Game Night Review

Starring: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Billy Magnussen, Jesse Plemmons

Game Night is the best high-concept comedy that I have seen in a long time. If you're not familiar with the term, a "high-concept comedy" is a comedy that is centered around an interesting and original plot rather than character development and humor. Through an original and engaging premise, a good high-concept comedy is able to bring those characters forward and the humor comes naturally. The best recent examples are The Hangover, Bridesmaids, and Horrible Bosses. Game Night centers on Max and Annie, an overly competitive couple struggling to have a child due to Max's inadequacy when constantly compared to his successful brother. When Max's brother takes over the routine game night for the week, he introduces an elaborate murder mystery involving the mob, in which none of the party will know what is real and what is staged. The concept is incredible, and it's executed brilliantly. But the concept is worthless if the jokes don't click, and I can safely assure that you will laugh a lot during Game Night. There were a few scenes in which I could not stop laughing, and the jokes were consistent. There was never a dull moment. However, in the third act,  Game Night awkwardly treads cliché territory, it became a little ridiculous for my tastes, and lost its originality. Yet I cannot discount how brilliant, fun, and simply hilarious Game Night is. 

Rachel McAdams is the clear standout of the cast, and she is experiencing a truly unexpected renaissance. With a femme fatale part in Sherlock Holmes, an Oscar-nominated performance in Spotlight, a great supporting role in Marvel's Doctor Strange, and now a hilarious turn in Game Night, she's proving she truly has range. As Annie, she is able to channel a feeling of familiarity. I couldn't think of who she reminded me of, but I just felt like I knew someone as simple and as scatter-brained as she. There's a scene in a bar in which she doesn't realize she's holding a real gun. She prances around, waving it to Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life" and spewing awkward curses, clearly trying to replicate Pulp Fiction. Jason Bateman was very good, but wasn't a standout. I've seen similar work from him in the past, but he does provide a good center for the film to anchor itself upon. His chemistry with McAdams is undeniable. They both sunk right into their roles and were both believable and relatable. The other standout is Jesse Plemmons of Breaking Bad, Black Mirror, and Fargo fame. He plays the creepy neighbor, and he was able to make me laugh in every single scene he was in. His TV work has proven his dramatic chops, and I've never seen him attempt to be funny. It turns out, he's hysterical, and I seriously want to see him try more comedy.

The concept of Game Night is so smart and original, it's the catalyst that propels the movie forward. I was always waiting in eager anticipation to see what came next. The movie brought many twists and turns for its characters as the murder mystery got out of hand, and those twists are felt by the audience. I also loved how the houses looked like board game pieces in aerial shots. I cannot quite put my finger on what effects were used to accomplish this, but it was a great nod to the theme.The film is surprisingly well-shot for a comedy, and the choice to have the camera below the cars in chase scenes made for intense action scenes. Game Night was able to jump genres into action and mystery but never lost its comedic core. The shortcomings come in its need to be serious. Game Night's three couples each have a specific storyline and style of humor, which keeps it fresh. Yet the leads' story focuses on their inability to have a child, and the serious tone just does not fit in the movie, no matter how hard it tries to force it on the audience. When the film closes, it tries one last time to try to push this storyline, and the result is a horribly stereotyped ending not worthy of the film that preceded it.

 

Overall, Game Night is such an enjoyable movie. I imagine it'd be hard to dislike this movie. It's smart, funny, and fresh. Comedies are always hit or miss, and it has been a very long time since an R-rated comedy this funny has hit theaters. And the R rating is earned. No time is wasted on raunchy humor, and when the jokes go to that territory, they feel earned as they're few and far between. I highly recommend Game Night, and strongly urge you to check this one out!

Rating:

Game Night earns 7.5 stars

2018 Academy Awards Predictions

Every year, the Oscars are a big deal for my family and friends. We bet on winners and cast ballots while we watch the show. My family has made an effort to see every movie that is nominated. This year I have seen all the nominees for Best Picture and the acting categories, and most of the other nominees in the other fields. I'm eager to see what this ceremony brings, as it's the first in the Me Too / Time's Up movement, and in the wake of the Weinstein scandal and its ripples. That could certainly effect what the Academy picks. Here are my picks for every single category, in what will win, could win, and should win.

Best Picture

And the nominees are...

Call Me By Your Name- Set in 1980s Italy, a 17-year-old boy, seemingly straight and on the cusp of adulthood begins a romantic affair with one of his father's visiting grad students, and the summer they spend is filled with intense romance and passion. Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer

Darkest Hour- Centering on Winston Churchill's ascension to power and his unpopularity, and how his decision making in the Dunkirk invasion changed the course of the war, and of history forever. Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn, Stephen Dillane

Dunkirk- HThe incredible true story of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers, stranded with no hope of ever getting back home, and how home came for them in one of the most staggering events in world history. Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Harry Styles

Get Out- A young black man goes home with his white girlfriend for a weekend away to meet her parents, unaware that her family is part of a rural racist cult that kidnaps African-Americans. Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford

Lady Bird- A senior at a Catholic school makes life difficult, by forcing everyone to call her "Lady Bird" and acting out towards everyone, especially her sharp-tongued mother. Yet underneath is a girl trapped between child and adult. Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Timothée Chalamet 

Phantom Thread- An incredibly OCD fashion designer decides to take a young girl as his bride. Smitten, she accepts, not realizing that he wants a doll to dress up and control, and their toxic relationship has no escape. Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vickey Krieps, Lesley Manville

The Post- The true story of Kay Graham and Ben Bradlee's efforts to publish the controversial Pentagon Papers and expose the government's lies and misdeeds regarding the Vietnam War, with risk of going to prison. Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson

The Shape of Water- A lonely mute woman working as a janitor in the 60s forms a relationship with a fish-like humanoid creature being held in the govt building she cleans. United in their isolation, the two form a beautiful romance. Starring: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri- Furious that her daughter's murder has not been solved, a bitter mother starts a relentless turf war with the local police, starting with her placement of three shocking billboards at the town's entrance. Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson

I said last year's would be easy to pick, yet Moonlight had a shocking win over La La Land, made even more surprising given the circumstances. This year, I have no idea who will take home the Oscar, but I've narrowed it down to two contenders. The Shape of Water checks off a lot of boxes. It's beautifully directed, acted, and written. It has a completely original story and it's the kind of spectacle to be seen in theaters. It harkens back to old Hollywood romances and creature films, and is a genre film without reaching too far. It also seems like the woman / fish-man sex has not bothered a lot of people. On the flip side is Three Billboards, which is the gutsy and unflinching look at Middle America, and centers on a bitter woman fighting for justice regarding her daughter's rape and murder. It's very socially relevant right now, and is also just a good movie. Three Billboards likely won't win Screenplay, and it isn't even nominated for Director, so that puts it statistically at a disadvantage. However, I think that Three Billboards will win because it's buzzier, and it's also a better movie than The Shape of Water in my opinion.

Will Win: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Could Win: The Shape of Water

Should Win: Lady Bird, Get Out, Three Billboards

Should've Been Here: The Big Sick

Best Actor

Timothée Chalamet- Call Me By Your Name

Daniel Day-Lewis- Phantom Thread

Daniel Kaluuya- Get Out

Gary Oldman- Darkest Hour

Denzel Washington- Roman J. Israel, Esq.

In a perfect world, Timothée Chalamet would win for Call Me By Your Name. He was the early frontrunner, and his mesmerizing turn as a 17 year old coming to terms with himself and his sexuality is one of the best performances I have ever seen in my life. At 22 years old, he'd be the youngest winner ever, and already has a talent far beyond his years. Hopefully, he'll win soon, because Gary Oldman is the frontrunner. His performance as Winston Churchill is magnetic. He commands every scene and it's the kind of performance that the Academy eats up. He doesn't quite have the subtletie, arc, or reserve that Chalamet has, but then again, neither did Winston Churchill...

Will Win: Gary Oldman

Could Win: Timothée Chalamet

Should Win: Timothée Chalamet

Should've Been Here: James Franco- The Disaster Artist

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins- The Shape of Water

Frances McDormand- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Margot Robbie- I, Tonya

Saoirse Ronan- Lady Bird

Meryl Streep- The Post

This category has been locked for a long time. Frances McDormand will take home gold for her powerful performance as a bitter mother brutally lashing out at her local police force over her daughter's unsolved murder. Nobody did "more" acting in a film this year, and her performance threatens to swallow up the entire movie. The other four nominees are great, but none reach McDormand's level. This will be her second Oscar, after winning for Fargo in 1997. On the reverse, Sally Hawkins gives a powerful performance without ever uttering a word. If there's a spoiler, I suspect it will be her, even though I'd love to see Saoirse Ronan, a three-time nominee at only 23, finally win.

Will Win: Frances McDormand

Could Win: Sally Hawkins

Should Win: Frances McDormand

Should've Been Here: Jessica Chastain- Molly's Game

Best Supporting Actor

Willem Dafoe- The Florida Project

Woody Harrelson- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Richard Jenkins- The Shape of Water

Christopher Plummer- All the Money in the World

Sam Rockwell- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

When I saw Willem Dafoe in The Florida Project last November, I would have easily predicted him to win. Yet Sam Rockwell has taken home every televised award from the Golden Globe to the BAFTA. It's not that Rockwell isn't deserving. His performance, much like co-star Frances McDormand's, is very loud and showy. But Willem Dafoe, who has made a career out of being a creepy guy, finally gave a performance as a sweet, complicated, and caring man. I wish he'd win, but it's likely going to be Rockwell. But look out for Christopher Plummer, who might become the night's Me Too moment. Plummer was famously cast as J Paul Getty after Kevin Spacey was removed following the sexual assault revelations. I think it'd be a little too obvious and undeserving, but stranger things have happened. 

Will Win: Sam Rockwell

Could Win: Willem Dafoe

Should Win: Willem Dafoe

Should've Been Here: Armie Hammer or Michael Stuhlbarg- Call Me By Your Name

Best Supporting Actress

Mary J. Blige- Mudbound

Allison Janney- I, Tonya

Lesley Manville- Phantom Thread

Laurie Metcalf- Lady Bird

Octavia Spencer- The Shape of Water

This is a rare occasion in which all four acting categories have gone to the same four actors in every major awards show. Allison Janney has been the winner so far, and precedence suggests she'll win this time too. Though if any category has the realistic potential for an upset, it's this race with Laurie Metcalf. They both play "monster mothers" yet Janney's is a foul-mouthed abusive terror, while Metcalf's is a mother who struggles to make the right decisions. Janney is the kind of performance that wins awards, whereas Metcalf is the kind of subdued delivery that gets overlooked so often.

Will Win: Allison Janney

Could Win: Laurie Metcalf

Should Win: Either Janney or Metcalf

Should've Been Here: Holly Hunter- The Big Sick

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson- Phantom Thread

Guillermo del Toro- The Shape of Water

Greta Gerwig- Lady Bird

Christopher Nolan- Dunkirk

Jordan Peele- Get Out

This isn't worth writing a whole paragraph about. Guillermo Del Toro will finally win a much-deserved award for his visionary directing in The Shape of Water. It is even more deserving as it's not a career win, he actually deserves it more than the others. If anyone will spoil him, it's Gerwig, but that's a far second.

Will Win: Guillermo del Toro
Could Win: Greta Gerwig

Should Win: Guillermo del Toro

Should've Been Here: Luca Guadagnino- Call Me By Your Name

Best Original Screenplay

The Big Sick

Get Out

Lady Bird

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

It's odd that the two biggest contenders for Best Picture do not have a huge shot at Best Original Screenplay. Instead, Lady Bird and Get Out, the two films I believe deserve Best Picture the most, are battling it out in a fight that is anyone's guess. Get Out has biting social commentary and a witty script that perfectly blends comedy and horror without losing sight of the message. Lady Bird is without a doubt, a perfect movie, and it wouldn't work without Greta Gerwig's touching and brutally honest script. Both Gerwig and Get Out's Jordan Peele are nominated in Best Director and are unlikely to win, and one of them will unfortunately go home empty-handed (neither are winning Best Director). My bet is on Lady Bird, as I feel the Academy will have a harder time rewarding Get Out. 

Will Win: Lady Bird

Could Win: Get Out

Should Win: Lady Bird or Get Out

Should've Been Here: The Florida Project

Best Adapted Screenplay

It's hard to beat Call Me By Your Name in one of the easiest categories to predict. Call Me By Your Name is unlikely to win anything else due to Timothée Chalamet's probable loss to Gary Oldman. Screenwriter James Ivory has been nominated countless times for films like A Room with a View and Howard's End without a single win. He's 89 years old, so this is a good chance to reward him. It also helps that Call Me By Your Name is easily the best film script of both categories combined, so this isn't a tacked on career win, it's 100% deserved.

Will Win: Call Me By Your Name

Could Win: N/A; maybe Mudbound?

Should Win: Call Me By Your Name

Should've Been Here: Wonder Woman

Best Animated Feature

The Boss Baby

The Breadwiner

Coco

Ferdinand

Loving Vincent

Another easy one. Pixar has a history of winning, and Coco will add another worthy addition to their trophy case.

Will Win, Could Win, Should Win: Coco

Best Original Score



Dunkirk
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

The Shape of Water will win this because it is so distinct from the other nominees. The score from Alexandre Desplat, who previously won for The Grand Budapest Hotel, moves so beautifully through the film that it almost seems like a character itself. My personal favorite is the score from Phantom Thread, a movie I strongly dislike but appreciate its technical values. But even I cannot argue that The Shape of Water is the most deserving of the pack.

Will Win: The Shape of Water

Could Win: Phantom Thread

Should Win: The Shape of Water

Should've Been Here: Get Out

Best Original Score

"Mighty River"- Mary J. Blige- Mudbound

"Mystery of Love"- Sufjan Stevens- Call Me By Your Name

"Remember Me"- Miguel & Natalie Lafourcade- Coco

"Stand Up for Something"- Andra Day & Common- Marshall

"This Is Me"- Keala Settle & Ensemble- The Greatest Showman

This is the strongest group of songs nominated in recent memory. Andra Day & Common's "Stand Up for Something" presents its message clearly without having to see the movie (spoiler: no one has). Mary J. Blige's "Mighty River" is a powerful ballad that plays over the credits, and enhances the emptiness Mudbound leaves you with. Sufjan Stevens' beautifully indie "Mystery of Love" plays in one of the most emotionally poignant moments in Call Me By Your Name, and is a dark horse to win. In reality, it's down to Coco & The Greatest Showman. There isn't a dry eye when "Remember Me" plays in Coco, and the little tune is insanely catchy. But The Greatest Showman has done the impossible: it's conquered all critical hurdles to become a box-office smash, and has had the biggest legs since Titanic. I've yet to see the movie, but "This Is Me" is completely worthy of a win, and I think it will serve as a worthy apology to the film's surprising amount of fans.

Will Win: "This Is Me"

Could Win: "Remember Me"

Should Win: Any of them

Should've Been Here: "Evermore"- Josh Groban- Beauty and the Beast

Best Cinematography

Blade Runner 2049

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

Mudbound

The Shape of Water

This is another easy category to predict. The Shape of Water is a beautiful film, and could give Blade Runner 2049 a run for its money. But Roger Deakins has been nominated 13 times and has yet to win, and he is widely considered the most respected in his field. I have personally met Deakins, and he has worked on some of the best films in history. To say that Blade Runner 2049 is his best work is a true testament to his ability. The entire film is stunning and breathtaking, and is the single most beautifully shot movie I've seen. If it loses, it will be a huge upset.

Will Win: Blade Runner 2049
Could Win: The Shape of Water

Should Win: Blade Runner 2049

Should've Been Here: Call Me By Your Name

Best Sound Mixing & Sound Editing

Baby Driver

Blade Runner 2049

Dunkirk

The Shape of Water

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

This is convenient, since both categories have the exact same five nominees. So who's to say that the same film won't win both? Dunkirk is by far the loudest film, and that usually equals a win in Sound Editing. I'm picking Dunkirk for both.

Will Win, Could Win, Should Win (Both): Dunkirk

Best Costume Design

Beauty and the Beast
Darkest Hour

Phantom Thread

The Shape of Water

Victoria & Abdul

I'm not a fan of Phantom Thread, but I cannot argue that its costumes are absolutely stunning, and something that deserves the most prestigious award. It should come as no surprise that a film about the fashion industry would have such great fashion, and every costume stands out. The Shape of Water also has very great period costumes, and Beauty in the Beast has dazzling fantasy gowns. But I give the edge to Phantom Thread.

Will Win: Phantom Thread

Could Win: The Shape of Water

Should Win: Phantom Thread

Should've Been Here: Wonder Woman

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Darkest Hour

Victoria & Abdul 

Wonder

They turned Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill. This is a no-brainer.

Will Win, Could Win, Should Win: Darkest Hour

Best Production Design

Beauty and the Beast

Blade Runner 2049

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

The Shape of Water

So this category is also a toss-up. It's likely between The Shape of Water and Blade Runner 2049, and in this case, I am acting on my instinct alone. The Shape of Water seems likely, as its predicted to have a nice sweep of technical awards, but I'm going with Blade Runner 2049, simply because I personally admire its set design more.

Will Win: Blade Runner 2049

Could Win: The Shape of Water

Best Editing

Baby Driver

Dunkirk

I, Tonya

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

I predict this to be the big upset of the night. Presumably, Dunkirk will take this home. If not, The Shape of Water as Editing is always linked to Best Picture. They rarely choose the movie that actually has the best editing. Baby Driver was one of the best edited movies of the year, and I'm thrilled that it's nominated for three Oscars. I believe that the technical branch of the Academy will rightfully award it tonight.

Will Win: Baby Driver

Could Win: Dunkirk

Should Win: Baby Driver

Should've Been Here: Call Me By Your Name

Best Visual Effects

Blade Runner 2049

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

Kong: Skull Island

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

War for the Planet of the Apes

You can always tell which nominees are just the blockbuster fill-ins. Kong and Guardians have no shot at this award, as they break no new ground. The same can be said for The Last Jedi, even though it relies on more practical effects. It's been used before. Blade Runner 2049 used excellent holographic techniques and War for the Planet of the Apes would give them a chance to reward this amazing franchise and its stunning motion-capture work, and would almost be a honorary award for Andy Serkis, who has been snubbed too many times. It just matters on what narrative they choose to write.

Will Win: Blade Runner 2049

Could Win: War for the Planet of the Apes

Should Win: Either

Should've Been Here: Wonder Woman

So there you have it. Those are my predictions in the major categories, not including Documentaries, Shorts, or Foreign Language films. Here is the final tally and I hope you tune in, or read the news tomorrow to see if I got them right!

Blade Runner 2049: 3 (Cinematography, Production Design, Visual Effects)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: 3 (Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor)

Darkest Hour: 2 (Actor, Makeup / Hair)

Dunkirk: 2 (Sound Editing, Sound Mixing)

The Shape of Water: 2 (Director, Score)

Baby Driver: 1 (Editing)

Call Me By Your Name: 1 (Adapted Screenplay

Coco: 1 (Animated Feature)

The Greatest Showman: 1 (Song)

I, Tonya: 1 (Supporting Actress)

Lady Bird: 1 (Original Screenplay)

Phantom Thread: 1 (Costume Design)

Black Panther Review

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis

Black Panther is probably one of the most culturally significant movies of all time. It's the first blockbuster movie with a cast made up of predominantly African-Americans, with only two white actors. The entire plot is set around black culture and most of the movie takes place in Africa. Despite all of this, and likely because of this, it has become a smash hit. Its opening weekend almost topped The Avengers, and it broke nearly every record possible. Black Panther sold more tickets than Captain America, Iron Man, or Thor in any of their openings. This is in part to massive African-American attendance, but Marvel did an excellent job of selling this film as more than a movie: it's a movement. With an all-star cast, Black Panther centers around the fictional nation of Wakanda, a technologically advanced African country hiding their achievements from the world. Their sovereign leader is given supernatural abilities through ritual, and is crowned "The Black Panther". As soon as the first reviews came rolling in, there were whispers that Black Panther is an extremely politically relevant film without alienating any culture or side. It comes out at a period in our history in which divisions are tense, and Black Panther is able to entertain while being a poignant story resonating with all who will listen. Having seen the film twice before attempting to dissect it in review, I am astounded by the liberties director Ryan Coogler has taken with his film, and even more surprised that Disney / Marvel allowed it. Yet it is by not holding back that Black Panther is able to become possibly the best Marvel movie to this date. It is unique and distinct, both in its story and its cinematic qualities. Almost everything is executed to perfection.

Contents

Cultural Relevance

Killmonger

T'Challa

Wakanda

Okoye & The Dora Milaje

Nakiya & Shuri

"Tolkien" White Guys

Music

Visuals

Conclusion

Cultural Relevance

The major conflict of Black Panther is between T'Challa, the current Black Panther, and Killmonger, who challenges T'Challa for his throne. Killmonger has seen the hardships of black people in America, and seeks to use Wakanda's technology to help all suffering blacks overthrow the whites and become the dominant race. This hits at a lot of cultural issues, yet it does so respectfully and has not seemed to anger anyone. T'Challa is an African king, oblivious to the hardships African-Americans endure simply because he is not there to personally witness them. Killmonger represents an American black man, still furious over slavery and generations of oppression and prejudice in his country. He lashes out with violence and anger. There have been good strides and poor strides in the current Black Lives Matter movement, as there are in every movement. Killmonger represents the negative qualities of it, including bitterness and the need for violence to convey a message. He has certain aspects of Malcolm X in him, and I have seen publications compare him to Magneto of the X-Men, whose relationship with Professor Xavier was based off of Malcom X and Martin Luther King. The first post-credits scene for Black Panther contains no spoilers, but rather a political message that seems to be speaking directly to the audience. It calls for us to put aside our differences and our anger. I am surprised that this amount of cultural and political reference is in a Disney film, yet it is handled so maturely and with such confidence in the material that it works.

Killmonger

Killmonger has the rare distinction of not really appearing until the film's second half yet he still becomes arguably the most memorable character. This is mostly due to the politicized nature of his motives, and Michael B. Jordan's undeniable talent. He is the most complicated villain I have ever seen in a comic book movie. I empathized with him and felt true sorrow, but he remained a powerful antagonist to be feared. I never rooted for him. Jordan's plays a complicated villain that never morphs and crosses into an antihero. Killmonger's relatability is evidence of Black Panther's uniqueness. Audiences are so used to seeing the loyal heroes and easily malevolent supervillains like Thanos and the Joker. They exude evil and it isn't hard to pick sides. It is a strange feeling to find yourself relating to the villain. Killmonger is not an evil man, rather a man shaped by horrific consequences who acts incorrectly. He is motivated by pain and desires his dream, not stopping to consider what is being lost for his gain. T'Challa realizes this. Their conflict is purely ideological, and not because he has committed atrocities, though he intends to.

T'Challa

In the character of T'Challa, we encounter the most fleshed-out Marvel hero. He is faced with warring ideals in his brain. Does he honor his ancestors and keep Wakanda a secret, or listen to the words of  his loved ones, and attempt to use their unlimited resources to help those in need? His reign unfortunately encounters a premature answer when Killmonger arrives, preaching hatred and a too simple solution. While his ideas are radicalized, I have never witnessed a superhero actually listen to the villain and then act on his wishes, considering both sides. All this is acted out with immense grace and power by Chadwick Boseman. He completely disappears into his character in the ways I have only seen Robert Downey Jr. and Gal Gadot disappear into Iron Man and Wonder Woman respectively. While he is a complicated man always battling within, he never comes off as a poor king, and stays true to his moral center. What could have been a flat character of nobility becomes a relatable icon that is sure to become one of America's favorite superheroes in years to come. 

Wakanda

Wakanda may be fictional, but I wish it were real. The landscapes were stunning and it demonstrated the most attentive world-building since Zootopia. I wanted to spend more time in their world. The film perfectly captures a world that is more advanced than any in our current atmosphere, yet still retains its cultural roots, evidenced in tribal dress. Wakanda was an incredibly well-realized portion of the story. The setting for Marvel movies has never been a huge part of the plot, yet the team behind Black Panther knew that every aspect of Wakanda had to be executed to perfection for this story of a fictional place to be believable. Everything, from the costumes, the sets, to the makeup, is reminiscent of a place trapped in time. One striking example was a man who had an enormous green lip disc, yet was clad in a matching green suit and cane. Wakanda isn't real, so it has to be sold to the audience, and I would bet there are very few who were not completely invested in Wakanda during the film.

Okoye

While Black Panther boasted some of the best Marvel characters ever, Okoye became my favorite. The Dora Milaje are the female warriors / bodyguards that serve the Black Panther, and there is no word to describe them more accurately than "awesome". It's not made out to be a black empowerment example, nor is a feminist empowerment example. It is simply just a group of awesome cutthroat soldiers who happen to be black women, and they do some serious damage in battle. No one would question that these women are the best suited to defend Wakanda and their king. Okoye is their general, and she's played brilliantly by Danai Gurira (Michonne in The Walking Dead) and she's actually given quite a bit of depth for "the muscle" of the group. She is not solely the brute strength of the group, and actually has a great sense of humor, and a small serious arc and depth to her character. This depth doesn't threaten her physicality, which is extremely important to her character. When I saw ads for Infinity War and saw her on the front line with the Avengers, I rolled my eyes. Now that I've seen Black Panther, I want her side-by-side with Captain America and Iron Man.

Nakiya and Shuri

I've always been a huge fan of Lupita Nyong'o, and I have even compared her to Meryl Streep in previous reviews. She is a phenomenally talented actress who won an Oscar for her first ever movie (12 Years a Slave) and I'm happy to see her getting more mainstream recognition. It is rare for a character in a superhero movie to have nuance and subtlety, yet Nyong'o clearly lends her talent to make Nakiya a very powerful yet subtle figure in the narrative. If anyone from this movie will be nominated for an Academy Award, it will be she. As for Shuri, Letitia Wright perfectly capitalizes on a star-making turn in Netflix's Black Mirror, providing an extremely likable and relatable character. However, her character is a little bit of a Mary Sue (if you're unfamiliar with the term, it refers to a female character who succeeds at everything without explanation) and she has little depth, so that was disappointing. There was little explanation as to how she acquired all this technological knowledge and how she could apply it. Likewise, the vibranium she worked with was also extremely vague and seemed to solve every problem. While she was funny and well-acted, she was a weaker character, though I admired the close relationship she had with her brother, T'Challa.

The "Tolkien" White Guys

It's extremely rare to see Andy Serkis' face. The renowned actor is known for his iconic motion-capture performances as Caesar in the Planet of the Apes series, Gollum in the Lord of the Rings series, and Kong in King Kong, yet rarely shows his face. I have always assumed he's a great actor based on his great motion-capture work, but Ulysses Klaue's crazy portrayal at his hands is nothing short of brilliance. He almost steals the movie, which is why Coogler smartly removes most of his screen time in the second half. On the flip side, Everett Ross takes over in that second half, and Martin Freeman gives an expected performance. He is not breaking any new ground as the ordinary helpers to superheroes, but continues to deliver the great acting we have come to expect from him off of Fargo, The Hobbit series, and Sherlock. Interestingly enough, both of these actors are best known from their Lord of the Rings appearances (both share an iconic scene in An Unexpected Journey) making them the "Tolkien" whites of the mostly African-American cast.

Music

There's not much to say about the Black Panther other than to congratulate its brilliance. Kendrick Lamar produced and wrote the songs on the soundtrack, and the liberties he was allowed to take for music in a Disney film is shocking. Granted, the explicit parts aren't prominent in the actual film, but it still stands as a companion to a family-friendly film. The soundtrack is an amazing counterpart to the film and bridges traditional African influences and rhythms with current African-American hip hop and rap. It doesn't sound like it would work on paper, but I predict it'll be a strong contender for the Oscar for Best Original Song for Lamar and SZA's "All the Stars".

Visual Effects

My chief criticism of Black Panther lies in its visual effects. This is disappointing, as so much effort, and likely money, is devoted to creating beautifully realized sets and costumes, but apparently not enough was spent on the effects. There's a rhino that plays a semi-important role in the film, and it looks so fake it completely took me out of the movie. I've seen Life of Pi, which was made for much cheaper, and that tiger looked real. Black Panther might have some of the worst visual effects in any Marvel film, which is a disappointing negative mark on a very great movie. This occasionally discounts the action scenes, yet they overcome through other means. Whether it be great acting and dialogue, interesting camera angles, or intense choreography, there is a lot to distract the viewer from how cheap the effects look for a movie of this level.

Conclusion

Black Panther may possibly be the best Marvel film to date. While the visual effects are severely lacking, everything else comes together to make a prestigious film, and one that might just get a number of Academy Award nominations. It's practically impossible not to love, evidenced by the swarms of people of all races packing the theaters. The film is able to work on so many levels, in terms of acting, action, world-building, and music. Black Panther can also reach even further and connect with a growing social movement, and has become a film much more relevant and important than many I've seen. And it certainly does not hurt the movement if the movie's great.

Rating:

Black Panther earns a spectacular 9.5/10 Stars