A Soldier's Story
It's been forty years since <PERSON> take on the 1981 Pulitzer Prize winning play written by <PERSON> opened. He would also receive an Oscar nod for his screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Picture. <PERSON>, who also starred in the play, gives a well-deserved Oscar nominated performance as a Black Sergeant, who is severely damaged by self-hatred. He takes it out on the Black soldiers he commands. I had only seen him in 1985's "The Color Purple" as <PERSON>'s father. He's truly incredible here and is a standout in a film filled with great actors like <PERSON> (the lead), <PERSON>, <PERSON>. <PERSON> and <PERSON> (his first collaboration with <PERSON>).
<PERSON> plays Captain <PERSON>, who is sent from Washington DC to investigate a murder that appears to be racially motivated. It's a compelling mystery that shows what leads to the murder and the crime itself in flashbacks. It's fairly straightforward in its telling but undeniably powerful given the subject matter and the excellent cast.
<PERSON>'s performance really effected me. 378
I wanted to know more about him. Unfortunately he dies of a heart attack at age 52 just two years after "A Soldier's Story's" release. He was more of a stage actor than a film one. The most random bit of trivia is that he's the voice of the narrator in the Dawn of the Dead trailer. He's got a very distinctive voice. <PERSON> should also be celebrated for his commanding presence. It's almost like he's an extension of <PERSON> Mr <PERSON> from <PERSON>'s "In the Heat of the Night". Not so much his personality but the fact that neither man takes any crap from white people.
*<PERSON> unfortunately passed away due to complications of AIDS at the age of 46. He was most well-known for the TV series version of "In the Heat of the Night". Although his breakout was in 1982's "Ragtime", in which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. 378