Lackawanna Blues (film)

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Lackawanna Blues
Lackawanna blues movie poster.jpg
Based on Lackawanna Blues
by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Screenplay byRuben Santiago-Hudson
Directed by George C. Wolfe
Starring S. Epatha Merkerson
Marcus Carl Franklin
Mos Def
Carmen Ejogo
Louis Gossett Jr.
Macy Gray
Terrence Howard
Delroy Lindo
Rosie Perez
Liev Schrieber
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Jimmy Smits
Jeffrey Wright
Composer Meshell Ndegeocello
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers Halle Berry
Vincent Cirrincione
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Shelby Stone
ProducerNellie Nugiel
CinematographyIvan Strasburg
EditorBrian A. Kates
Running time95 minutes
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseFebruary 12, 2005 (2005-02-12)

Lackawanna Blues is a drama television film directed by George C. Wolfe and written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. It aired on HBO on February 12, 2005. It is based on the play of the same name by Santiago-Hudson. Wolfe had commissioned the stage version. [1]

Contents

For her work in the movie, S. Epatha Merkerson won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006.

Premise

Lackawanna Blues is the true story of Ruben Santiago Jr. growing up in Lackawanna, New York. He was raised by his father and mother and the neighborhood boarding house lady known as Rachel "Nanny" Crosby. Ruben was born in 1956 to his Puerto Rican father Ruben Santiago and his African-American mother Alean Hudson. His mother was too mentally unstable to take good care of him; residing in mental hospitals, Alean disappears and reappears throughout Ruben's life. His father stayed at Nanny's boarding house, but he was frequently not around due to working long hours or out looking for work. Nanny more or less took care of Ruben Jr. as a mother figure. The television movie depicts his life growing up there and the diverse characters that he meets during his and their stays at the boarding house.

Cast

The blind Detroit street singer Robert Bradley from the band Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise appears in the film. He performs on-screen and has three songs featured on the soundtrack (including a duet with Macy Gray).

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2005
Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movie of the Week Casting John Papsidera and Wendy O'BrienWon [2]
Humanitas Prize 90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television Ruben Santiago-Hudson Won [3]
Online Film & Television Association AwardsBest Motion Picture Made for TelevisionNominated [4]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Marcus Carl Franklin Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries S. Epatha Merkerson Won
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Terrence Howard Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Macy Gray Nominated
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries George C. Wolfe Nominated
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or MiniseriesRuben Santiago-HudsonNominated
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesWon
Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Best Editing in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Meshell Ndegeocello Nominated
Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Best Sound in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie Halle Berry, Vincent Cirrincione, Shelby Stone,
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Nellie Nugiel
Nominated [5]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie S. Epatha MerkersonWon
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special George C. WolfeNominated
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special John PapsideraWon
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Charles Gregory Ross and Fay KellyNominated
Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Non-Prosthetic) Edna Sheen, Denise Pugh-Ruiz, and
Karen Westerfield
Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie Susumu Tokunow, Rick Ash, and Adam JenkinsNominated
Satellite Awards Best Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [6]
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television S. Epatha MerkersonNominated
Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials Nominated [7]
Women's Image Network Awards Actress in Made-for-TV Movie/MiniseriesS. Epatha MerkersonNominated
2006
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best TV Movie Nominated [8]
American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television Brian A. KatesWon [9]
BET Awards Best Actor Terrence HowardWon [10]
Black Reel Awards Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series Halle Berry and Vincent CirrincioneWon [11]
Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series George C. WolfeWon
Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series S. Epatha MerkersonWon
Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series Terrence HowardNominated
Jeffrey Wright Won
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series Carmen Ejogo Won
Rosie Perez Nominated
Adina Porter Nominated
Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Mini-Series Ruben Santiago-HudsonWon
Cinema Audio Society Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movies and Mini-Series Susumu Tokunow, Rick Ash, and Adam JenkinsWon [12]
Costume Designers Guild Awards Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television SeriesHope HanafinNominated [13]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries George C. WolfeWon [lower-alpha 1] [14]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Nominated [15]
Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film S. Epatha MerkersonWon
Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing in Television Long Form – Dialogue and Automated
Dialogue Replacement
Jon Mete, Michael Hertlein, and Paul LongstaffeWon [16]
Gracie Awards Outstanding Lead Actress – MiniseriesS. Epatha MerkersonWon [17]
Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature Nominated [18]
[19]
Best Female Lead S. Epatha MerkersonNominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Won [20]
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Terrence HowardWon
Jeffrey WrightNominated
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Carmen EjogoWon
Macy GrayNominated
S. Epatha MerkersonWon
Rosie PerezNominated
Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film/Television Movie George C. WolfeNominated
NAMIC Vision AwardsBest DramaWon
Best Dramatic PerformanceS. Epatha MerkersonNominated
National Board of Review Awards Best Film or Mini-Series Made for Cable TVWon [21]
Producers Guild of America Awards David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Halle Berry,
Vincent Cirrincione, Shelby Stone, and
Nellie Nugiel
Nominated [22]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie S. Epatha MerkersonWon [23]
Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form – Adapted Ruben Santiago-Hudson – Based on his play Nominated [24]

Notes

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References

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