‘Harder They Fall,’ ‘Insecure,’ H.E.R. nab NAACP awards noms

LOS ANGELES (AP):

Netflix could be a dominant force at next month’s NAACP Image Awards.

On Tuesday, the streaming giant emerged with a leading 52 nominations, including the film The Harder They Fall. The movie – featuring a large starry cast including Regina King, Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba and LaKeith Stanfield – pulled in 12 nominations, including for Best Picture and Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Albums for the album which features Koffee on the title track and a number of other artistes. Netflix landed 23 nominations in the television/streaming categories.

The Harder They Fall, produced by Jay-Z, is based on real black characters from the Old West who have generally been overlooked in the genre. The story follows Nat Love, a cowboy whose gun-slinging crew face off with Rufus Black, an outlaw who killed Love’s parents years ago.

Issa Rae’s Insecure earned 13 nominations, including Best Comedy Television Series. Harlem, black-ish, Run the World, and The Upshaws are also competing for Best Comedy Series. The Upshaws and Colin in Black & White are among the Netflix series recognised by the Image Awards.

SIX NOMINATIONS FOR H.E.R.

H.E.R. received the most nominations in the music recording categories with six, including Best Female Artiste and Outstanding Album for her project Back of My Mind. She will compete in the Outstanding Album category against Silk Sonic’s An Evening with Silk Sonic, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, Jazmine Sullivan’s Heaux Tales, and When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time by Givēon.”

Regina King will compete for Entertainer of the Year against Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennifer Hudson and Tiffany Haddish.

The nominees were announced by black-ish actor Marcus Scribner, singer Tinashe and actor/musician Kyla Pratt.

In addition to The Harder They Fall, the nominees for Best Picture are King Richard, Respect, The United States vs Billie Holiday, and Judas and the Black Messiah.

Stanfield could come away with the Best Leading and Supporting Actor trophies. He’s nominated for Best Actor in a Film for his role in Judas and the Black Messiah and his supporting efforts in The Harder They Fall.

Stanfield will compete against Denzel Washington, Majors, Mahershala Ali, and Will Smith for Best Actor.

The nominees for Best Actress in a Film are Andra Day, Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Tessa Thompson and Zendaya.

RCA Records might make its presence felt with the most nominations across record labels. The label garnered 15 nominations with the musical success of H.E.R., Sullivan, Doja Cat and Kirk Franklin.

With the rise in COVID-19 cases, the awards honouring entertainers and writers of colour will move forward without an in-person audience. The two-hour awards show, hosted by Anthony Anderson, will be broadcast on February 26 on BET at 8 p.m. EST.