2010 event also pays tribute to 40th anniversary of Essence magazine.

www.essence.com

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ — Today ESSENCE magazine announces its third annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon to be held during Oscar Week on March 4, 2010 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Honoring four extraordinary women making a significant impact in Hollywood, this star-studded event commemorates ESSENCE magazine’s annual Hollywood issue and will pay tribute to a special milestone in 2010; the 40th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine. The esteemed honorees for the 2010 event include: Queen Latifah (Power Award), Zoe Saldana (Star to Watch Award), Mary J. Blige (Songstress of the Year) and Gabourey Sidibe (Best Breakthrough Performance).

“Our annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon is taking on special meaning in 2010 as we are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine by paying homage to phenomenal women throughout the year,” said ESSENCE editor-in-chief Angela Burt-Murray. “We are proud to carry the ESSENCE legacy into the future by honoring the accomplishments of such brilliant performers as Latifah, Zoe, Mary J., and Gabourey, whose incredible talent and sheer grit are serving to change the face of Hollywood.”

Queen Latifah is not only a celebrated television and film actress, but also a gifted musician, as well as an established author and entrepreneur. As a one-woman entertainment conglomerate, Latifah’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable–landing her a place in history as the first hip-hop artist to be given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. That same year, her work in the critically-acclaimed musical, Chicago, garnered her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her groundbreaking portrayal of Mama Morton. Following Chicago, Latifah starred in Disney’s box office hit Bringing Down the House, in which she also acted as executive producer. For her work in the HBO film Life Support, in which she was both the star and executive producer, she won both a Golden Globe and SAG Award. Receiving her breakthrough role in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever followed by a noteworthy starring role in Set it Off, Latifah has gone on to star in box office favorites such as Hairspray, Mad Money, The Secret Life of Bees, Last Holiday and Beauty Shop, just to name a few. No stranger to the small screen, Latifah’s first television series, Living Single, was enormously successful and remains in syndication. Her production company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, is currently co-producing the sports-driven romantic comedy, Just Wright, in which she will also star.

Zoe Saldana has shown she can hold her own in major blockbuster productions and has proven herself to be an amazing Hollywood star on the rise. After landing her first leading role as a ballet dancer in the film Center Stage, her turn as a leading lady in both the college-set drama Drumline and romantic comedy Guess Who followed shortly thereafter. Over the past decade, Saldana has grown into stand-out performances in popular films such as Avatar and Star Trek and continues to demonstrate the versatility necessary for longevity in Hollywood. Saldana has much to look forward to in 2010 having recently wrapped several films including Takers with Matt Dillon and Hayden Christensen; action adventure The Losers opposite Idris Elba; and comedy Death at a Funeral with Chris Rock. In addition, Saldana is set to reprise her role as Uhura in the upcoming untitled Star Trek sequel set for 2011.

As one of the greatest singers of our time, Mary J. Blige‘s accomplishments are beyond impressive. A multi-faceted mogul and philanthropist, with a career spanning 15 years–including nine Grammy awards, eight multi-platinum records, and over 40 million albums sold–she has lent her tremendous talent this year to the official soundtracks for two powerful films with original songs: “I Can See in Color” from Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and “Stronger” from the Lebron James documentary, More than a Game. “Stronger” tells a moving story and Blige performs it beautifully and authentically–exploring issues surrounding people standing by one another through the difficult times. And, “I Can See in Color” is a raw, passionate and emotional tale of both pain and promise, which has been attracting considerable attention and speculation as a serious contender for an Academy Award. Blige not only contributed as an artist but also co-executive produced the soundtrack to Precious through her music, TV and film company, Matriarch Entertainment. Additionally this year, she made star turns in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad By Myself, 30 Rock, and Entourage. Co-owner of the successful beauty line, Carol’s Daughter, Mary is an entrepreneur and entertainer, as well as a dedicated philanthropist. Through FFAWN (Foundation For The Advancement Of Women Now) Mary’s mission is to inspire women from all walks of life to gain the confidence and skills they need to reach their fullest potential. Blige is currently set to release her ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear, featuring the single, “I Am.”

Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe has wowed the public and taken the industry by storm with her compelling breakthrough role as the title character in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which is garnering serious awards buzz. With the film winning numerous prestigious awards, including the Sundance Film Festival Audience and Grand Jury Awards, it’s been a whirlwind year for the young actress, who was a student pursuing a degree in psychology when she was cast in Precious. A native New Yorker, Sidibe is the daughter of R&B/gospel singer Alice Tan Ridley. Next up for Gabourey is the Showtime pilot The C-Word opposite Laura Linney for director Bill Condon and the film, Yelling to the Sky.

The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon is an annual event to honor African-American women, who through their work in Hollywood–both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes–have helped to change and inspire positive images of Black women in television and film. The red-carpet celebration, which simultaneously exudes old-Hollywood glamour and modern style, also commemorates ESSENCE magazine’s annual Hollywood issue.

The inaugural event, which took place in 2008, honored Jada Pinkett-Smith (Power Award), Ruby Dee (Legend Award), Suzanne de Passe (Visionary Award) and Jurnee Smollett (Star to Watch Award), and hosted A-List stars including Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Kerry Washington, Star Jones and more. In 2009, celebrities such as Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Queen Latifah, to name a few, were on hand to fete honorees including Halle Berry (Power Award), Diahann Carroll (Legend Award), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Visionary Award), and Taraji P. Henson (Star to Watch Award), with a posthumous honor given to Eartha Kitt.

Sponsors for the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon include presenting sponsor Lincoln, as well as partner sponsors COVERGIRL Queen Collection, MasterCard Worldwide and is supported by Moet & Chandon.

About Essence Communications Inc.

Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is “Where Black Women Come First”. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit, Window on Our Women (WOW I & II) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 39 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a brand reach of over 8 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women’s lives. Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at essence.com.

(Source: Essence Communications Inc.)

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I wish I took the time to write this post right after watching the movie, but my hubby and I caught a showing of The Secret Life of Bees a few weeks ago on a whim.  As someone who rarely goes to the movies anymore, this was definitely worth the trip to see it on the big screen.  With a cast that includes several musician-actresses Queen Latifah, Alicia Keyes, and Jennifer Hudson, I was initially leery to check out a chick flick sans some of the chick flick classic divas.  However, I was wrong.  These ladies along with Sophie Okenodo really brought the story to life.

Ladies, this will channel all of your mother issues as each character has a story to tell.  There are moments where I could have used a tissue box (lots of those moments so be prepared) and moments that I outted a belly laugh.  My!  Dakota Fanning is growing up, but she played her role as Lily well.  Her character is near and dear to my own heart as she dreams of being a writer.

Kudos to Gina Prince-Bythewood who directed the on screen version and has classics such as “Love and Basketball” and “Disappearing Acts” on her resume.

The NY Times published a review called “A Golden Dollup of Motherly Comfort“.  The first paragraph is below…

Adapted by Gina Prince-Bythewood from the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd, “The Secret Life of Bees” unfolds in a sentimental, honey-glazed land that vaguely resembles South Carolina in 1964. It would be wrong to say that the troubles of that time and place have been wished away — on the contrary, the movie begins with a scene of horrific domestic violence and includes child abuse, a racially motivated beating, suicide and the threat of a lynching — but from the opening voice-over to the final credits, every terror and sorrow is swaddled in warm, therapeutic comfort…

Now, don’t get lulled into love and happiness from the start of this review because the NY times article ends with a backhand that is worthy and debatable at the same time.

…In case they didn’t have enough problems of their own, August and her sisters also have Lily to deal with, and the film seems to struggle with an awkward and unstated tension. You can almost feel how badly it wants to be about the lives, not of bees, but of black women at a pivotal moment in the recent past.

Despite Ms. Prince-Bythewood’s best efforts to retain a sense of history, and Queen Latifah’s shrewd refusal to play her character according to stereotype, the film becomes a familiar and tired fable of black selflessness, in which African-Americans take time out from their struggle against oppression to lift the battered self-esteem of white people who have the good sense not to be snarling bigots. Even Ms. Fanning, weeping on cue and looking uncomfortable otherwise, seems a little abashed that the movie, in the end, has to be all about her.

Here’s also an excerpt of the review written in Black Voices…

After a long delay, Sue Monk Kidd’s bestseller, ‘The Secret Life Of Bees’ is finally a film– with an all-star cast to boot. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and starring Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, and Tristan Wilds, the film is laced with dramatic and powerful performances. It’s certain to satisfy the fans of the book and newcomers to the story.

Set in South Carolina in 1964, the film is the moving tale of Lily Owens (Fanning) a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother (Hilary Burton). To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father (Paul Bettany), Lily flees with Rosaleen (Hudson), her caregiver and only friend. The duo travels to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Rosaleen is also a fugitive, having fled from authorities after standing up for herself against white racists…

Have you seen the film?  If so, how would you rate it?  Do you agree with the NY Times assessment?