The Kenblog: “Chadwick Boseman Is Gone Too Soon”

Boseman was one of those charismatic actors who elevated any film in which he appeared. Even standard action fare like “21 Bridges” was made imminently watchable by his presence. One wonders exactly to what heights he would have reached had he lived. As it stands, Mr. Boseman leaves behind an impressive body of work.

Of course he’s internationally famous as T’Challa, the Wakandan King and the superhero known as the Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Appearing in four films, his portrayal if this character hit a cultural crescendo in the self-titled film in 2018. “Black Panther” wasn’t just a hit film: it was a cultural phenomenon that took the world by storm. Black fans in particular gravitated to a cinematic world in which their race was represented in a way not seen on film before: a world of possibility, knowledge, and optimism, along with a heritage (although fictional, drawn from many real African cultural facts) that really connected to the audience. A big part of that was Boseman’s steadfast yet charismatic performance as the title character. His struggle with his identity after his father’s death made him a relatable character despite the crazy superpowers and otherworldly technology. Boseman was one of the reasons that “Black Panther” is one of the most successful and well regarded stand alone films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But that’s not my favorite performance of his. I find myself gravitating toward his breakout role as Jackie Robinson in “42” the 2013 film that my father would have loved had he been alive at the time. Brian Helgeland’s biography of the legendary ballplayer is the best blend of fact and fiction possible. It doesn’t rub your face in the ugliness of what Robinson went through, but it shows enough in certain scenes to more than convince the audience of the fact that Robinson’s journey was far from a picnic. This picture is reinforced by Boseman’s wonderful portrayal of Jackie. He sells it so well that we don’t need to see every single scene of ugliness to understand that Robinson went through hell to achieve his goal. Boseman also has wonderful chemistry with Harrison Ford whose Branch Rickey is one of the veteran stars finest performances. It’s a wonderful film I’ll be revisiting sooner rather than later in light of current circumstances.

Also check out Tate Taylor’s “Get On Up,” and uplifting if not somewhat flawed biography of James Brown. Boseman absolutely nails the role of the Godfather Of Soul, hitting the impression but taking us deeper into the psyche of the troubled but talented trailblazing performer. His work is truly a thing of beauty.

And finally check out his last film, “Da 5 Bloods” Spike Lee’s excellent war film in which Boseman plays Stormin Norman, the leader of the Bloods during the Vietnam War. His four charges during the war (led by the fantastic Delroy Lindo) decide to retrieve his body decades after the war has ended along with searching for some lost CIA gold. Boseman is only seen in extensive flashback sequences, but his integrity and bravery shine through, making Stormin Norman believable as a man his fellow soldiers would go back for no matter how much time has passed.

My deepest condolences go out to Chadwick Boseman’s family, friends, and colleagues. This one hurts like hell, folks. He will be missed!

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