• A very strong start to 2018, the continuation of Coogler’s ascension as one of cinema’s future greats, and the best film in the MCU to date
  • The supporting cast is extremely strong for any film- but this genre especially—Bassett and Whitaker, veterans, are good, but it’s the young cast—led by Jordan and Boseman—that feel incredibly special. If you add Kaluuya (not sure I’d go off this alone but you combine this with Sicario and especially Get Out) it feels like this crop of young talent could be the beginning of something truly special. Boseman is up to the challenge of carrying the film and being the film’s steady hand without getting walked on by louder more interesting supporting characters. But it’s Jordan who is the show here- a volcano and one of the best characters/villains in the genre’s recent history
  • There are really 4-6 characters with nuance and arcs
  • Really beautiful establishing shots, miniature work and world-building—even if it isn’t up there with LOTR or Avatar
  • There are nods to James Bond with the sister as “Q”
  • Coogler is the main show here and puts his stamp on the film in many ways. Of course the nod to Oakland is a great personal touch, but there’s a confidence and flair to the film behind the camera that has been sorely lacking in the MCU. He doesn’t break the mold (a la dark knight or mad max: fury road) but his handprint is on several parts of the movie (of course I wish it were more always) from the floating around the basketball game to bookend the film (tracking shots that absolutely glide and Coogler makes look so easy), to the multiple tracking shots entering the throne room, to the upside down tracking shot (that I couldn’t believe was in a marvel movie) of Jordan
  • I’ve compared it to Cuaron’s prisoner of Azkaban but I think it’s stronger. It’s similar in that it’s still contained by the world, but there’s flair in it (coogler’s allowed a little more room I think) that set it apart from the series. I think it’s also very comparable to Nolan’s Batman Begins in many ways
  • Well-earned poignant moments throughout
  • Self-contained and confident in tone—it’s also an intelligent film
  • Unlike nearly every other MCU film there are not real spots where the pacing lags – I wish there were a few more flare-ups of auteurism and muscular, aesthetically-dedicated filmmaking (I”d say it excels within but doesn’t necessarily expand or transcend) but there are no bad patches
  • I could see it being in the top 10 in multiple categories I like to use to evaluate and guide my best films of the year choices

 

viewing 2.0 May 2018

  • I’m 90% there- to me there are still really long stretches where it’s just competent/confident direction. It’s not as free as Creed which is why I think i still give it the slight nod– that’s no insult- Creed is excellent
  • that upside down shot of Jordan walking to the throne is just bananas- blew me away again.
  • the gambling room in South Korea is a highlight with the lighting as mise-en-scene (a la Soderbergh and Fincher)
  • Pops of vibrant colors more in the decor and mise-en-scene more than I remember
  • the M’Baku throne room visual- stunning as well
  • confident calling it a HR- top 10 of the year quality film