By Nick Maylor
Yesterday, Black Panther became the first superhero movie nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture (Drama). Disney and Marvel are pushing hard for a Best Picture Oscar nomination for the film and their chances have just improved significantly.
Black Panther is one of the best films I have seen this year and one of the best superhero movies yet made. Early on this year, I had Black Panther as my top choice not only to be nominated but very likely to win. Other films have surpassed Black Panther and after seeing A Star is Born, it will not get my recommendation for taking the Academy’s top prize. However, I still think it deserves recognition at the awards.
Having seen the movie three times in theatres, there wasn’t much to be surprised at upon viewing it again. Simply put: it’s great.
The bonus features include deleted scenes including a young T’Challa and Nakia playing in Wakanda’s catacombs, a scene with Chadwick Boseman and Forest Whitaker, explaining why T’Chaka passed on the mantle of Black Panther, and a meeting between Everet Ross and T’Challa prior to Wakanda’s revelation to the world where Ross attempts to speak the Wakandan language.
There is also a brilliant scene between Danai Gurira and Daniel Kaluyaa showing the latter’s considerable talent (evident in Widows and Get Out but largely taking a back seat here).
The featurettes discuss Wakanda’s demographics, geopolitics, technology, and the importance of female leadership to the film, including the Dora Milaje, Wakanda’s elite female warriors and King’s guard.
Black Panther doesn’t become less appealing with repeat viewings. It’s almost like a mashup of The Dark Knight, Skyfall, and The Lion King.
Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige says that it is the best film Marvel Studios has yet made.
Ryan Coogler has signed on to direct a sequel and despite the character’s death in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Black Panther/T’Challa will no doubt return.
Although like the other characters who turned to ash during the decimation, T’Challa will likely return for Avengers: Endgame (2019) in some capacity.
Nick is an actor/writer/comedian/musician from Hamilton, ON Canada. Having been a film nut since the early days of his life, Nick has had an obsession with cinema and popular entertainment. Nick has written for thecinemaholic.com and is the current Foote & Friends “expert” on all things geek/superhero/comic-book related. Nick is the host/producer of the official Foote & Friends On Film podcast. Nick met John when studying acting at the Toronto Film School, for which John H. Foote was director and Film History professor. The two have been arguing ever since.
Follow Nick on Twitter @NickMaylor
