MADE by: Jasmine BrowleyThe long known fact that the #OscarsAreSoWhite wasn’t lost on us, but this year’s colorless nominations were particularly hurtful because of the awesome talent that was overlooked: Idris Elba in Beast of No Nation, Will Smith’s Concussion portrayal and Michael B. Jordan’s performance in Creed. In an effort to let them know that they are appreciated (despite what the Academy thinks) we’ve rounded up a few of the actors’ most moving roles. Roll it! Seven Pounds, 2008Will Smith’s portrayal of an emotionally spent yet enigmatic IRS worker with ulterior motives could make the toughest of thugs shed real tears. Also starring Rosario Dawson, Michael Ealy and Woody Harrelson, this tear jerker teaches you a thing or two about the power of giving. Pursuit of Happiness, 2006 Yet another Smith flick that is sure to knock you to your knees, this classic also stars his son Jaden Smith (pre-skirts) in a story about where perseverance, hard work and risk can take you. Fruitvale Station, 2013This is the role that arguably put MBJ on the map. The gritty true story of a young man trying to better his life only to be victimized by senseless violence was Michael B Jordan’s breakout role in 2013. Again, you might wanna grab the Kleenex before pressing play. Red Tails, 2012 Michael B Jordan portrays one of the pilots in the all-black Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation, racism and persecution while kept mostly on the ground during World War II. The historic tale was released in 2012. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, 2013This 2013 biopic depicted beloved South African President, Nelson Mandela’s, life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratic election. Elba’s performance was so mesmerizing that it almost made us forget he was born and raised in England as opposed to the motherland. The Wire, 2002-2008 Speaking of accents, Idris Elba’s convincing DMV-area drawl still manages to send shocks through the system after almost 10 years of The Wire’s final episode. The darkly realistic crime drama follows the lives of Baltimore’s most impoverished, with Elba’s character, Stringer Bell playing a drug kingpin. Oh, and we know we broke the rules by listing this show among movies but it sooo good that we made an exception. Sue us.]]>
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