“THE GREAT EIGHT . . . DOLEMITE IS DYNOMITE!”
Rudy Ray Moore story wins EIGHT Black Reel Awards
Us and Queen & Slim each take home four wins apiece
The inspirational story of the rise of cult comedian Rudy Ray Moore’s career, Dolemite Is My Name, absolutely put its considerable weight on the proceedings of the 20th Annual Black Reel Awards, winning eight awards, including Outstanding Film at the show this evening.
Director Craig Brewer’s film rode an outstanding lead performance from Eddie Murphy and the momentum of ten nominations to wins for the aforementioned Outstanding Film, as well as victories for Murphy (Outstanding Actor), Outstanding Supporting Actor (Wesley Snipes) and dual wins for newcomer Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female). Randolph joins both Sharon Warren (Ray) and Jennifer Hudson as actors pulling off this rare feat.
Murphy’s tour-de-force also took home Outstanding Costume Design, winning celebrated Ruth E. Carter consecutive Black Reel Awards, Outstanding Production Design, as well as Outstanding Ensemble.
Following up his hugely successful debut film, Get Out, and armed with 11 nominations, Us captured several major category wins, including Outstanding Actress for Lupita Nyong’o as well as both Outstanding Director and Outstanding Screenplay, Original or Adapted for Jordan Peele. The film’s moody atmosphere music also won Outstanding Score.
Coming into the evening with the most nominations, 14, Queen & Slim secured wins for Outstanding Original Song (“Collide”), Outstanding Emerging Director for Melina Matsoukas, Outstanding First Screenplay for Lena Waithe as well as Outstanding Cinematography (Tat Radcliffe).
Additional highlights include Reginald Hudlin winning Outstanding Documentary for his personal story on Power Broker Supreme, Clarence Avant in The Black Godfather. Mati Diop’s Senegalese drama, Atlantics, won Outstanding International Film, while Matthew A. Cherry won Outstanding Short Film for his cultural-moving and inspiring examination of a father and daughter in Hair Love.
Check out the other winners, below:
20th Annual Black Reel Award Winners
Outstanding Motion Picture
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Eddie Murphy, John Fox & John Davis
Outstanding Actor
EDDIE MURPHY
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
Outstanding Actress
LUPITA NYONG’O
Us (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Director
JORDAN PEELE
Us (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actor
WESLEY SNIPES
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress
DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
Outstanding Screenplay
US (Universal Pictures)
Jordan Peele
Outstanding Documentary Feature
THE BLACK GODFATHER (Netflix)
Reginald Hudlin, director
Outstanding International Film
ATLANTICS (Netflix)
Senegal
Outstanding Ensemble
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Lindsay Graham & Mary Vernieu, casting directors
Outstanding Voice Performance
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR (Scar)
The Lion King (Disney)
Outstanding Score
US (Universal Pictures)
Michael Abels
Outstanding Original Song
“COLLIDE” (QUEEN & SLIM)
Tiana Major9 & EARTH GANG, performers
Outstanding Independent Feature (Awarded to the Director & Producers)
THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
Joe Talbot, director/producer
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh & Khaliah Neal, producers
Outstanding Short Film
HAIR LOVE (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Matthew A. Cherry, director
Outstanding Independent Documentary
NO LYE: AN AMERICAN BEAUTY STORY
Bayer Mack, director
Outstanding Emerging Director
MELINA MATSOUKAS
Queen & Slim (Universal)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
KELVIN HARRISON JR.
Waves (A24)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
Outstanding First Screenplay
QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Lena Waithe
Outstanding Cinematography
QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Tat Radcliffe
Outstanding Costume Design
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Ruth E. Carter
Outstanding Production Design
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Clay A. Griffith