Chadwick
Boseman was a superstar on the rise, an accomplished actor who gave
110% in every role he did, and forever changed the landscape of cinema
especially for minority fans. His shocking passing at only 43 from
colon cancer shocked the world, and took away one of cinema's most
powerful stars. In honor of his memory, I take a look at my five
favorite Chadwick Boseman films.
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#5
21 Bridges
In
"21 Bridges," Boseman stars as NYPD Detective Andre Davis, a man who
became an officer after the murder of his father at a young age, and
always sets out to do the right thing. When two criminals are accused
of killing cops, Davis has all twenty-one bridges out of Manhattan shut
down so he can find the culprits and bring them to justice - but that's
just the beginning of this twisty film filled with action, suspense, and
a spectacular performance by Chadwick Boseman.
#4
Get On Up
Chadwick
Boseman was known for playing real-life African American men who
changed the world in various ways, and "Get On Up" finds him playing the
role of the real-life Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Boseman
transforms himself completely into Brown right down to the smallest
detail, and offers a unique look into the life of the larger-than-life
singer, accompanied by a strong supporting cast including Viola Davis,
Octavia Spencer, and Lennie James.
#3
Marshall
Taking
on the life of the first African American Supreme Court Justice,
Chadwick Boseman stars as Thurgood Marshall in "Marshall," telling the
story of one his earliest cases before landing on the Supreme Court -
the case of the State of Connecticut vs. Joseph Spell. He is brought on
to defend Spell (Sterling K. Brown), who was charged with raping his
wealthy white female boss, played by Kate Hudson. Marshall brings in
insurance lawyer Sam Friedman (Josh Gad) to assist in the defense, and
the film showcases Bowman's dramatic prowess with fierce abandon, giving
deeper insight into Thurgood Marshall's life.
#2
42
Portraying
baseball player Jackie Robinson, "42" was Chadwick Boseman's breakout
role, and its this role that made Hollywood take notice of this
up-and-coming powerhouse. Boseman encompasses Jackie Robinson's
personality perfectly, showing the strength of a man who only had the
love for the game, but also set the groundwork for racial integration in
baseball.
#1
Black Panther
With
one chant - "Wakanda Forever!" - "Black Panther" easily ascended to the
hierarchy of superhero films, and to call it that doesn't do it
justice. Boseman takes the mantle of the Black Panther and was able to
show millions of African Americans all over the world that they too can
be a superhero. The film became the fourth highest grossing movie of
all time in America, and Boseman's performance raised it above typical
superhero films, along with a stellar supporting cast.
Major Theatrical Releases May 2019 After the hype that is "Avengers: Endgame," May offers a massive collection of differing types of movies, enough to entertain everyone. Here are the major theatrical releases for May 2019. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** **DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE** The Intruder May 3 Dennis Quaid goes from starring the family-friendly "A Dog's Journey" to playing a total psycho in "The Intruder." When a young couple purchases a home from Quaid's character Charlie, they didn't realize it came with an addition - Charlie himself, who can't seem to let his old home go. I don't expect any twists or turns in this tale, and this looks like a film better fit for Lifetime than the big screen. Long Shot May 3 Charlize Theron stars as Charlotte Field, the current Secretary of State and who's running for President. Seth Rogen stars as Fred Flarsky, a
Witch Starring Russell Shaw, Ryan Spong, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Fabrizio Santino Directed by Craig Hinde & Marc Zammit Movies about witches are about a dime a dozen, and follow the same formula: typically set in a time period long ago (since now, fortunately, the stigma of witches has been lessened and the religious fervor has diminished), in a small Puritanical town, a girl is accused of witchcraft which spirals the town into a frenzy filled with suspicion, doubt, and murder until the witch is put to religious justice. While that's not necessarily a bad formula (Robert Eggers' "The VVitch" and Mario Bava's "Black Sunday" immediately come to mind), most films fall by the wayside. "Witch" is a small film that, at first glance, seems to follow the mold before completely shattering it in a second act twist that's daring, provocative, and works in a lot of levels, but could've been more pronounced if given a bigger budget. In the small
Special Review: "Midwest Sessions" Directed by Mario Ricciardi Independent filmmaking is a fascinating concept, wherein the director and everyone involved sets out to make something unique, different, and go against the traditional status quo of what's defined as a "blockbuster." These films aren't usually seen by the masses and won't be included in the top ten highest grossing movies of all time, but they offer something those films don't: a heart and commitment by the people involved to craft something wholly distinctive that tell a story in their own way. Such is "Midwest Sessions," a local film directed by Mario Ricciardi that centers on the city of Youngstown, Ohio, and the captivating people who live there. Told in different vignettes that seem distinct and different from one another but coming together as a whole in the end, it's an engrossing film that utilizes its shoestring budget and gives great performances, decent effects a
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