Their Eyes Were Watching God (film)


Their Eyes Were Watching God is an American Broadcasting Company television film that aired on March 6, 2005. It is based upon Zora Neale Hurston's 1937 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Darnell Martin and produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions. Its teleplay was by Suzan-Lori Parks, Misan Sagay, and Bobby Smith, Jr. It starred Halle Berry and Michael Ealy, with other prominent actors.

Cast

Catering to Winfrey's expected TV audience, the film largely avoided the more controversial themes of race, gender, and power that Hurston explored in her novel. Karen Valby of Entertainment Weekly comments, "While the book chews on meaty questions of race and identity, the movie largely resigns itself to the realm of sudsy romance." New York Times critic Virginia Heffernan said, "the film is less a literary tribute than a visual fix of Harlequin Romance: Black Southern Series— all sensual soft-core scenes and contemporary, accessible language."
Sharon L. Jones, an English professor at Wright State University, agreed that the film was quite different from the novel. She said that the novel emphasizes Janie's life journey with others who are part of her establishing an identity, and she is sometimes overpowered by them. Jones says the film leaves out many important concepts that help convey the central theme. She says that Harpo's production was thought to address a more general idea of love to reach a broad range of audience, believed to be the majority-white females of Winfrey's TV audience.

Awards and nominations

Awarding BodyAwardNomineeResult
American Cinema EditorsBest Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Commercial TelevisionPeter C. Frank
Austin Film Critics AssociationBreakthrough Artist AwardTerrence Howard
Black Movie AwardsOutstanding Television MovieMatthew Carlisle, Kate Forte, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey
Black Reel AwardsBest Television Miniseries or MovieTheir Eyes Were Watching God
Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Miniseries or MovieMichael Ealy
Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Miniseries or MovieHalle Berry
Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or MovieRuben Santiago-Hudson
Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or MovieNicki Micheaux
Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Director in a Miniseries or MovieDarnell Martin
Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Screenplay in a Miniseries or MovieSuzan-Lori Parks, Misan Sagay and Bobby Smith, Jr.
Costume Designers GuildOutstanding Costume Design for Miniseries or Television FilmEduardo Castro
Directors Guild of America AwardsOutstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for TelevisionDarnell Martin
Golden Globe AwardsBest Actress – Miniseries or Television FilmHalle Berry
NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic SpecialTheir Eyes Were Watching God
NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic SpecialMichael Ealy
NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic SpecialRuben Santiago-Hudson
NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic SpecialHalle Berry
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or MovieHalle Berry
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a SpecialAlan D'Angerio and Barbara Lorenz
Satellite AwardsBest Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made For TelevisionRuben Santiago-Hudson