Warning! Spoilers ahead forBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Marvel Studios’Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverhad to live up to the first movie, round out Phase Four in a satisfying way, and most importantly, honor the legacy of the late, great Chadwick Boseman, and thanks to Ryan Coogler’s sharp, sincere direction, the sequel succeeds on all counts. After the mindless CG spectacle ofMultiverse of MadnessandLove and Thunder, the grounded visuals and location photography ofWakanda Foreverare a breath of fresh air. TheBlack Panthersequel is also a lot more emotionally involving than those earlier MCU efforts. Angela Bassett’s performance as Queen Ramonda is one of the main driving forces behind those emotions. Though her death at the turn of the final act is undoubtedly tragic, what leads up to it is a Marvel performance for the ages.
Back in 2018,Black Panthermade movie history as not only the first entry in the MCU to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but also the first ever superhero film to receive the honor. The movie was nominated for seven Oscars and brought home three awards:Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson, Best Costume Design for Ruth E. Carter, and Best Production Design for production designer Hannah Beachler and set decorator Jay Hart. Based on its widespread acclaim from both the most dedicated of Marvel fans and the most snobbish of film critics,Wakanda Forevercould replicateits predecessor’s Oscar success.
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The firstBlack Pantherfilm is a pitch-perfect “hero’s journey” narrative.Wakanda Forevermay be slightly less focused than the first one, but it’s just as gripping and emotionally engaging. Like the original, the sequel finds the perfect intersection between popcorn entertainment and heavy thematic exploration. It’s a touching tribute to the legacies of both T’Challa andthe actor who brought him to the screenand a worthy follow-up to the original movie. WhetherWakanda Foreverwill repeat the first one’s Oscar glory remains to be seen, but it’s certainly a strong enough movie to warrant plenty of awards recognition. Göransson deserves another nod for Best Original Score, while cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw managed to create otherworldly visuals in-camera without cramming CGI into every single frame – and when there are VFX shots, they have a plausible camera perspective that adds a layer of believability.
From franchise staples like Letitia Wright as Shuri and Danai Gurira as Okoye to scene-stealing newcomers likeTenoch Huerta as Namorand Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, the cast ofWakanda Foreveris full of great performers doing their best work. But there’s one actor that stands out above the rest: Angela Bassett, giving one of the finest performances of the year as a grieving Queen Ramonda.
Most Marvel actors are relegated to going through the motions of a predictable character arc, delivering quippy one-liners in front of a bluescreen. The ones that stand out, likeRobert Downey, Jr. inAvengers: Endgameor Michael B. Jordan in the firstBlack Pantherfilm, transcend the trappings of the comic book genre with a deeply human portrayal of a three-dimensional character whose emotions and motivations feel real (in spite of the bluescreens and one-liners). In theBlack Panthersequel, Bassett plays a mourning mother, a strong leader, and a vulnerable human being under attack all at once. If any performance fromWakanda Forever– or, indeed, any Marvel movie – deserves an Oscar, it’s this one.
Bassett has been let down by the Academy before. She was nominated for Best Actress in 1993 after giving a universally acclaimed turn as Tina Turner inWhat’s Love Got to Do with It, but shelost to Holly Hunterfor her work inThe Piano. While Hunter undoubtedly gave a fantastic performance, it always felt like Bassett was snubbed. She’s easily one of the greatest actors in the world; a truly legendary screen presence worthy of acting’s highest honor. An Oscar win forWakanda Foreveris a chance for the Academy to recognize not only a great individual performance, but a great overall career.
The Academy loves a good monologue, and Bassett has a few inWakanda Foreverthat she knocks out of the park. From her rousing speech at the United Nations to her furious “Have I not given everything!?” tirade when she strips Okoye of her rank,the Oscars broadcasthas a ton of clips to choose from for the Best Supporting Actress reel. Bassett is a master of emotions. In the opening scene, Ramonda delivers the heartbreaking news that T’Challa is “with the ancestors” with the appropriate gravitas. When she stands up to Namor, Bassett puts on a stern facade over the fear that Ramonda is struggling to hide.
Even after the character’s tragic death, the emotions of Bassett’s performance continue to loom over the rest of the movie. Ramonda appears to Shuri in a vision at a crucial juncture during the final fight to inspire herto show Namor mercy. Bassett steals the show inWakanda Forever, and if any aspect of the film deserves Academy Award recognition, it’s her performance.
