Boseman brought history to life with roles portraying iconic African Americans. He had the talent and drive that took him from the halls of Howard University in Washington, D.C., and the British American Drama Academy in Oxford to movie screens around the world.
He portrayed heroes like Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall. He was a powerful actor with a cinematic legacy that will last for years to come.
Black Panther (2018)
After his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, Boseman became the face of Marvel’s Black Panther franchise with the standalone film released in 2018. Directed by Ryan Coogler, it follows prince T’Challa’s (Boseman) challenging ascension to Wakanda’s throne following his father’s death. The gomovies film stars an all-Black ensemble with supporting turns from Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluya, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira.
Featuring stunning art direction, fascinating royal intrigue, memorable action sequences and surprising depth, it’s unlike any superhero movie ever made. It also serves as a potent political statement, resonating in our current political climate thanks to its depiction of Wakanda as a technologically advanced African nation that chooses not to share its natural resources or its culture with the outside world.
Prior to his MCU breakthrough, Boseman showcased his acting chops in the 2016 period drama Gods of Egypt alongside Gerard Butler, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Rufus Sewell. He also had choice roles as baseball star Jackie Robinson in 42, singer James Brown in Get on Up and Justice Thurgood Marshall in the film Marshall.
42 (2013)
Boseman’s breakout role came in 42, a drama that chronicles the life of baseball legend Jackie Robinson and the historic breaking of the color barrier in major league baseball. Though the film dodges many of the more obvious and predictable biopic cliches, it also teeters on sentimentality. Harrison Ford is over the top as Dodgers owner Branch Rickey, but he captures the man’s business savvy (a black player means more black fans) and Christian principles.
As for Robinson, Boseman gives a solid performance as the first black ballplayer, capturing his contained and cautious persona. Nicole Beharie is equally good as his loving wife Rachel.
Boseman continued to play iconic figures in films like the civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall in Marshall, and Marvel superhero T’Challa/Black Panther in Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster Captain America: Civil War. He also starred in 2016’s Gods of Egypt alongside Gerard Butler, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Rufus Sewell. He also had a recurring role on the TV series Lincoln Heights and acted in a handful of other films and television shows, including Third Watch, Law & Order: SVU, and ER.
Draft Day (2014)
Draft Day wants to be football’s Moneyball, but it lacks the witty dialogue and sharp energy of that film. Despite Ivan Reitman’s best efforts, the story becomes a predictable sports-world melodrama that never surprises. Still, Costner elevates the material with his earnest performance as GM Sonny Weaver. His character has a lot of complexities and Boseman is able to capture the man’s emotions without overdoing it.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag, with Denis Leary and Frank Langella giving good performances in their thankless roles. But they can’t make up for the flat script that’s filled with cliches.
The film focuses on the Cleveland Browns, but they could have been any NFL team in this film. The team’s ill-fated attempts at winning a championship are portrayed as a metaphor for the city’s failure to rise up and meet its potential. However, the movie also makes clear that winning a title takes more than talent and skill; it requires the courage to take risks and live into your intuition. Ultimately, the film is about overcoming limits.
Get On Up (2014)
After gaining notice for his performance as Jackie Robinson in 42, Chadwick Boseman continued to pursue a diverse range of projects. He appeared in movies like The Express, The Kill Hole and Draft Day before landing the role of James Brown in Get On Up.
This biopic directed by Tate Taylor hopscotches over the life of the funk-soul legend. While it presents intermittent revelations, it also feels repetitive and sanitised. As a result, the film never quite gets to the heart of the man.
Nevertheless, the film does showcase a remarkable performance from Chadwick Boseman. He captures Brown’s vocal mannerisms and liquid dance moves with uncanny skill. His portrayal of the prickly entertainer is also captivating.
The film also features outstanding performances from Octavia Spencer, Dan Aykroyd and Nelsan Ellis. While it may not capture the full extent of the mania that was James Brown, it is still a riveting and entertaining picture.
Marshall (2017)
Boseman, who has been portraying heroes both real (Jackie Robinson in 42 and Black Panther in the Marvel franchise) and imaginary (as James Brown in Get On Up), delivers an exemplary performance here, offsetting Marshall’s mythic stature as the first African American Supreme Court justice with those qualities that made him human, including a well-earned yet case-endangering ego and a dedication to his work that was tough on his marriage. He’s joined by a talented supporting cast that includes Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens and Sterling K. Brown.
While the film focuses on one of Marshall’s early cases, it paints a picture of an unflinching man who was willing to take on a litany of lost causes in pursuit of true racial equality. He drinks from “whites only” water fountains, he stares down bigots and he sacrifices his personal life for the sake of justice.
Unlike other biopics, the movie is not sentimental and doesn’t sugarcoat his accomplishments. It also avoids getting mired in details that aren’t relevant to the story it’s telling.