While I haven’t seen all the best actor performances yet (The Mauritanian and The Father are still only in theaters and I need to watch Sound of Metal), Chadwick Boseman seems a shoe-in for the Best Actor Academy Award. His performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was incredible and heartbreaking. I know it’s hard to see him in his final role, but if you can I strongly suggest you watch that movie. Last night at the Golden Globes Chadwick won Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama. His wife, Simone Ledward, accepted on his behalf and everyone was just blown away by how heartfelt and vulnerable her speech was. Just Jared transcribed most of it and here’s part of what she said:
“He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices. He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside of all of us that tells us you can that tells you to keep going that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history.”
After that she thanked so many people and said she didn’t have his words. Watching it again makes me cry. On a purely superficial note I have to say her dress is phenomenal. There was a cute segment last night where little kids were interviewed about the movies. Every kid knew that Chadwick was Black Panther. Thank you Chadwick, for everything you gave us. Your work is a gift.
photos credit: David Lee/Netflix press and via YouTube
Yes, I haven’t watched it because it’s his final role. His death was for me, the worst celebrity death. And one that made me very angry. As if, well, this shouldn’t have happened. I don’t know. But I do want to watch this.
You should Darla. It was tough for me at first, but he was amazing in it. Made me so happy that his last role was his most brilliant
It was difficult to watch at first. But I lost myself in every performance in this movie. Chadwick B. was EXCEPTIONAL…raw…vulnerable. It was his best performance that I have seen and I have seen most of his. Highly recommend it. Viola Davis was amazing in it too.i
I’m glad he won, he was incredible in Ma Rainey and it’s a tragedy that this is his last role. My husband rewatched Black Panther shortly after he passed but I couldn’t bring myself to, it’s just so sad. RIP Chadwick.
It is well deserved! His role in Ma Rainey’s black bottom was heartbreaking. You could tell he poured every inch of himself into it.
Lovely! He was such a talent and will be so missed. I find myself tearing up when I watch any of his films since his death. It is so hard. I cannot imagine the strength of his wife to do the award circuit on his behalf.
I think she might have found solace in the recognition of his talent. I wish we’d had him longer.
Well deserved honor. What a remarkable young man. I miss him. His remarkable strength, grace and talent shines on. Rest in heaven, Chad
She just looks so alone on that couch. It’s a heartbreaking tragedy. Truly, just so sad. I haven’t been able to watch Ma Rainey either. Just too sad.
Touching speech?! It was a cry fest, totally had me ugly crying. Chadwick was so special. Loved how all the little kids knew exactly who he was. Black Panther!
I laugh-cried while reading your comment!
So sad. Just seeing her there alone dressed so beautifully had me crying before she even started speaking.
I cried! We all miss you Chadwick. Simone represented you wonderfully
I feel like he was just getting started giving us one powerful performance after another. We were robbed of a wonderful human being who would’ve had a long and amazing career.
When all the little kids knew who he was right away, I started to cry. Those kiddos know Black Panther is the best. He was such a talent and good man, his loss is huge.
Chadwick’s performance in Ma Rainey’s was nothing short of stellar. We watched Da 5 Bloods around the time he passed and he was just as magnificent. I teared up whenever he appeared on screen. And don’t even get me started about what happens when I hear “All the Stars’ (which is my ringtone) or see Black Panther on TV. I’m always a mess.
I haven’t seen it yet because I just haven’t been able to bring myself to watch yet. But soon… That play by August Wilson (one of his ten-play cycle of stories about African-American life in the 20th century, each set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District except this one in 1920s Chicago) is so incredible, and I recommend everyone to read the actual play. The layers are so deep. I used to teach it in a Black Ritual Performance class and we’d read it every semester. I hope the students out there who read it remember in this moment… I just love everything about this play and that fact that Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman brought it back in this form is just brilliant. RIP
I love, love, loved how they made Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. I love when filmmakers still respect what was originally a play and still give it that feel of a play. And Chadwick got that. That was stage acting on film. Specifically the scenes in the band room. I loved his performance.
It’s still so weird to think he’s not with us anymore.