With the semi-recent acquisition of Fox Studios by Disney, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally all coming together. The studio has a slew of properties coming down the pipe in 2018; Deadpool 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and the long awaited Avengers: Infinity War, but before all that, Black Panther hit theaters with lofty expectations and quite a lot of pressure surrounding it.
This film had quite a lot going on, so I’ll try to be as concise as possible. Steeped in praise and critical acclaim, I prepared myself for something of a let down…at least a little bit. Black Panther is my favorite Avenger and I had been waiting for this movie for a long time. There was no way the movie was as good as advertised and, in a way, that’s accurate. This film completely blew me away from the top down. Director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed) did an amazing job allowing the film to thrive on its strengths, rather than trying to mask its flaws with an overindulgence in GCI. He co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole and the pair injected freshness and a dose of reality that the MCU desperately needed. That’s a big part of the reason why the film has resonated so strongly with audiences and critics thus far. Marvel was smart to get him in the director’s chair and Coogler’s gritty style speaks to a level of authenticity that isn’t simply replicated. It was important that this film stand on its own, aside from the MCU, and it did that wonderfully. The young director is going to have the world at his fingertips after this and I look forward to seeing his next project.
“It’s hard for a good man to be King”
There is much heavier emotional tone here that isn’t present in the other MCU connected films. Not to say that other films under the umbrella don’t have any emotional core, but here we have a young man dealing with the death of his father while preparing to become King of a very powerful and advanced nation. Although he probably wasn’t a household name before, Chadwick Boseman has played almost exclusively iconic characters throughout his career (Floyd Little, Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall) and T’Challa is a perfect fit for the burgeoning star. He’s got the acting chops to pull off the emotional swings and there’s enough well conceived humor in the script to give the audience more insight to the kind of man he is aside from being a superhero, without devolving into a full on comedy like some of the other recent MCU offerings. Boseman utilized it to establish genuine rapport with his on screen family and the audience by proxy. Aside from being a likeable badass with a good heart, T’Challa is an honorable man which plays into some of the film’s larger themes.
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Erik Stevens, played by Michael B. Jordan. This is a young man also struggling with the death of his father but essentially becomes the exact opposite of T’Challa. Stevens was a radicalized growing up in urban America and watching the oppression of his people unfold on a global scale while working special ops for the CIA. In particular, he harbors a special animosity towards Wakanda as powerful African nation that has remained inactive on a global scale. Stevens isn’t a villain without morals, but in moments where there may have been chances to choose another path, he opted for war everytime. It’s no surprise to see Jordan in this role since he has now been a part of all Coogler’s feature films. The pair broke onto the scene together with Fruitvale Station and their working relationship continues to pay dividends for each of them. The immensely talented young actor is a commanding screen presence and displayed a menacing intensity I haven’t seen from him before. Jordan was a blast to watch in this film and I wouldn’t mind seeing him take on some more villain roles in the future.
This was a pinnacle moment for the MCU, not just in recognizing a long overlooked black icon, but in expanding the roles of women as well. Let’s start with General Okoye played by Danai Gurira. She is the leader of the Dora Milaje, which is essentially the king’s elite guard, and T’Challa’s right hand. Widely recognized as the greatest warrior in Wakanda, Okoye fiercely embodies loyalty and duty. She has one of the most prominent roles in the film and Gurira doesn’t disappoint. Much of her character is delivered in subtle glances and inside jokes with her closest advocates, but it works in developing the persona and creating a genuine atmosphere. I can’t speak for everyone, but all the things I have come to love about Gurira’s character on The Walking Dead are amplified 10-times over.
Nakia is a former member Dora Milaje and T’Challa’s love interest played by Academy Award Winner Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave). A fierce warrior in her own right, she’s shifted her focus to humanitarian efforts outside of her homeland. From a character development standpoint, it helps illustrate that theme to a greater extent while also serving as contrast to Stevens’ approach of all-out military intervention on a global scale. Nyong’o is incredibly likeable and shares a palatable working chemistry with Boseman that isn’t overpowering, but enough to make their relationship worth investing in. She would make a good queen and I’m hoping that is something we get to see from the talented actress in the not too distant future.
Rounding out the Wakandan Royal Family we have Letitia Wright, who you may recognize from or this season’s finale episode of Black Mirror, playing Shuri, the younger sister of T’Challa and clearly one of the brightest minds in the MCU. Her brilliance as a scientist specializing in Vibranium technology is seemingly limitless and, essentially, she is to Black Panther what Alfred is to Batman. Wright has an infectious positivity that radiates from her and enriches the character far beyond a broad-strokes, tertiary role. Her chemistry with Boseman is pitch-perfect and their relationship as siblings is the most tangible one in the film. I expect we’ll be seeing quite a bit more of this young woman after this role puts her on map. Oscar nominee Angela Bassett lends her considerable talent and gravitas as the family matriarch, Ramonda. Still reeling from the death of her husband, she is faced with the prospect of losing her son as well when challengers line up to lay claim to the throne. Her relationship with her children wasn’t the focal point but was serviceable enough to work when in counted. There is more story to tell there when the filmmakers decide to revisit the narrative in the sequel.
We get to know CIA agent Everett Ross a little bit better as Martin Freeman is solid reprising his role. It’s nice to see that he’s more than just a suit and Sherlock fans can eagerly await the moment where Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch are reunited on screen in the MCU. Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya joined the party as W’Kabi, Okoye’s love and one of the king’s most trusted advisors and closest friends. He brought a fiery calm to the storm and that pairing paid dividends in both directions when the theme of loyalty is put to the test. Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker is no stranger to films set in Africa and having him at the spiritual core of this film paid dividends. He plays Zuri, a Wakandan shaaman and friend of T’Challa’s father. Whitaker is always a strong performer and that’s no different this time around, but his relationship with the young king could have dug a bit deeper. Contextually, their relationship serves its function but I guess when the movie is already 2hrs 15min, Debbie Berman and Michael P. Shawver had to pick an choose their battles in the editing room. Despite a litany of quality performances from an excellent cast, the best performance in the film probably belongs to Andy Serkis who was absolutely a blast to watch as Ulysses Klaue. There’s no hiding just how much fun he was having throughout the film and, even as a complete maniac, you just want to see more of him.
From a production standpoint, Hannah Beachler’s design hit all the right marks. From the sets to the costumes to the digital artistry, there was so much beauty and life reflected. It had a much warmer feel than its counterparts and it subtly went a long way in engaging the audience on a more corporeal level. The cinematography by Rachel Morrison was good, utilizing some very clever camera shots at certain moments during the movie to symbolize change. In the beginning of the movie, the camera work benefited from an environment that wasn’t almost completely digital. Ludwig Göransson scored the film and Kendrick Lamar created original songs and handled the soundtrack. Altogether it’s a nice blend of African and contemporary music that works on both fronts, but falls a little short when it comes to matching the music to the setting on screen.
Okay that wasn’t so concise afterall. I had my reservations going in, fearful that it wouldn’t live up to the hype and ultimately fall short of my own expectations. However, I was thoroughly impressed from start to finish. The pessimist in me kept waiting for it to unravel, but it never did. In fact, the film became more cohesive as it went along and clawed its name into the MCU mythos. This movie is loaded with socio-political themes like global oppression and foreign intervention which only makes it more impactful. There are many different characters with their varying motivations, defying absolutism and giving the audience a wide range of personalities to associate with. This was certainly the best Marvel offering since Civil War and absolutely one of the best films the studio has ever put together. The only real detraction is that it’s fairly predictable most of the time, but that doesn’t stop it from being a whole lot of fun along the way. Wakanda Forever!
Grade: A-
Recommendation: Fans of the comics and MCU can unite to enjoy this movie. It’s heady for those who want that, there’s action for those looking for that. It’s well put together for those simply looking to enjoy the spectacle and it has heart too. Go see this movie. Especially now while there isn’t much competition at the box office.