represented throughout each acting category, and Dev Patel as only the third actor of Indian descent and 13th of Asian descent to receive a nomination (Best Supporting for Lion).
It’s also worth noting that the Best Supporting Actress nominations of Viola Davis, Naomie Harris and Octavia Spencer is the first time multiple black nominees have been in that category since 1985 – when both Margaret Avery and Oprah Winfrey were nominated for The Color Purple. And the nomination of Ms. Viola also makes her the most nominated black actress in the history of the Oscars!
There are a couple of other areas that I’ll be noting, like the Best Documentary Feature category – where first time nominee Ava DuVernay is being recognized for her work 13th – the first African American female director nominated for feature film – along with directors Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated), Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) and Ezra Edelman (O.J.: Made in America) – and the one I’m most anticipating, Best Cinematography, where Bradford Young is the first African-American to receive the nomination for Arrival.
If you’re not familiar with Young’s cinematography, and you have a Netflix account, you’re in luck because there are several listed on the service. I’ve reviewed a few of them on this site previously, so I will put up trailers and hyperlink titles (if there’s a prior post) below for convenience. There are also two of his works – Mother of George and A Most Violent Year – that are no longer streaming on Netflix, but are available if you have the DVD plan. But if you can find them somewhere else, and haven’t viewed already, they’re worth the find. I’ll never forget watching Mother of George at Blackstar one year, and the collective gasp the audience gave at the twist! It was truly a gut-punch moment.
Let me know if you’ll be watching the Oscars tonight, and what you’re most interested in seeing in the comments below. And let me know if you’ve seen any of the recommended films!
PS – you know I wouldn’t mind seeing Davis, and Mr. Washington especially as writer/director/actor, take the gold for Fences! If you missed it, check out the MMT chat with stars Russell Hornsby and Jovan Adepo from the film here.
Until next thought, Thomasena
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