It's easy to see why the public's been swept up in a tornado of hype over Black Panther. It's another Marvel movie with excellent marketing and big stars. Plus, its the first superhero with an African-American lead in about a decade; however, I do think that that hype does it a bit of a disservice. Don't get me wrong, this is a great film and I'm happy to see it doing well; but, its greatness is a bit overstated and doing that can make one lose sight of why the film is worth talking about it. Now, let's stop beating around the bush and get to the positives!
The cast is universally excellent. Chadwick Boseman is quite a compelling lead (proving that Civil War might not have been such a soulless slog after all). Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright are all wonderful, bringing personality and depth to some of the picture's most interesting supporting characters. Then, of course, there's Michael B. Jordan, who makes for one of the best antagonists in this whole franchise has gotten. He brings pathos and nuance to a character that's a monster more out of nurture than by nature. Honestly, he gives one of the best performances in this entire enterprise, hero or not. Andy Serkis is so gleefully over-the-top that it makes me a little sad we're probably not going to get any more of him in future movies because he's an absolute riot. With their seasoned professionalism, Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker deliver the goods as minor players in a such a grand scale adventure. Martin Freeman is also pretty good as the one outsider caught up in this web of royal intrigue and international conflict.
One of the things that caught me off-guard was just how good the story was. Granted, there are some thematic points that feel like ground covered in prior MCU ventures (especially the first Thor movie from all the way back in 2011); however, it's not what I'd call a downside to the picture. If anything, I'd go as far to say that it does those narrative beats better. Partially because there seems to be some interesting sociopolitical commentary here in regards to race relations. This is mainly seen in the character dynamics between T'Challa and Killmonger. One representing hope and progress in making peace with the sins of the past in order for future prosperity to occur while the other became the thing they despised by being unable to let those past atrocities go and vows for supremacy at any cost. That's a message that I'd say is pretty important in such a polarizing day and age (even if it may be purely sub-textual).
Politics aside, the technical acumen on display here is truly commendable. Ryan Coogler directs the whole production like an absolute champ with captivating camerawork and some of the best storytelling I've seen in a recent blockbuster. If this and his other films (seriously, if you somehow haven't seen Creed yet, fix that ASAP!) are anything to go by, this gentleman is going to go down as an all time great filmmaking talent. His use of one-takes during certain action sequences are fluid and operate on John Wick-level efficiency in delivering thrills. The standouts being an early hyperkinetic sequence in South Korea and a harrowing descent into the main Vibranium mines during the climax. The music's also pretty killer. Ludwig Goransson continues this franchise's hot streak of interesting scores with soaring symphonies mixed in with both tribal and urban undercurrents. Heck, I even dug the original rap tracks made for the film. Major props to all involved in this picture.
Overall, while I can't say that you should buy into the hype for this picture (or any other film for that matter), Black Panther really is one of the best movies to come out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far. Sure, it's one of the heavier films to come out of the MCU machine emotionally speaking; but, that's a huge part of what makes it excellent. Epic scale spectacle made with the expertise of a true master craftsman in the medium. I absolutely dug it and I get the feeling you'll feel the same. Wakanda forever!
BLACK PANTHER gets a...
BADA$$ out of TEN
No comments:
Post a Comment