Tag: John David Washington

Review: ‘The Piano Lesson’ (2024), starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins

December 6, 2024

by Carla Hay

John David Washington and Skylar Aleece Smith in “The Piano Lesson” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

“The Piano Lesson” (2024)

Directed by Malcolm Washington

Culture Representation: Taking place in Mississippi and in Pittsburgh (mostly in 1936, with some flashbacks to 1911 and the 1800s), the dramatic film “The Piano Lesson” (based on August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name) features a predominantly African American cast of characters (with some white people) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.

Culture Clash: A brother and a sister have a family feud because the brother wants to sell the family’s antique piano, but the sister does not want to sell the piano, and her house appears to be haunted because of the piano.

Culture Audience: “The Piano Lesson” will appeal primarily to fans of August Wilson, the movie’s headliners, and dramas about family tensions and generational legacies.

Michael Potts, Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington and Ray Fisher “The Piano Lesson” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

The 2024 version of “The Piano Lesson” gives a well-acted and dynamic cinematic retelling of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. This solidly made drama effectively conveys the story’s themes of how family legacies can haunt or inspire people. It’s the type of movie that enriches the stage version of the play with very good artistic choices in cinematography and production design. “The Piano Lesson” had its world premiere at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival and its Canadian premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

“The Piano Lesson” is the feature-film directorial debut of Malcolm Washington, the youngest son of Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington. Malcolm Washington and Virgil Williams co-wrote the adapted screenplay for “The Piano Lesson,” which is based on August Wilson’s 1990 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. Denzel Washington is one of the movie’s producers. John David Washington (Denzel’s eldest child) is the main star of the movie. Katia Washington (Denzel’s second-eldest child) is one of the movie’s executive producers. In a movie about a family, the production of “The Piano Lesson” was obviously a family affair too.

This isn’t the first movie version of “The Piano Lesson.” There was a 1995 TV-movie of “The Piano Lesson” (starring Charles S. Dutton and Alfre Woodard) that was part of CBS’s Hallmark Hall of Fame and was nominated for nine Primetime Emmy Awards. Netflix’s 2024 version of “The Piano Lesson” movie clearly has a larger budget that went into making the world in the story feel more expansive with several locations.

The 2024 version of “The Piano Lesson” begins on July 4, 1911, in an unnamed city in Mississippi. It’s during a time in U.S. history when slavery was outlawed but Jim Crow racial segregation laws still existed. (The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 made these segregation laws illegal in the United States.) The effects of racism against black people in America are seen and heard throughout the movie.

In this opening scene of “The Piano Lesson,” a group of white people in the community are gathered to watch fireworks. Meanwhile, a 31-year-old man named Boy Charles (played by Stephan James) has decided that he’s going to take a family heirloom that he thinks is rightfully his: a piano, which has images of many of his ancestors that are carved on the piano. The piano is in the possession of the wealthy Sutter family, a white clan who enslaved Boy Charles’ ancestors. Boy Charles works for the Sutter family as a farmhand and handyman.

The members of the Sutter family are not at home because they are attending a Fourth of July celebration. Boy Charles has brought his son Boy Willie (played by Isaiah Gunn), who’s about 10 years old, to be the lookout for this reclaiming of the piano. Boy Charles has two accomplices—his brother Doaker Charles and their friend Wining Boy (played by Tony Fox)—who are both with Boy Willie in the truck that transports the piano away.

Boy Charles decides to stay behind near the house. It turns out to be a fatal mistake because he dies that night. The details of Boy Charles’ death are revealed later in the movie. However, it’s easy to predict what happened to Boy Charles as soon as horse-riding men with torches race through a field to look for Boy Charles, who is an obvious suspect for this theft.

“The Piano Lesson” then fast-forwards 25 years later to 1936. Boy Willie (played by John David Washington) is still living in Mississippi and is a farm worker. Boy Willie’s mother has been deceased for an unnamed number of years. He notices that the Sutter family has put up for sale the farm land where Boy Willie’s ancestors used to work. Boy Willie has decided that he wants to buy this farm. The Sutter family’s patriarch James Sutter (played by Jay Peterson) has recently died by falling down a well.

Boy Willie thinks the only way he can get the money to buy this farm land is to sell the family’s antique piano. The piano is currently thousands of miles away in the Pittsburgh home of his sister Berniece (played by Danielle Deadwyler), who has been estranged from Boy Willie for a number of years. Berniece, who is a single mother, lives in the house with her 11-year-old daughter Maretha (played by Skylar Aleece Smith) and Doaker (played by Samuel L. Jackson), who tries to keep the peace when Boy Willie and Berniece quarrel. (Jackson played the role of Doaker in the 2022 Broadway revival of “The Piano Lesson.”)

Boy Willie travels to Pittsburgh with his close friend Lymon Jackson (played by Ray Fisher) so that they can sell watermelons and hopefully take back the piano. Boy Willie (who is talkative and cocky) and Lymon (who is friendly and a bit slow-witted) arrive at Berniece’s home at around 5 a.m. without telling any of the people in house in advance that they would be visiting. Not surprisingly, Berniece isn’t happy about this unannounced arrival. (Fisher played the role of Lymon in the Broadway revival of “The Piano Lesson.”)

At first, Boy Willie is optimistic and overconfident that he can convince Berniece to sell the piano when he tells her what he is going to do with the money from selling the piano. However, Boy Willie soon finds out that Berniece is just as stubborn and strong-willed as he is because she refuses to sell the piano. Berniece was very attached to her mother, who treasured the piano, which is why Berniece believes that selling the piano would disrespect her mother the family’s legacy. Wining Boy (played by Michael Potts) has some survivor’s guilt that he and Doaker got away with taking the piano, while Boy Charles lost his life over it.

At one point in the movie, Doaker tells the piano’s origin story of how it became connected to the Charles family: James Sutter’s grandfather Robert Sutter (played by David Atkinson, in flashbacks), nicknamed Old Man Sutter, was the “slave master” of the Sutter family who got the piano by trading some of his enslaved people for the piano. Those enslaved people were ancestors of Boy Willie, Berniece, and Doaker. Boy Charles’ grandfather Willie Boy (played by Malik J. Ali) was a carpenter who was hired to carve the images of these family members in the piano because Robert’s wife Ophelia missed seeing the enslaved people who left because of the trade.

Adding to the family tensions, superstitious Berniece thinks that Boy Willie has brought some bad omens with him when she hears that Boy Willie is a person of interest in the death of a Mississippi man named Crawley (played by Matrell Smith), who also died from falling down a well, just like James Sutter. Were these deaths accidents or murders? It’s a mystery that doesn’t get necessarily solved by the end of the story. Soon after Boy Willie and Lymon arrive at the house, Berniece is convinced that the ghost of Old Man Sutter is haunting the house because of the piano. She claims to have seen this ghost.

“The Piano Lesson” has a subplot about Berniece being courted by an ambitious preacher named Avery (played by Corey Hawkins), who tells her that he loves her but he also admits he’s more likely to get his own church if he’s a married man. Avery barely interacts with Maretha, which is an indication that Avery probably doesn’t love Berniece as much as he says he does because he doesn’t seem too interested in being a caring parental figure to her child. Avery appeals to Berniece’s religiousness, but she’s not entirely convinced it would be right for her to marry Avery. Meanwhile, Lymon shows a romantic interest n Berniece too.

“The Piano Lesson” might frustrate some viewers who are expecting more ghostly action in the story, which tends to get repetitive in showing arguments between Boy Willie and Berniece. Erykah Badu has a memorable cameo as a singer named Lucille, who performs at a nightclub/bar where the men in the story like to carouse. However, the nightclub scenes could have been taken out of the movie and would not have any effect on the story’s outcome.

What makes this version of “The Piano Lesson” noteworthy are the performances from the talented ensemble cast, although the character of Maretha could have been developed better. John David Washington and Deadwyler have sheer magnetism in their scenes as feuding siblings, who both have convincing motivations for what they want to do with the piano. Jackson and Fisher also have notable scenes where their characters have various effects on the tumultuous relationship between Berniece and Boy Willie. The movie’s screenplay is a little jumbled in telling the story in a non-chronological timeline, but it shouldn’t be too confusing if viewers are paying full attention.

“The Piano Lesson” is not about learning how to play this musical instrument. It’s about a life lesson of learning how much of the past can or cannot affect the future. “The Piano Lesson” excels when showing that “family legacy” can mean different things within a family. For Berniece, her definition about famly legacy is about honoring the past. For Boy Willie, his definition of family legacy is about securing a better future. What “The Piano Lesson” wants to teach (and do so very well) is to not take loved ones for granted in the present.

Netflix released “The Piano Lesson” in select U.S. cinemas on November 8, 2024. The movie premiered on Netflix on November 22, 2024.

Review: ‘The Creator’ (2023), starring John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, Madeleine Yuna Voyles and Allison Janney

September 26, 2023

by Carla Hay

John David Washington and Madeleine Yuna Voyles in “The Creator” (Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios)

“The Creator” (2023)

Directed by Gareth Edwards

Culture Representation: Taking place in Los Angeles and other parts of Earth in 2065 and in 2070, the sci-fi action film “The Creator” features a predominantly white and Asian cast of characters (with a few black people) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy. 

Culture Clash: In a post-apocalyptic world, artificial intelligence (A.I..) beings fight for their rights to be treated as equal to human beings, who are hunting and killing rebel A.I. beings on behalf of the U.S. government.

Culture Audience: “The Creator” will appeal primarily to those who like sci-fi films that have a lot of visual spectacle but not much of a cohesive plot.

Allison Janney in “The Creator” (Photo by Oren Soffer/20th Century Studios)

“The Creator” takes a big swing and misses in its commentary on whether or not human beings and artificial intelligence beings can peacefully co-exist. The last half-hour of this sci-fi misfire is a mess of plot holes, while the film irresponsibly ignores other real-world prejudices. The movie’s visual effects and cinematography are fairly impressive, but “The Creator” is truly a case of style over substance.

Directed by Gareth Edwards (who co-wrote “The Creator” with Chris Weitz), “The Creator” takes place in 2065 and mostly in 2070, in a world still recovering from an apocalypse. It’s explained in the beginning of the movie, through a montage of news reports, that a war began after a nuclear bomb was detonated in Los Angeles in 2055. A mysterious artificial intelligence (A.I.) genius named Nirmata, who is worshipped by A.I. beings as their god, is widely believed to be responsible for this disaster. Nirmata is the leader of a rebellious group of A.I. beings that want humans to stop treating them like slaves and start giving A.I. beings the same, equal rights as humans.

As a result of this bombing, the U.S. government has been at war with the rebellious A.I. beings that the U.S. military has been tasked with shutting down wherever they can find them. By contrast, a region called New Asia doesn’t believe in this policy and is sheltering A.I. beings. The U.S. government has said that they’re at war with the A.I. beings, not New Asia, but there’s an undertone of xenophobia in the U.S. military activities that take place in New Asia. Many of the movie’s combat scenes are deliberately made to remind people of the Vietnam War. (“The Creator” was actually filmed in Thailand and London.)

Early in the movie, a raid takes place in New Asia in 2065, where an undercover U.S. military sergeant named Joshua Taylor (played by John David Washington) and his pregnant wife Maya (played by Gemma Chan) experience a home invasion by U.S. military soldiers who have gotten a tip that Nirmata is hiding in this home. Joshua, who is originally from Los Angeles, lost his parents and brother in the nuclear bombing that hit Los Angeles in 2055. Joshua insists to the home invaders that Nirmata is not in this home.

The rest of the story takes place in 2070, and it involves Joshua becoming a fugitive and going on the run with a Nirmata-affiliated A.I. being that Joshua names Alphie (played by Madeleine Yuna Voyles), who has the appearance of a human girl who’s about 9 or 10 years old. Alphie has the ability to move large objects and change thoughts just by using her mind. She is considered to be Nirmata’s ultimate “weapon.” Alphie is also the catalyst when Joshua has to make a decision about which side of the war will ultimately get his support.

The chief “villains” in the story are U.S. military officials General Andrews (played by Ralph Ineson) and Colonel Jean Howell (played by Allison Janney), who are hell-bent on destroying as many A.I. beings as possible. Colonel Howell is sent to do most of the dirty work. One of her motives is that she lost a son in this war, and she blames A.I. beings for his death. Joshua has two colleagues who are also in the mix: Drew (played by Sturgill Simpson) is Joshua’s best friend and a former war buddy. Shipley (played by Robbie Tann) is a U.S. military sharpshooter. The characters of Drew and Shipley are very generic and almost forgettable.

“The Creator” is a movie that wants viewers to believe that racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism and other harmful bigotries have somehow magically disappeared from Earth, and the only bigotry that matters is the prejudice that humans have against A.I. beings. These other prejudices aren’t just sidelined. They are completely erased in the movie, as if they never existed at all. Keep in mind that this story takes place only 42 to 47 years after “The Creator” was released in 2023. It’s highly problematic to suggest that these real-world problems no longer exist, in a movie whose very premise is about species bigotry. Other nations seem to have “disappeared” too, since there’s no mention of any other countries being allies on either side of this U.S. war against the A.I. beings of New Asia.

Furthermore, for a movie where some of it takes place in Los Angeles, there are hardly any Latinos in sight, when (as of 2023) Latinos are the majority race in Los Angeles and is a demographic that continues to grow in that area. Are we supposed to believe that this apocalypse mostly wiped out Latinos? The world’s racial demographics in “The Creator” are presented as mostly white and Asian, with a few people from other races scattered here and there. The great actor Ken Watanabe has a small, mostly thankless role as Harun, who is an ally of Nirmata.

The identity issues wouldn’t be worth mentioning if this entire movie hadn’t been built on its clumsily handled plot that the world is in a vicious war against beings because of different identities. Bigotry is based on ideas of superiority and power, but those ideas are just reduced to “shoot ’em up” scenes and chase scenes where humans and A.I. beings fight each other. The biggest bright spot in the movie is the performance of Voyles. She absolutely shines in her role as Alphie, who displays convincing human emotions, despite being an A.I. creation. All the other characters in “The Creator” are stereotypes, with mediocre performances to match.

“The Creator” is also one of those irritating movies that does enough “fake-out deaths,” it will make some viewers think that it’s trying to be like any of the most recent movies in the “Fast and the Furious” franchise. Even in the realm of science fiction, “The Creator” has too many plot holes that undermine what could have been a much better movie. The logic is sorely deficient in many of the action scenes, which often have sloppy editing, in order to cover up these glaring plot holes. Some people might praise “The Creator” for being brilliant and ahead of its time, but the movie’s story is actually quite backward-thinking, simple-minded, and somewhat insulting to the intelligence of viewers expecting a quality sci-fi story that takes place on Earth in the 21st century.

20th Century Studios will release “The Creator” in U.S. cinemas on September 29, 2023.

Review: ‘Amsterdam’ (2022), starring Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert De Niro and Andrea Riseborough

October 7, 2022

by Carla Hay

Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Mike Myers and Michael Shannon in “Amsterdam” (Photo by Merie Weismiller Wallace/20th Century Studios)

“Amsterdam” (2022)

Directed by David O. Russell

Some language in French with subtitles

Culture Representation: Taking place primarily in New York City and Amsterdam, from 1918 to 1933, the dramatic film “Amsterdam” features a predominantly white cast of characters (with some African Americans) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.

Culture Clash: A medical doctor, his attorney best friend, and the attorney’s girlfriend get caught up in a murdery mystery involving wealthy and powerful people. 

Culture Audience: “Amsterdam” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the stars of the movie, which doesn’t offer much that’s compelling except for its star power.

Pictured clockwise, from left: Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek, Christian Bale, Robert De Niro and Margot Robbie  in “Amsterdam” (Photo by Merie Weismiller Wallace/20th Century Studios)

The frequently boring and muddled “Amsterdam” has many big-name stars, but this misguided drama just adds up to a lot of posturing and hot air. The filmmakers cared more about wrangling celebrities into the cast than crafting a story worthy of this talent. “Amsterdam” is a huge misfire from writer/director David O. Russell, who seems so enamored with the star power in the movie, he let the acting and tone of “Amsterdam” become scattershot and uneven.

“Amsterdam” veers in and out between voiceover narration of three characters: medical doctor Burt Berendsen (played by Christian Bale), his attorney best friend Harold Woodman (played by John David Washington), and Harold’s girlfriend Valerie Voze (played by Margot Robbie). Burt gets the most voiceover narration and is presented in the movie as the lead protagonist. The story, which takes place primarily in New York City and Amsterdam, jumps around in the timeline from 1918 to 1933, with several flashbacks within this time period.

As shown in a flashback, Burt (who has questionable medical ethics) and Harold (who is more sincere and staightforward), who are both from New York City, met each other in Europe in 1918, when they were soldiers in World War I. When they were both wounded in the war in France, they ended up in the care of Valerie, who pretended to be a French nurse named Valerie Vandenberg while living in France. It turns out (which was already revealed in the “Amsterdam” trailer), Valerie is really an American heiress who was estranged from her family and trying to start over with a new life in Europe.

While Burt and Harold healed from their wounds, the three of them went to Amsterdam, became close, and made a loyalty pact with each other. Harold and Valerie fell in love, while Burt remained ambivalent about his crumbling and unhappy marriage to heiress Beatrice Vandenheuvel (played by Andrea Riseborough), who pressured a reluctant Burt to enlist in the military so that he could become a war hero who would get medals of honor. The tight-knit trio of Burt, Harold and Valerie unraveled when Valerie suddenly left of her own choice and didn’t tell Harold and Burt where she was going.

Burt and Harold eventually returned to New York City, where they have been helping each other out by referring clients and patients to each other. The movie opens in 1933, when Burt is asked by heiress Liz Meekins (played by Taylor Swift) to do an autopsy of her father, General Bill Meekins (played by Ed Begley Jr.), who passed away unexpectedly. Liz believes that her father did not die of natural causes. The autopsy reveals that her father could have been poisoned. (Squeamish viewers be warned: The autopsy scene is very graphic.)

But before toxicology test results can be processed, Liz tells Burt and Harold that she wants to call off the investigation. While Liz, Harold and Burt are speaking outside on a street, a shady character named Taron Milfax (played by Timothy Olyphant) pushes Liz in front of a car in motion. She is run over by the car and killed instantly. Police are nearby, and Taron immediately says that Burt and Harold killed Liz by pushing her in front of the car.

Burt and Harold vehemently deny it, and then run away when it looks like the police don’t believe them. Burt and Harold become the prime suspects in the murder and do their own investigation to clear their names. During the course of this investigation, Burt and Harold find out that Valerie is really an American heiress who has been living in nearby New Jersey for several years. Valerie lives with her oddball brother Tom Voze (played by Rami Malek) and Tom’s domineering wife Libby Voze (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), who tries to control the lives of Valerie and Tom.

Harold, who was heartbroken over Valerie’s sudden departure from his life, eventually forgives her, and they resume their love affair. Burt’s love life isn’t going so well, since Burt’s wife Beatrice has asked him to move out of their apartment. Beatrice tells Burt that she’s unhappy in the marriage because he used to be “beautiful,” but his war scars (including his injured back) have made him “hideous,” and he’s an overall disappointment to her. Harold, Valerie and Burt eventually cross paths with General Gil Dillenbeck (played by Robert De Niro), “the most decorated military general in U.S. history,” who has power, influential connections and political aspirations.

“Amsterdam” is packed with a lot of undeveloped characters who don’t do much except show that the “Amsterdam” filmmakers could get well-known actors to play the roles of these characters. Chris Rock has the role of Milton King, a wisecracking former war buddy of Burt and Harold. Milton, who currently works for Harold, is supposed to be hilarious, but he’s not. Milton’s not-funny-at-all remarks include his obnoxiously racist comments about white people. Alessandro Nivola is Detective Hiltz, and Matthias Schoenaerts is Detective Lem Getweiler, the two generic police characters who are leading the Meekins murder investigation.

Zoe Saldaña has the role of Irma St. Clair, Burt’s strong-willed autopsy nurse, whose feelings for Burt might go beyond a work relationship. And, of course, any movie that involves war and international intrigue has to predictably have spies. In “Amsterdam,” they are Paul Canterbury (played by Michael Shannon) and Henry Norcross (played by Mike Myers), whose spy identities are shown as captions immediately when these characters are first seen on screen.

“Amsterdam” is made with the tone that audiences should automatically be impressed by all the celebrities who are in the cast. Unfortunately, “Amsterdam” has so much awful dialogue and messy plot developments, all that star power is wasted in a substandard movie. Bale, Washington and Robbie seem to be doing their best as the three central characters, but this three-way friendship looks awkward and fake on screen. Awkward and fake is how to describe “Amsterdam” overall—an example of how star power in front of the camera can’t save a bad movie.

20th Century Studios released “Amsterdam” in U.S. cinemas on October 7, 2022.

2018 Hollywood Film Awards: See photos and videos

November 4, 2018

Awkwafina at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

The following is a press release from Dick Clark Productions:

The 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards brought together Hollywood’s elite to honor the year’s most talked about, and highly anticipated, actors, actresses, films and those who help bring them to life.  The awards ceremony, celebrating its 22nd anniversary as the official launch of the awards season, was hosted by actress and comedian Awkwafina, and took place at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.  In its 22-year history, more than 320 of the world’s biggest stars and filmmakers have been highlighted at the Hollywood Film Awards and more than 130 of the honorees have gone on to garner Oscar nominations and/or wins.

The night kicked off with Awkwafina’s biting humor, and was filled with many intimate and touching moments, as the honorees expressed their pride in their featured works.

Brad Pitt and Felix Van Groeningen at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

After a sincere introduction from Brad Pitt, Felix van Groeningen voiced his utmost gratitude to receive the “Hollywood Breakthrough Director Award” and to be lucky enough to make a film like “Beautiful Boy.” Brad Bird kept his Hollywood Animation Award acceptance speech short and sweet as he stressed the need to keep making animation films for “dreaming and for dreamers.”

Damien Chazelle and Ryan Gosling at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Ryan Gosling gave an impassioned speech on the marvel and genius of Damien Chazelle and presented him with the Hollywood Director Award, which Chazelle humbly accepted.

Taraji P. Henson (L) and John David Washington at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Taraji P. Henson lauded the brilliance of John David Washington and his ability to make a period piece, that is still so relevant today, as he was honored with the Hollywood Breakout Performance Actor Award.

After accepting the Hollywood Documentary Award on behalf of Don Argott for “Believer,” Dan Reynolds performed an extremely emotional rendition of the documentary’s original song, “Skipping Stones.”

Dan Reynolds and Hans Zimmer at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Danny Huston introduced New Hollywood Actress Award recipient Yalitza Aparicio who gave a touching speech in Spanish explaining that she hopes the “win of the performance is felt by the people of Mexico.”

Yalitza Aparicio at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Emma McIntrye/Getty Images)

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Anne Hathaway took the stage to present the “Hollywood Actor Award” to Hugh Jackman, applauding his many achievements including his “20 plus year juggernaut career,” his “sexiest man alive title,” and most importantly, “his widely known reputation for being the nicest guy in Hollywood.”

 

Sterling K. Brown presented the award for “Hollywood Breakout Ensemble” to the cast of “Crazy Rich Asians.”  Several of the cast members including Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh, remarked at what an incomparable experience they’ve had making this film and how impactful it has been to be able to share this story with a fully Asian cast.

“Crazy Rich Asians” stars Constance Wu (at podium) and (L-R) Henry Golding, Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Nico Santos, Michelle Yeoh, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Harry Shum Jr., and Ken Jeong at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

Amandla Stenberg and Janelle Monáe at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Janelle Monáe was on hand to present Amandla Stenberg with the Hollywood Breakout Performance Actress Award, and shared with the room what a fierce and fearless woman Stenberg is growing up to be.  Stenberg expressed her hope that the film “The Hate U Give” encourages people to stand up and be heard.

 

Christian Slater presented Glenn Close with her Hollywood Actress Award for her unparalleled performance in the film “The Wife.”  Close received a standing ovation before thanking all of the members of her team and all the filmmakers for staying with her throughout the entire process.

Glenn Close at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Michael B. Jordan came out to recognize “Black Panther” producer Nate Moore and director Ryan Coogler with the Hollywood Film Award.  He spoke to his experience both making and seeing the movie, saying that “for everyone with African roots, it spoke to us on an intensely powerful level.”

Michael B. Jordan. Ryan Coogler and Nate Moore at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

The final award of the evening went to Hollywood Career Achievement Award recipient Nicole Kidman, and was presented by Kidman’s co-star Shailene Woodley who was overwhelmed with gratitude that their lives crossed paths.  Kidman was welcomed with a standing ovation and thanked those in the room and in the industry for allowing her to play the women she’s played and tell their stories.  She vowed to “always give back to [her] craft!”

This year’s award show honored the following:

Hollywood Career Achievement Award

Nicole Kidman, presented by Shailene Woodley

Hollywood Film Award

“Black Panther,” presented by Michael B. Jordan

Hollywood Actress Award

Glenn Close for “The Wife,” presented by Christian Slater

Hollywood Actor Award

Hugh Jackman for “The Front Runner,” presented by Anne Hathaway

Hollywood Supporting Actor Award

Timothée Chalamet for “Beautiful Boy,” presented by Armie Hammer

Hollywood Ensemble Award

Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini for “Green Book,” presented by Octavia Spencer

(Back, L-R) Octavia Spencer with “Green Book” stars Dimiter Marinov, Sebastian Maniscalco, Joe Cortese, Nick Vallelonga, Mike Hatton, Brian Hayes Currie, (front L-R) Mahershala Ali, and Viggo Mortensen at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Hollywood Breakout Ensemble Award

Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Sonoya Mizuno, Chris Pang, Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Remi Hii, Nico Santos for “Crazy Rich Asians,” presented by Sterling K. Brown

Hollywood Breakout Performance Actress Award

Amandla Stenberg for “The Hate U Give,” presented by Janelle Monáe

Hollywood Breakout Performance Actor Award

John David Washington for “BlakKklansman,” presented by Taraji P. Henson

New Hollywood Actress Award

 Yalitza Aparicio for “Roma,” presented by Danny Huston

Hollywood Director Award

Damien Chazelle for “First Man,” presented by Ryan Gosling

Hollywood Screenwriter Award

Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie for “Green Book,” presented by Michael Keaton

Hollywood Breakthrough Director Award

Felix van Groeningen for “Beautiful Boy,” presented by Brad Pitt

Hollywood Documentary Award

“Believer,” presented by Adam Lambert

Hollywood Animation Award

“Incredibles 2,” presented by Sophia Bush

Hollywood Cinematography Award

Matthew Libatique for “A Star Is Born”

Hollywood Film Composer Award

Justin Hurwitz for “First Man”

Hollywood Editor Award

Tom Cross for “First Man”

Hollywood Visual Effects Award

Dan Deleeuw, Kelly Port, Russell Earl, Dan Sudick for “Avengers: Infinity War”

Hollywood Costume Design Award

Sandy Powell for “The Favourite”

Hollywood Make-Up & Hair Styling Award

Jenny Schircore, Sarah Kelly, Hannah Edwards for “Mary Queen of Scots” 

Hollywood Production Design Award

Hannah Beachler for “Black Panther”

Hollywood Sound Award

Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Brandon Proctor for “A Quiet Place”

 

Honoree Portraits are available on the show’s Twitter and Instagram pages. For all information and highlights, please visit the website for the Hollywood Film Awards.

For the latest news, follow the “Hollywood Film Awards” on social and join the conversation by using the official hashtag for the show, #HollywoodAwards.

Twitter: @HollywoodAwards
Facebook: Facebook.com/HollywoodAwards
Instagram: @hollywoodawards
YouTube: youtube.com/HollywoodAwards

 

About Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark Productions (DCP) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes “So You Think You Can Dance” from 19 Entertainment and DCP. DCP also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries with over 60 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. DCP is a division of Valence Media, a diversified media company with divisions and strategic investments in premium television, wide release film, specialty film, live events and digital media. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.

About The Hollywood Film Awards
The Hollywood Film Awards, founded in 1997, were created to celebrate Hollywood and launch the awards season. The recipients of the awards are selected by an Advisory Team for their body of work and/or a film(s) that is to be released during the calendar year. For additional information, visit www.hollywoodawards.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKHew2RL9Wc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHY3Ycog_uY

2018 Hollywood Film Awards: ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ stars, Amandla Stenberg, John David Washington to receive breakthrough awards

October 16, 2018

Crazy Rich Asians
“Crazy Rich Asians” team at the Los Angeles premiere of the movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre on August 7, 2018. Pictured from left to right: director Jon M. Chu, Jimmy O. Yang, producer Nina Jacobson, Sonoya Mizuno, Gemma Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Chris Pang, Nico Santos, Ronny Chieng, Ken Jeong, producer Brad Simpson, executive producer/author Kevin Kwan and producer John Penotti. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau)

The following is a press release from Dick Clark Productions:

Dick Clark Productions announced today the line-up of stand-out performers and talent who will be recognized at the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards. “Crazy Rich Asians” will receive the “Hollywood Breakout Ensemble Award,” Amandla Stenberg will be recognized with the Hollywood Breakout Performance Actress Award for 20th Century Fox’s “The Hate U Give,” while John David Washington will receive the“Hollywood Breakout Performance Actor Award for his role in Focus Features’ “BlacKkKlansman.” Additionally, Felix Van Groeningen will be bestowed the Hollywood Breakthrough Director Award” for Amazon Studios’ “Beautiful Boy,” and Yalitza Aparicio will be given the New Hollywood Award for her performance in Netflix’s “Roma.”

They join previously announced honorees Nicole Kidman, who will receive this year’s Hollywood Career Achievement Award, and Timothée Chalamet and Rachel Weisz, who will receive the Hollywood Supporting Actor Award and Hollywood Supporting Actress Award, respectively.  The 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards will take place on Sunday, November 4 at The Beverly Hilton.

The Hollywood Film Awards, honoring the most acclaimed films and actors while previewing highly anticipated films and talent for the upcoming year, also acknowledges artists in the categories of Cinematography, Visual Effects, Film Composing, Costume Design, Editing, Production Design, Sound and Makeup & Hairstyling. In its 22-year history, more than 320 of the world’s biggest stars and filmmakers have been highlighted at the Hollywood Film Awards and more than 130 of the honorees have gone on to garner Oscar nominations and/or wins.

ABOUT THE HONOREES

“Crazy Rich Asians” is a contemporary romantic comedy based on the acclaimed worldwide bestseller by Kevin Kwan and featuring an all-Asian starring ensemble, including Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Sonoya Mizuno, Chris Pang, Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Remi Hii, and Nico Santos.  The story follows New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore.  Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life.  Not only is he the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families, but also one of its most sought-after bachelors.  Being on Nick’s arm puts a target on Rachel’s back, with jealous socialites and, worse, Nick’s own disapproving mother (Michelle Yeoh) taking aim.  It soon becomes clear that the only thing crazier than love is family, in this funny and romantic story sure to ring true for audiences everywhere.

Amandla Stenberg can currently be seen in 20th Century Fox’s highly anticipated film “The Hate U Give,” which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2018 to rave reviews.  Additionally, she can currently be seen in Amma Asante’s WWII drama “Where Hands Touch,” which also premiered at TIFF.  Amandla’s other recent film credits include “The Darkest Minds,” “Everything, Everything” and “As You Are,” which won the Special Jury Award at Sundance 2016, “Colombiana,” “Rio 2” and “The Hunger Games.” She has been recognized globally for her crusade towards sparking thoughtful conversation using social media as a platform to spread awareness and knowledge on topics such as cultural appropriation, intersectional feminism, mindfulness, biracial identity, sexual identity, gender and beauty standards to name few.  Amandla has been recognized with Teen Choice Awards, a BET Award and NAACP Image Award for her work.

John David Washington garnered critical acclaim for starring in “BlacKkKlansman,” directed by Spike Lee and produced by Jason Blum and Jordan Peele. The film premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival to a standing ovation and won the Grand Prix. This fall he co-starred in “Monsters and Men” directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. The script was selected and developed as part of the 2017 Sundance Directors Lab. Earlier this year, he was seen in “Monster,” which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, starring opposite Jeffrey Wright, ASAP Rocky and Jennifer Hudson. The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Washington got his start as a child in Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” in 1992. Prior to acting, he spent six years playing professional football. Shortly after, he booked his fist-ever audition to play Ricky Jerret in the HBO series “Ballers” with Dwayne Johnson. His performance as Ricky has generated rave reviews with the show currently in its 4th season and it was recently announced that the show will be renewed by HBO for a 5th season.

Yalitza Aparicio was born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca in 1993. She holds a degree in education and aspires to become a teacher upon completion of her exams, but also has additional opportunities ahead of her since the film “Roma” has been completed. Aparicio went to her local community center to accompany her sister to the casting call and ended up trying out and being selected. She is very close with another actress from “Roma,” Nancy García, who lives in a nearby town in Oaxaca. Aparicio also developed strong relationships with the child actors that formed her family on set. Aparicio took advantage of working in Mexico City and visited Chapultepec Park and the pyramids of Teotihuacán. She loved being on set and seeing how spaces were transformed. She also enjoyed working with Cuarón and building the relationship of trust they came to share.

Felix Van Groeningen is a Flemish director, screenwriter and producer. This is his first English-language film. His previous film, “Belgica,” premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, where he won the Directing Award (Dramatic World Cinema). Van Groeningen’s internationally acclaimed breakthrough “The Broken Circle Breakdown” earned a 2014 Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and a César for Best Foreign Film. Previously, “The Misfortunates” premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes. Van Groeningen is a graduate of Belgium’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts. He currently resides in Antwerp, Belgium.

Additional honorees for the 22nd Annual Hollywood Film Awards will be announced in the coming weeks.

For the latest news, follow the Hollywood Film Awards on social and join the conversation by using the official hashtag for the show, #HollywoodAwards.

Twitter: @HollywoodAwards
Facebook: Facebook.com/HollywoodAwards
Instagram: @hollywoodawards
YouTube: youtube.com/HollywoodAwards

About Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark Productions (DCP) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes “So You Think You Can Dance” from 19 Entertainment and DCP. DCP also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries with over 60 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. DCP is a division of Valence Media, a diversified media company with divisions and strategic investments in premium television, wide release film, specialty film, live events and digital media. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.

About The Hollywood Film Awards
The Hollywood Film Awards, founded in 1997, were created to celebrate Hollywood and launch the awards season. The recipients of the awards are selected by an Advisory Team for their body of work and/or a film(s) that is to be released during the calendar year. For additional information, visit www.hollywoodawards.com.

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