Tuesday, January 08, 2008

39th annual Image Awards nominations announced - 1.8.2008.1

Amid all the conversations of Senator Barack Obama leading or slightly trailing Senator Clinton in the New Hampshire primary other things are going on. I must admit my own failing here because I have been dedicating a huge amount of time on the ongoing Presidential race. I’ve been following it all since December of 2006, and you can hear my comments on all of that at my Vass site.

[By the way, a Google search today shows that I rank higher than answers.yahoo.com and the heraldtribune.com for Republican pros and cons and wiki.answer.com on Democratic pros and cons. I also am 3rd, 4th, and 5th under pros and cons of Presidential candidates, 2nd – 5th for pros and cons of Republican Presidential candidates, 2nd – 4th on pros and cons of Democratic Presidential candidates. I suggest you take a look at why.]

So what else has been happening? Well the 39th annual Image Awards nominations are out. And while there are no clear surprises, there are no serious letdowns either. The choices on television whittled down a bit, and there were fewer choices among movies, but several items stood out.

There will be a special tribute to Stevie Wonder who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Great Debaters, about the history making group of Black youth that beat the Ivy Leagues in debates in the 1930’s and were denied their place in history, received 8 nominations. This film also stars Forest Whitaker, and Denzel Whitaker (no relation) who is garnering a lot of acclaim.

Best Picture nominations included Talk To Me, with the inspiring and very talented Don Cheadle, I Am Legend, starring the equally talented Will Smith, American Gangster, another good film starring Denzel Washington again, and Why Did I Get Married?, by the ever popular Tyler Perry.

Everybody Hates Chris and Girlfriends again gathered multiple nominations as they did last year. Joining them are 30 Rock, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and Ugly Betty - again.

Dramas included Grey’s Anatomy (again),House (again), K-Ville, Lincoln Heights and The Unit.

The list for best actor/actress and several other nominations follow below:

    Actor in a Motion Picture

    Columbus Short - Stomp The Yard
    Denzel Washington - The Great Debaters
    Don Cheadle - Talk To Me **My choice
    Terrence Howard - Pride
    Will Smith - I Am Legend

    Actress in a Motion Picture

    Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
    Halle Berry - Things We Lost In the Fire
    Jill Scott - Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?
    Jurnee Smollett - The Great Debaters
    Taraji P. Henson - Talk To Me **My choice

    Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

    Chiwetel Ejiofor - Talk To Me
    Denzel Whitaker - The Great Debaters ** My choice
    Forest Whitaker - The Great Debaters
    Nate Parker - The Great Debaters
    Tyler Perry - Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?

    Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

    Janet Jackson - Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? **My Choice
    Loretta Devine - This Christmas
    Meagan Good - Stomp The Yard
    Queen Latifah - Hairspray
    Ruby Dee - American Gangster

    Documentary

    Bastards of the Party
    Darfur Now **My personal pick
    Desert Bayou
    Price of Sugar
    Sicko

    Directing in a Dramatic Series

    Darnell Martin - Law & Order: CI: Bombshell
    Kevin Hooks - Lincoln Heights: Pilot
    Paris Barclay - CSI: Meet Market **My choice
    Roxanne Dawson - Heroes: Run
    Seith Mann - Friday Night Lights: Are You Ready For Friday Night?

    Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television)

    Denzel Washington - The Great Debaters
    Kasi Lemmons - Talk To Me **My choice
    Preston Whitmore - This Christmas
    Sunu Gonera - Pride
    Sylvain White - Stomp the Yard

    Song

    Beautiful Flower - India Arie
    Just Fine - Mary J. Blige
    Like You’ll Never See Me Again - Alicia Keys **My choice
    Stronger - Kanye West
    Umbrella - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

    Album

    Alicia Keys - As I Am
    Chris Brown - Exclusive
    Kanye West - Graduation
    Mary J. Blige - Growing Pains
    Seal - System (Warner Bros. Records)

    Literary Work - Fiction

    Blonde Faith - Walter Mosley
    The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz
    Cion: A Novel - Zakes Mda
    Knots - Nuruddin Farah
    New England White: A Novel - Stephen L. Carter

The list goes on, but that gives you a cross section of who has been recognized. The Awards will be given out on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Good luck and congratulations for everyone nominated.

You can see the full list here.

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