A Soldier's Story (1984). An African-American officer investigates a murder in a racially charged situation in World War II.
While it'll never quite stack up when it comes to the In the Heat of the Night comparisons (the two films share a director and thematic throughline after all), this is still an excellent, intelligent thriller grounded in great performances and a sharp script. Denzel Washington's the clear standout (I can't believe this is only his second feature!), but he's bolstered by a great cast all around. Just a really great watch. 8/10.
I like reserving judgment until I actually see the movie, typically, but the full trailer for The American Society of Magical Negroes, was not. . . was. . . wasn't what I thought. . . didn't go the way I thought it would go.
Hmm.
I was expecting something different. . . less, much less, falling for a white woman. More breaking free of the trope for his own journey infinitely less falling in love with a white woman. What I'm saying is, a white woman! This all hinges on him falling for a white woman. Be fucking for real.
But again, it's just the trailer. Maybe the movie is deeper, different, but I don't feel like it will be. I don't know.
Also, he's light skinned, half white. Is he really having the same danger-inducing, uncomfortable, awkward interactions as a darker person. I know he's still having them, but they'd definitely be different in comparison.
Magical negroes tend to be brown-skin. That's how the trope started as an "apology" for the deluge of racist depictions, the blackface, etc.
That trailer reveal was a real, "You had me in the first half, not gonna lie."