"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." - Clark Gable, Gone With The Wind.
Six years ago the American Films Institute aired a three-hour special unveiling the top 100 movie quotes of the past 100 years. I mention this to show precedence for what I'm about to attempt. It'll take longer than three-hours and it won't end with anything even close to Gone With The Wind, but the thought process is similar.
Where did the time go? We are already two days removed from February and my tribute to Black History Month is still stuck on #17. As with most things, life just kind of got in the way. My apologies. For those of you that are really pining to see the rest of the list, then the following will hopefully be satisfying. Here we go, with an abbreviated look at my top 17 Black Actor/Actress Performances.
#17 - Cuba Gooding Jr. as "Radio" in "Radio" - Didn't go full retard and after you get a look at the real Radio at the end of the movie, you realize how well of a job Cuba did in his portrayal.
#16 - Will Smith as "Chris Garnder" in "The Pursuit of Happyness" - This earned him an Academy Award nomination (his 2nd), and cemented him as one of the top actors of our generation.
#15 - Jamie Foxx as "Ray Charles" in "Ray" - Since we all know Ray Charles you can imagine the difficulties it would present to an actor. However, Foxx was excellent and picked up an Oscar for Best Leading Role in 2005.
#14 - Ray Allen as "Jesus Shuttlesworth" in "He Got Game" - This was a personal selection because Allen wasn't spectacular and this movie didn't receive any accolades. But I loved Ray Allen at UCONN, so I'm putting him on my list.
#13 - Michael Jordan as "Himself" in "Space Jam" - My favorite athlete of all-time stars in a movie, you better believe it's going to be on this list. Actually thought Jordan did a decent job, especially when you consider he was acting mainly in front of a green screen.
#12 - Cuba Gooding Jr. as "Frank Sachs" in "As Good As It Gets" - It's a top-ten movie (maybe even top-five) for yours truly, and Cuba was hilarious in his limited time on screen.
#11 - DeWayne Warren as "G-Baby" in "Hardball" - I always try to include Matt Barnes in these lists somehow, and this year this was the best I could do. He loves Hardball and G-Baby is the most memorable character in the film, so here we are.
#10 - Will Smith as "Bagger Vance" in "The Legend of Bagger Vance" - 2nd appearance for Will Smith as he tries to repeat from his 2009 BHM crown. Golf, Will Smith, and Matt Damon add up to a great movie
#9 - Whoopi Goldberg as "Sister Mary Clarence" in "Sister Act/Sister Act II" - 2nd female, and the first to ever crack the top-ten in my BHM lists. She is funny, smart, witty, and perfect for these films.
#8 - Doug E. Doug as "Sanka Coffie" in "Cool Runnings" - Favorite movie of all-time, it's a shame I didn't get around to dedicating an entire post to Sanka. (Head to the 3:30 mark for some great Sanka moments)
#7 - Eddie Murphy as "Prince Akeem" in "Coming To America" - One of those great 80's comedies that will never not be funny. Too bad Eddie got further away from these movies and more towards the Daddy Day Care variety.
#6 - Robert Downey Jr. as "Kirk Lazarus" in "Tropic Thunder" - He was absolutely hilarious in this film, and he deserved the Academy Award nomination he received. Yeah I know he's not actually black, but he played a black dude.
#5 - Cuba Gooding Jr. as "Rod Tidwell" in "Jerry Maguire" - Three appearances for Cuba, but this one is by far his best. He won the 1997 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, which ultimately led to lots of people showing him the money.
#4 - Denzel Washington as "Coach Herman Boone" in "Remember The Titans" - Denzel did not get nominated for any major awards with this performance, but it's one of my personal favorites. I loved the movie, and thought Denzel was an excellent high school football coach.
#3 - Will Smith as "Muhammad Ali" in "Ali" - My favorite Will Smith performance, as he does an absolute amazing job portraying the greatest heavyweight champion of all-time. He lost out on the Oscar for Best Actor, but as you will soon find out, he lost to another epic performance.
#2 - Denzel Washington as "Det. Alonzo Harris" in "Training Day" - Will Smith lost out on that Oscar to this performance by Denzel. It's the perfect role for Denzel and he knocked it out of the park.
It was very difficult putting these final three in order, but at the end of the day, I had to give the nod to ...
#1 - Morgan Freeman as "Red" in "The Shawshank Redemption" - It's my 2nd favorite movie of all-time and boasts the best Black Performance I've ever seen. He lost out on the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, but like that entire Academy Awards, something tells me if they re-voted right now, Freeman would walk away the winner. As for now, he stands tall as the champion of this very prestigious list.
2011 Black History Month: #18 Black Actor Performance
Denzel Washington as "Joe Miller" in "Philadelphia"
Tighten up your belt, double-tie your shoe-laces, and get your game-face on. We are getting serious from here on out. These next 18 performances are legit and you could probably make a case for any of these next eight to be in the top-ten, but there are only so many spots available. Here we go folks.
Denzel Washington is not only one of my favorite actors in the business, but he is also widely considered to be the one of the best as well. However, the typical Denzel role has him starring in a high-action, gun-wielding, powerful-yelling movie. Look at Training Day, American Gangster, John Q, Out Of Time, etc. Not taking anything away from Denzel, but these can all be considered the same role. This is not the case in Philadelphia.
Denzel plays a lawyer named Joe Miller who decides to take on Tom Hanks lawsuit. Hanks is suing his former law-firm because he believes they fired him once they found out he had AIDS. Hanks does a marvelous job in this film and he very much deserved the Oscar he won for Best Actor. During Hanks' acceptance speech he mentions Denzel and goes on to say, "by taking this role, he [Denzel] put his film integrity at risk." Couldn't agree more.
Joe Miller is a homophobe who doesn't understand the AIDS virus except that it is attached to homosexuals. He is very short-minded, short-sighted, and ignorant at the beginning of the film. But as the movie progresses, so does Miller's attitude. He begins to understand the disease and he sees Hanks' character more as a person than just as a homosexual. The beauty of it is there is not a single scene where everything dawns on Denzel, instead, it is something that slowly develops as the movie goes on. It's a remarkable sight.
As for me, I could relate to Joe Miller. The first time I watched Philadelphia I can honestly say that I did not know too much about the AIDS virus. I had no idea what it meant and how one contracted it. Philadelphia was an eye-opening film and one that everyone needs to watch.
Memorable Quotes
"Some of these people make me sick. But a law's been broken here. You do remember the law, don't you?" - Joe Miller
"We're standing here in Philadelphia, the, uh, city of brotherly love, the birthplace of freedom, where the, uh, founding fathers authored the Declaration of Independence, and I don't recall that glorious document saying anything about all straight men are created equal. I believe it says all men are created equal." - Joe Miller
"It's that every now and again - not often, but occasionally - you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens." - Andrew Beckett
Hint for #17: This actor played the son of a someone already mentioned in a movie previously on this list. He gets the nod here because just as Tropic Thunder pointed out, he didn't go "full retard."
2011 Black History Month: #19 Black Actor Performance
Samuel L. Jackson as "Jules Winnfield" in "Pulp Fiction"
It's an oddity to say that the first two rated-R movies I ever watched were both at my grandparent's house, but it's true. The Fugitive was first, followed quickly by Pulp Fiction. My aunt (who shall remain nameless) watched both movies with me at Grandma's house told me to tell my parents that I watched something PG, like The Lion King. Who knew that more than 15 years later I would be chronicling that conversation in a list dedicated to black history month.
I've only watched Pulp Fiction twice, but after the first time I can remember thinking how cool Samuel L. Jackson's hair/facial hair looked. It was the #1 thing I took away. Obviously watching Pulp Fiction as a ten-year-old and then again as an 18-year-old will provoke different reactions, but the constant thought was centered around Samuel L. Jackson, and how great he was in this performance.
Jackson plays hitman Jules Winnfield in this Tarantino classic. His partner is John Travolta, and the two have incredible chemistry. But, Winnfield is more than your stereotypical mobster. He is thoughtful, deep and also burdened by his job. After suffering a near-death experience, he decides to change his ways for good.
We all think of Samuel L. Jackson as the loud dude who screams a ton and gets in people face's all the time. Well, Jackson does that here, but he shows a broader range than he usually gets the chance to showcase in the majority of his roles. There should be no surprise that this performance was his only Oscar nomination, because it appears to be the only time he is asked to be a complex character in my short memory.
Pulp Fiction revitalized John Travolta's career, propelled Quinton Tarantino to new heights and landed Samuel L. Jackson his only Oscar bid. Not too bad for a movie that scared the living crap out of me when I watched it as a little ten-year-old at Grandmas.
Memorable Quotes
"Hamburgers! The cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast. What kind of hamburgers?" - Jules Winnfield
"Whether or not what we experienced was an According to Hoyle miracle is insignificant. What is significant is that I felt the touch of God. God got involved." - Jules Winnfield
"Oh, I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?" - Jules Winnfield
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know My name is the Lord when I lay My vengeance upon thee." - Jules Winnfield
"Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with cheese in France?" - Jules Winnfield
"You know, walk the earth, meet people... get into adventures. Like Caine from 'Kung Fu.'" - Jules Winnfield
Hint for #18: This movie is named after a U.S. city that I have never been to, even though the state it resides in borders Ohio.
2011 Black History Month: #20 Black Actor Performance
James Earl Jones as "Darth Vader" in "Star Wars"
"Luke, I am your father."
Young and old. Rich and poor. Black and white. Fat and thin. Every kind of person that is out there has uttered that phrase to me. Growing up it immediately confused me, but once I understood the origins, it started to annoy me. Eventually I learned to embrace it. Now here I am glorifying it. Life is strange.
As you have probably gathered by now, the black/white relationship plays a huge part in these Black History Month lists. And to be honest, I'm not sure there is a bigger black/white dynamic than the one found in Star Wars. There is the whole dark side. Darth Vader is always in black, while Luke Skywalker is normally in white. Add in James Earl Jones' voice for a character who is white, and my head is ready to explode, as I'm sure Barnes' is too.
Honestly though, it would be difficult to tell the story of great black actors without including a chapter for James Earl Jones. He was nominated for a 1970 Best Actor Oscar for his performance in The Great White Hope (another black/white reference!), and it takes three days to scroll through his resume on IMDB. He was solid in A Field of Dreams and I enjoyed his Coming To America work as well. But it is, and always will be, his voice that resonates with most of us.
It's deep, powerful, and grabs your attention. It was the perfect voice for Darth Vader and is a big reason he is considered one of the best villains of all-time. When you think of Darth Vader, the first thing you think of is his voice. Also, I would be remiss to not mention The Lion King somewhere on this list as well. And wouldn't you know, Earl Jones is the voice of Mufasa, which I know will make Matt Barnes smile that big wide smile we all know and love.
So James Earl Jones gets on here for two reasons ... one he is a black actor, and two, his voice was for the blackest of all villains, Darth Vader. This is what I do. You're welcome.
Memorable Quotes
"Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well. You have controlled your fear. Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me." - Darth Vader
"The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet." - Darth Vader
"I've been waiting for you, Obi-wan. We meet again at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the master." - Darth Vader
"The force is strong with this one." - Darth Vader
Hint for #19: He's loud and is all about hamburgers. Big hint ... you always include his middle initial when you talk about him.
2011 Black History Month: #21 Black Actor Performance
Don Cheadle as "Det. Graham Waters" in "Crash"
When I was a sophomore in high-school, I was in a Creative Writing class. We wrote several papers throughout the year but had to write a longer/chapter story for our final. I thought it would be cool if I took every story that I wrote throughout the school-year for that class and find a way to connect them for my final paper. I pulled it off, my teacher ate it up, and I landed an A. I was proud of that story because I was (and still am) in love with a story that involves a large cast of characters all brought together.
It's why LOST is one of my favorite TV shows, and Love, Actually is one of my favorite movies. Crash fits this description nicely.
"I think we miss that touch so much that we crash into each other just so we can feel something." - Det. Graham Waters
Crash, which surprisingly won the 2004 Oscar for Best Picture is a story about race, family, crime, etc. It introduces us to a wide variety of characters and beautifully intertwines them throughout the film. It is one of those movies that everyone needs to see because it presents a ton of issues to discuss, but also because it is a beautiful piece of artwork.
Don Cheadle gets the nod here because just as Forrest Whitaker is one of the best actors in the business, so is Cheadle. He was nominated in the 2004 Academy Awards for his performance in Hotel Rwanda (never seen), and has been in several block-buster movies (Boogie Nights, Iron Man series, and The Ocean's Eleven Trilogy just to name a few). I also enjoyed his performance in Reign Over Me, even if the ending leaves a little bit to be desired.
In Crash, Cheadle plays a detective who is battling family issues. He has a sick mother and a criminal for a brother. His mom desperately wants his son to come back, and berates Cheadle for not finding him. Cheadle is terrific in this role, as is the entire cast, which includes Terrence Howard (who just missed making this list).
So in the end, this is a nod for Cheadle's career more than this particular film, but when you consider how good this movie is, it's hard to argue with its' placement.
Unfortunately, there are not any clips chronicling Cheadle's Crash performance, so I will leave you with an interview and the movie trailer. Sorry boys and girls.
"It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something." - Det. Graham Waters
"Well, f**k you very much. But thanks for thinking of me." - Det. Graham Waters
"Well then I guess the big mystery is, who gathered all those remarkably different cultures together and taught them all how to park their cars on their lawns?" - Det. Graham Waters
"And the right message is look at this Black Boy I bought?" - Det. Graham Waters
Hint for #20: His voice is unmistakable, and you never see his face throughout the entire movie.
2011 Black History Month: #22 Black Actor Performance
Leon as "Derice Bannock" in "Cool Runnings"
Six words and six words only landed Leon on this list.
"We have to finish the race."
This is far from my first list, as I've ranked almost everything and anything in years' past, some you have read right here on this blog. But in all my time spent as a list-maker, I've never had more difficulty putting a list together than I have with this one. Honestly, I'm not sure the exact reason for that conundrum, but it's been a very difficult process finalizing, and re-finalizing this current list.
See, I thought I had to choose between Derice and Sanka. I thought could only put one of them on my countdown. However I thought back to the climatic scene of Cool Runnings and decided I had to put Leon in. Those six words still give me chills to this very-day, even though I've watched that scene probably 200 times.
Yes, Cool Runnings is my favorite movie of all-time. I can't quote the exact date and time that became a fact, but I've spent the better part of my life watching films ultimately fall short of Cool Runnings in my mind. Some have come closer than others, but Cool Runnings is still my #1, so it should come as no surprise that I'm going to end up putting both Sanka and Derice on my list.
Derice is a track-star sprinter who doesn't know the meaning of "stop." He tragically lost on his bid to gain entry to the Summer Olympics, but didn't let that stop him. He decided to try for the Winter Olympics by creating the first Jamaican Bobsled team. The rest is history.
Derice didn't have all the punch-lines, but instead, he added the dramatic flavor to Cool Runnings. He is the driver, the leader, and the soul of his team. He also has to battle several issues including rumors about his coach and a love-fest with the Swiss team. But like all great leaders, he overcomes. Derice deserves to be here.
Leon has gone onto a very solid career, as he starred in the hit TV show Oz, as well as in the TV movie The Temptations. But it is his performance of Derice Bannock that I will always remember first and foremost whenever anyone brings up his name. And besides, he first spoke the four words that became my life-motto ... "Peace Be The Journey." Enough said.
Memorable Quotes
"'Cool Runnings' means 'Peace Be The Journey.'" - Derice Bannock
"No mon, I'm not dead. We have to finish the race." - Derice Bannock
"Who's the big hot bag of air, who doesn't have to comb his hair? Who doesn't bathe and doesn't care, Sanka, Sanka, yay, Sanka!" - Derice Bannock
"Well, it's kind of a winter sport, you know." - Derice Bannock
Hint for #21: This actor has an impressive resume, but has only one Academy Award nomination. He appeared on an episode of Fresh Prince towards the beginning of his career, and recently was in a comic/blockbuster film. He gets the nod here for his portrayal of a cop facing tough decisions. Good luck.
2011 Black History Month: #23 Black Actor Performance
Danny Glover as "Roger Murtaugh" in "Lethal Weapon 4"
Taking a quick glance at my list there may be only one black/white relationship left that is better than the one between Murtaugh and Riggs from Lethal Weapon. They were together on four crazy journeys that lasted more than a decade from 1987 to 1998. However for yours truly, I only watched their final chapter together as I missed the first three Lethal Weapon movies.
Glover plays the role of "good cop" to Mel Gibson's "bad cop," and there is no questioning they certainly have a solid chemistry together. While Glover was reluctant to be Gibson's partner back in Lethal Weapon 1, by Lethal Weapon 4 they have become best friends. They play off each other perfectly, and are such a good team it almost appears that they are one entity. Glover plays it safe, Gibson is a loose cannon. Glover is a family man, Gibson is proud to be single. Glover thinks things through, Gibson goes with his gut. They couldn't be more different, but they create a dynamic duo in the police-force.
Danny Glover has never been nominated for an Academy Award, but he does have four Prime-time Emmy nominations under his belt. I've only seen two of his films since Lethal Weapon 4, and they were Be Kind Rewind and Saw, which is a shame because Glover is a good actor acting in bad movies. Lest us forget Operation Dumbo Drop and Angels in the Outfield (Joseph Gordon-Levitt sighting!). But when all is said and done on Glover's career, it will be his role as Roger Murtaugh that will be his most memorable.
Lethal Weapon 4 is one of those under-rated movies that I always enjoy watching when it is on TV, although with Joe Pesci and Chris Rock around, one could argue it's a better experience when viewed off cable. It has plenty of humor, lots of action, and a semi-decent plot all rolled into two hours.
And besides, I really wanted to include this film so I could reference It's Always Sunny "blackface" from "Lethal Weapon 5." That's a win-win.
Memorable Quotes
"Since I met Riggs, I've had my house destroyed, my car wrecked, and now my BOAT SUNK. What's left?" - Roger Murtaugh
"I'm too old for this shit." - Roger Murtaugh
Hint for #22: This is the only film that has two DIFFERENT actors on the list. This actor goes by one name, and was a scholarship basketball player at Loyola Marymount. Mad props to anyone who gets this.
2011 Black History Month: #24 Black Actor Performance
Forest Whitaker as "Burnham" in "Panic Room"
Apologies for missing the last couple of days boys and girls. Yours truly spent the weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ... more to come on that in a couple of days. Moving onwards and upwards, here comes the latest installment in the 2011 Black History Month list.
You may want think back to my introductory post to locate the reason why Forest Whitaker is mentioned for this role as Burnham in Panic Room. At first glance the inclusion of this performance might not make much sense, but after reading the criteria I set forth, it certainly fits. Forest Whitaker is an outstanding actor, has won an Academy Award for Best Actor, and is one of the best at his craft regardless of color. Having said that, I really haven't watched too many of his movies ... shame on me I know. So, when I put this list together I felt a need to include Whitaker and since I enjoyed Panic Room, here we are.
When Panic Room's trailer was being shown I was pretty excited. It looked like a suspenseful thriller with a decent cast and had me convinced it was going to be a great movie. After leaving the movie theater I was a little disappointed. I was expecting a great film and was handed a decent one instead. My favorite scene of the entire movie might actually be the long shot inside the house because I always wondered how they could actually film that.
Burnham is the stereotypical criminal with a conscience. The plot of the film surrounds a group of guys breaking into a supposedly empty house to steal a large sum of money hidden in a safe room. The bad guys surprisingly find that the house is occupied, and the madness commences from there. Burnham is a security expert, who actually had a hand in designing the panic room where Jodie Foster and her daughter relocate. One things leads to another, but Burnham stays constant as the guy who doesn't want to hurt anyone, just wants to get the money and go. Burnham is supposed to be well-liked, and Whitaker does a solid job of keeping it that way throughout the film.
My good friend Devin Frank assured me if I had seen The Last King of Scotland, then Whitaker would have cracked the list for that Oscar-gaining performance, but alas, I did not see it before my self-imposed deadline. It should be noted that Whitaker's Panic Room portrayal of Burnham was nominated for a Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor. Whitaker and Denzel Washington both lost out that year (2003) to Dennis Haysbert. Go figure.
Memorable Quotes
"I spent the last 12 years of my life building rooms like this specifically to keep out people like us." - Burnham
"This is what I do; if some idiot with a sledgehammer could break in do you really think I'd still have a job?" - Burnham
"Hey I told you, I don't hurt people." - Burnham
Hint for #23: This actor played the same role not once, not twice, not even three times, but on four different occasions, along with the same white guy.
2011 Black History Month: #25 Black Actor Performance
Lauryn Hill as "Rita Louise Watson" in "Sister Act II"
It only took three years, but we finally have a female represented on my Black History Month list. Who would have guessed it would be Lauryn Hill? Well, twenty years from now when Jeopardy puts up the answer, "This is the first female to appear on the King of Arguments BHM list," you all will know the question.
List-making is a process that I've developed over the years. Once a topic has been established a series of steps follows to ensure a proper list is in order. 1) Brainstorm: come up with as many potential candidates as you can, without research. 2) Research. 3) Make your first cuts, but don't bother putting them in order. 4) Put them in order. 5) Do last minute research to make sure you didn't forget anything. 6) Finalize order a second time.
Lauryn Hill entered this list thanks to #5 ... and Matt Barnes. I knew Barnes wanted a female on this list, and so did I. It bothered me I didn't have any female black TV characters, and to a certain extent that I didn't have any female black sporting moments. Therefore I tried to make a conscious effort to include at least one female on this list. But in keeping with the integrity of this BHM list, I didn't want to force it. (That's what she said)
I'm not forcing Lauryn Hill on this list by any means. I'm always trying to think outside the box when I create a list, and I don't think too many of you would have put Hill anywhere near this list. That being said, I fell in love with Lauryn when I first saw her on Sister Act II as Rita Louise Watson, and that memory will stay with me forever.
I was eight years old when Sister Act II came out and I can distinctly remember walking out of the movie theater with a huge crush on Lauryn Hill. She was gorgeous in that girl next door kind of way. She didn't need to wear a bunch of makeup, or wear sexy outfits to get guys' attention. She was naturally beautiful and had the voice of an angel. To this day, I don't think I've heard such a sweet voice. Sister Act II was her coming out party, and I was head-over-heels for her.
Lauryn is more well-known for her time spent with the Fugees, and their song "Killing Me Softly" vaulted Hill into the mainstream. Her 1998 debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill picked up five Grammys, including Album of the Year. Ever since she has stayed away from the spotlight, although there are rumors she is planning on a follow-up album, 13 years after her award winning debut.
As for her acting, she really didn't have to be too far out of her element, which helped tremendously. She played Rita Watson, an inner-city high-school student who had developed an attitude for authority. She also had a struggling relationship with her mother, who wanted Rita to pursue a safe career, while all Rita wanted to do was sing. Now Hill wasn't (and didn't) going to win any awards for her portrayal of Rita Watson, but her performance was memorable and again, it's my list.
Memorable Quotes
"We'll just call you Rita, Diva with a 'Tude." - Sister Mary Clarence
"Dear Mama, I went to the all-state music competition. I never meant to hurt you but I had to follow my heart. Please forgive me. I love you, Rita." - Florence Watson [reading Rita's letter]
"If you wake up in the morning, and you can't think of anything but singing, then you should be a singer, girl." - Sister Mary Clarence
Hint for #24: This actor has won an Academy Award for Best Actor, but that's not the role remembered here ... rather, it's for his work as a criminal in this early 2000s dramatic film.
