Jeffrey Wright
Jeffrey
Wright is Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Jeffrey Wright has been a standout actor since most of us first recognized his ability in Shaft, with Samuel L. Jackson. There was talk that he almost took the movie from Samuel L., if that was possible.
He is breaking into film with a great deal of notice. He starred in a film with David Bowie, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, etc., as the young Jean-Michael Basquiat, a painter who was involved with the Andy Warhol crowd and era. He portrayed Basquiat, the film's namesake.
His big break really came with Samuel L. Jackson in Shaft. He played "Peoples Hernandez," a Cuban drug dealer with a lot of attitude. His presence was so powerful in the film that he almost stole it from Samuel L--that's a powerful act!
For Ride With the Devil, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He has a range of styles that is quite diverse, but he is always believable and an engaging actor to watch.
His latest endeavor is in the HBO Black History Month special production of Boycott. Although this movie is a somewhat frustratingly narrow slice of the life of Martin Luther King, it is a relatively satisfactory production with interesting characters--and Jeffrey Wright's is the most interesting. However, Terrence Howard [Best Man] as Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Erik Todd Dellums as Bayard Rustin, and Carmen Ejogo as Coretta King.
Carmen Ejogo is a beautiful, soft new face, but Erik Todd Dellums was arresting as the young Bayard Rustin, the strategist and firebrand.
Jeffery Wright is Martin Luther King--his inflections capture the young minister King in his speech, his manner, and his style generally.
In sum, Wright has
a broad acting range and is a fascinating actor on screen; he will hold
your attention to him, if nothing else. You can be looking for more from
him, but if you have not seen Boycott on HBO, see it--it's
an OK movie with good, new, and interesting actors. []
Gibbs
