ReelBob: ‘Black Panther’ ★★★★

By Bob Bloom

“Black Panther” is more than your typical superhero movie.
Yes, it features the prerequisite sequences of combat, explosions and special effects, but it also features textures and complexities usually not found in the genre.

In most other movies, the delineation between right and wrong, good and bad, is clearly defined.

Not so in “Black Panther.” A villain does exist, but his goals are righteous in his mind. It’s his methods that go awry.

Underlying “Black Panther” is a question of tradition vs. progress, of responsibility to one’s people vs. serving the good of all mankind.

Representing tradition is T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the newly crowned king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, the Black Panther, who picks up the mantle of his fallen father after the events in “Captain America: Civil War.”

Michael B. Jordan as Erik “Killmonger” Stevens is the angry face of progress.

Killmonger, a former black ops soldier has Wakandan roots. He seeks to use the nation’s secretive advanced technology to aid the oppressed in the world, not to better themselves but to provide them weapons to overthrow their oppressors.

As a Marvel villain, Killmonger is more akin to Michael Keaton’s Vulture from “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Vulture, like Killmonger, originally was a decent man who was twisted after events that nearly ruined his life.

Vulture crossed the line to support his family. Killmonger believes his motives are justified, and that it’s his duty to help those held down by any means necessary.

In today’s political climate, you can almost applaud Killmonger’s actions, even if you don’t agree with them.

Director Ryan Coogler (“Fruitville Station,” “Creed”), who co-wrote the script with Joe Robert Cole, does a superb job of balancing the expected action with a subtext of geopolitics, female empowerment and Western arrogance.

Wakanda hides its technological superiority behind a façade of Third World poverty, allowing the rest of the world to look down upon the nation as just another backwards African country.

Wakanda has been concealing its true power for centuries, fearful of incursions from the outside world — especially Western powers — who would covet and want to exploit the nation’s resources.

For centuries, Wakanda has succeeded too well in its masquerade, as the outside world does underestimate the nation.

“Black Panther” serves as a showcase for women characters. T’Challa is constantly surrounded by strong females — most notably, Shuri (Letitia Wright), his younger sister, who has invented and upgraded the vast majority of Wakanda’s high-tech wonders; Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), a master spy and T’Challa’s former flame; General Okoye (Danai Gurira), the fierce leader of the Dora Milaje, the nation’s all-female special forces; and Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), T’Challa’s no-nonsense, wise and loving mother.

These elements elevate “Black Panther,” making it one of the best features to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The performances all are solid, with Boseman a strong, but cautious leader who, nevertheless, has some doubts about this leadership capabilities.

Boseman’s career is on the rise. Over the past few years, he has portrayed a variety of black icons — Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall and, now, Black Panther.

I pray that Boseman is not pigeonholed as the go-to actor for similar roles. He is a very talented young man, and I would enjoy seeing him expand his resume, perhaps appearing in a comedy, drama or thriller.

Jordan steals the movie with his swagger and attitude, as the American-raised, angry black man whose experiences in the real world outside of Wakanda has transformed him into a fierce and bitter person who sees injustice and wants to fight it, even if it costs millions of lives.

Coogler has created an action movie that is spectacle and personal; timely and timeless. His sure-handed confidence has added new depth to the MCU that other movies in the franchise will have a difficult job matching.

“Black Panther” is thrilling and compelling, a film you will want to see more than once. Like Wakanda, it’s what is under the surface that makes this movie memorable.

I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

BLACK PANTHER
4 stars out of 4
(PG-13), action violence, a rude gesture