A Soldier's Story (1984)
A Soldier's Story (1984)
A Soldier’s Story is one of 1984’s most undervalued films. It was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Picture, but people really do not talk about it. I’d say it is more of a docudrama about racism in the military. Not so much about black versus white as black versus black. It’s a topic that is rarely talked about…anywhere. Many studios were hesitant about the script, which was written by Charles Fuller based on his own play. Columbia bravely allowed the film to be made and it was actually a small moneymaker for the studio. It is a movie that explores the racism between races, and it does a solid job at doing so. The film has some small issues, but this is an incredibly watchable film that provokes some heavy emotion.
The film is directed by Norman Jewison, which does not come as a surprise to me. In 1967, the director made one of the best films depicting racism in the South, In the Heat of the Night. That film packed a heavier punch, but its not like this film is a lightweight. He definitely took his experience from that movie and used it towards making this film. His story mechanisms are faulty at times with a heavy dose of flashbacks, but he directed the film very well. It seemed like a passion project for him. He had to take a steep pay cut from the studio to be even able to direct this picture.
The story took place during World War II. African Americans were segregated from the main army, and many did not see combat. They generally stayed behind at army bases, such as the one in Louisiana. The white residents of the Deep South were not happy about them being around. Perhaps one of them, under the guise of the Ku Klux Klan, could have murdered Sergeant Waters (Adolph Caesar), a black man himself. Captain Davenport (Howard E. Rollins Jr), also a black man, is sent to investigate the case. Speaking to the privates under Water’s command, it seemed like not many of his men liked him. He was a selfish, overly proud man that despised his own race. Perhaps he was murdered by one of his own men?
The performances are solid for the most part. Adolph Caesar was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Sergeant Waters…and deserved it. He played a different kind of black man, one not often seen in movies or on television. His character was proud, ruthless, and a man you do not want to go against. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure about Rollins Jr. His character was not memorable, and it seemed like he was not interested in the solving the case. Maybe his character was overshadowed by the supporting cast. Speaking of which, we get to see babyfaced Denzel Washington! He is one of my favorite all-time actors, so I loved seeing him in an early film role.
Overall, A Soldier’s Story is a good movie about racism within its own race as we see with the character of Sergeant Waters. The way the story is told was quite confusing sometimes-especially with the use of flashbacks. You really need to pay attention to the story if you want to keep up. Even though the plot points it out, it really is not a murder mystery. It is a docudrama about the struggles of a black man in the Army during wartime. It’s not perfect. It’s no Heat of the Night. Does it really have to be?
My Grade: B+
A Soldier’s Story is one of 1984’s most undervalued films. It was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Picture, but people really do not talk about it. I’d say it is more of a docudrama about racism in the military. Not so much about black versus white as black versus black. It’s a topic that is rarely talked about…anywhere. Many studios were hesitant about the script, which was written by Charles Fuller based on his own play. Columbia bravely allowed the film to be made and it was actually a small moneymaker for the studio. It is a movie that explores the racism between races, and it does a solid job at doing so. The film has some small issues, but this is an incredibly watchable film that provokes some heavy emotion.
The film is directed by Norman Jewison, which does not come as a surprise to me. In 1967, the director made one of the best films depicting racism in the South, In the Heat of the Night. That film packed a heavier punch, but its not like this film is a lightweight. He definitely took his experience from that movie and used it towards making this film. His story mechanisms are faulty at times with a heavy dose of flashbacks, but he directed the film very well. It seemed like a passion project for him. He had to take a steep pay cut from the studio to be even able to direct this picture.
The story took place during World War II. African Americans were segregated from the main army, and many did not see combat. They generally stayed behind at army bases, such as the one in Louisiana. The white residents of the Deep South were not happy about them being around. Perhaps one of them, under the guise of the Ku Klux Klan, could have murdered Sergeant Waters (Adolph Caesar), a black man himself. Captain Davenport (Howard E. Rollins Jr), also a black man, is sent to investigate the case. Speaking to the privates under Water’s command, it seemed like not many of his men liked him. He was a selfish, overly proud man that despised his own race. Perhaps he was murdered by one of his own men?
The performances are solid for the most part. Adolph Caesar was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Sergeant Waters…and deserved it. He played a different kind of black man, one not often seen in movies or on television. His character was proud, ruthless, and a man you do not want to go against. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure about Rollins Jr. His character was not memorable, and it seemed like he was not interested in the solving the case. Maybe his character was overshadowed by the supporting cast. Speaking of which, we get to see babyfaced Denzel Washington! He is one of my favorite all-time actors, so I loved seeing him in an early film role.
Overall, A Soldier’s Story is a good movie about racism within its own race as we see with the character of Sergeant Waters. The way the story is told was quite confusing sometimes-especially with the use of flashbacks. You really need to pay attention to the story if you want to keep up. Even though the plot points it out, it really is not a murder mystery. It is a docudrama about the struggles of a black man in the Army during wartime. It’s not perfect. It’s no Heat of the Night. Does it really have to be?
My Grade: B+
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