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Jet, Feb 28, 1994

The dynamic, compelling performances of Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne as Ike and Tina Turner in What's Love Got To Do With It garnered Academy Award nominations for both in the best acting categories.

The hit film was released early in the season and was expected by Hollywood observers to be totally ignored in favor of movies released late in the year, closer to the time when balloting is done. Studio executives at Disney (which released the movie) and many who were impressed by the two powerful performances had hoped that academy voting members would have good memories. Fishburne has been called by some in Hollywood as the best villain in recent years.

In addition to Fishburne and Bassett, an Oscar nomination also went out to Rosie Perez for best supporting actress for her role in Fearless. Janet Jackson's hit song Again from her debut film Poetic Justice was nominated in the best original song category.

Ms. Bassett recently won a Golden Globe award for best actress in a comedy or musical. Those awards, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are generally considered good indicators for Oscar nominations.

The Academy Awards will be televised March 21 from Los Angeles.