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23 out of 23 people found the following review useful: Outstanding murder mystery centered around a different type of racism..., 21 December 2003 Author: johnny3868 from Novato, CA
"A Soldier's Story," directed by Norman Jewison, tells a very powerful and tragic tale of black racism in WWII America. It is equally puzzling and disturbing and will leave you thinking about it for a long time to come.The story takes place at a military base in the American South during the last full year of the Second World War, in 1944. Sergeant Vernon Waters, a Black man, is shot to death. The locals, as well as the Black enlisted men at the base, believe it to be the work of the Ku Klux Klan. Captain Davenport, also a Black man, as well as the first Black officer most of the men at this base have ever seen, is asked to investigate this. The White officers all want to see this matter brought to a swift and tidy conclusion in order to prevent what they see as a potential race riot between the Black soldiers and local Whites around town.Davenport (deftly played by the late Howard E. Rollins Jr.) questions the enlisted men at the base, and begins to learn that the murdered sergeant(Adolph Ceaser in an Oscar-nominated performance) had no shortage of enemies, White and Black.Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that Waters is a man of great personal pride and dignity, a man who believes that the African-American race has great potential to "take it's rightful place in history" alongside the White race in America. But his pride is also fueled by a terrible hatred of Black men, mostly Southern men, who he believes are hurting the race by presenting themselves as lower-class bumpkins; the stereotypical shiftless, lazy, ignorant types; the smiling, singing clowns; the "yassah-boss niggers."One soldier, C.J. Memphis, a simple but charming, illiterate, guitar-strumming man, comes to personify these character traits in Waters' eyes. The clash between those two personalities is a crucial centerpiece to this movie's message.Ceaser is astonishing as Waters, a man so full of loathing and bile towards his own people, you can feel it oozing off the screen. His best moment occurs in a bar where he stares into a mirror and talks in a dark tone about his unit's heroic efforts in France in the First World War, and how one Black soldier destroyed that sterling image in the minds of many White Frenchmen.....and what Waters did in response. It's chilling.An undervalued film that you may have to look a little harder in your local video store to find, but well worth the effort!
15 out of 15 people found the following review useful: A Enthralling film about racism in the military, 5 September 2004 Author: rcj5365 from Durham, North Carolina
Commerating the 20th Anniversary of a brilliant classic!This was one of the most powerful films that came out in 1984. Director Norman Jewison(In The Heat Of The Night)adaptation of the Puliitzer Prize-winning play(by Charles Fuller) and numerous NAACP awards for best achievement in African-American literature,tells about the ramificiations of racism and loyalty through the prism of blacks in the military,revealed through a mystery set in the 1940's deep South. Howard E. Rollins(Ragtime,and from the TV series In The Heat Of The Night)plays a military investigator,Captain Davenport,who is assigned to the murder of a drill instructor,Sergeant Waters,played by Adolph Caesar(The Color Purple),who was in charge of a black platoon during World War II. Under pressure from his superiors to wrap his investigation up quickly,Rollins instead delves deeply into the relationships between the despised drill instructor and his men,uncovering lies and animousity,and confronting the question of what it means to be black in a white man's world. Rollins delivers a riveting,stoic,emotional lead into the role of Captain Davenport while Caesar gives an electrifying performance as the Sergeant. A lot of fresh faces gives brilliant performances throughout the film including one from a youthful Denzel Washington,who makes an early appearance as a soldier with a deep grudge against the drill instructor and a deep mistrust of Rollins' investigator. Look for appearances by Larry Riley, David Alan Grier,Robert Townsend,and Patti LaBelle. A powerfully written story that makes the most of its large and impressive ensemble cast which still is enthralling--some 20th after its release.MPAA Rating: PG-For Language,Racial Overtones and Comment,Violence.
13 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Near Perfect Film-Making. Not Enough Good Things Can Be Said., 6 July 2002 Author: tfrizzell from United States
Canadian director Norman Jewison once took a tour of the U.S. south in the mid-1940s following his high school graduation and was shocked to see the way that black people were treated by white people. Jewison's intense hitch-hiking journey led to a career which includes credits like "In the Heat of the Night" and "The Hurricane". However his best film is probably "A Soldier's Story", an intense character-study that deals with African-American soldiers in Louisiana during World War II. Master Sergeant Adolph Caesar (Oscar-nominated) has been murdered. Enter investigator Howard E. Rollins (also African-American) who tries to figure out the case. What follows are intense flashbacks and the realization that Caesar was despised not only by white people (the primary suspects at the start) but also his own men (all African-American). The mystery twists and turns into chaos and in the end it is not a sure thing if the crime will ever be solved. A really chilling film that is top-notch in all cinematic departments. Robert Townsend, Larry Riley, David Allen Grier and yes the Denzel Washington are the soldiers that make the most lasting impressions in this brilliant piece of the cinema. Without a doubt one of the finest productions of the 1980s. 5 stars out of 5.
13 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Hidden treasure!, 26 June 1999 Author: Mike Rogillio (casmic@gte.net) from Madison, AL
This is one of my all time favorite movies. The thing that I find so amazing is that few people have ever heard of it much less seen it. The acting and story line is excellent. This is one of those great whodunits with a great twist that compels us to examine our stereotypes and presumptions. If you find yourself looking for a great tip at the video store check this movie out. I think you'll enjoy it.
11 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Fascinating mystery with a great script and a fine ensemble cast make this a must-see, 23 November 2001 Author: Robert Reynolds (minniemato@hotmail.com) from Tucson AZ
This is an excellent film, at it's heart a case study in human psychology, but also a mystery and an intriguing one at that. The cast, mostly unknowns at the time, is fantastic and contains many now-familiar faces, most notably Denzel Washington and David Alan Grier. Adolph Caesar was nominated for an Oscar and Howard Rollins, Jr. probably should have been. Another highlight (at least for me) are the songs sung by Larry Riley and Patte LaBelle. This is a gem of a film, one that is most highly recommended.
9 out of 9 people found the following review useful: One of the Best of All Time, 12 June 2000 Author: Bruce Milton (captbruce) from United States
I can't even say this movie is underappreciated and overlooked b/c it did get a nomination for Best Picture...but I'll say it is anyway! :) This movie is not just a great "black" film, it's a great film, period. Howard Rollins shows the great actor he once was (and makes you saddened by how his later career after "Heat of the Night" turned out) and you cannot beat the who's who of the rest of the cast: Robert Townsend, Denzel, Adolph Caesar... I'm glad I found out it's on DVD with commentary by Mr. Jewison cause it deserves the format (although more goodies would've been great). If you haven't seen it, you must. For excellent acting and story it rarely gets better than this one...
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Really really Good, 10 April 2005 Author: deelishous from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Directed by Norman Jewison, A Soldier's Story is a gripping film that tells the story of an African-American captain and lawyer who is sent to the Deep South to investigate the murder of a sergeant. But the film does not just tell the story of the investigation; it also opens up a whole new state of affairs for the audience to see. Jewison shows the hard-core racism that was present during World War II. Racism is the central theme that surrounds the murderous plot.The movie takes place in 1944, on a black army base in Louisiana where the men eagerly wait to be sent to Europe to fight World War II. Captain Davenport is brought in from Washington D.C. to inspect the unexpected murder of Sergeant Waters. Captain Davenport tediously interviews each man who was under Waters' command. All men gives his story and about how their great or not so great encounters with the late Sergeant Waters. The movie constantly flashes back and forth between the past and present as the men tell their stories to Davenport, explicitly introducing the different attitudes and animosities towards Sergeant Waters. All the men that Davenport interviewed had a motive to kill.This film explores a variety of racial behaviors that African-American men had to face at that time. Not only does it show racism from whites to blacks but also from black to blacks. Jewison does not spare the audience's ears as every sort of racial slur is thrown at the men, with the cruelest racist words coming from the black Sergeant Waters. He gives us a scandalous taste of this unsympathetic prejudice and bigotry through-out the entire picture and then at the end, just like that, all the arguments, issues, and chauvinism between all the men on the base is solved. The men finally get to fight in the war, everyone is content, and saluting one another; as if none of the narrow-minded racist name-calling and bias misconceptions never happened. Jewison failed to give this movie a "real" ending.How can Jewison, a white man from Canada ever be able too see that something like this would never happen? How can an entire movie that is built on preconceptions and injustice have an ending with a white man giving a black man a hand up and saluting other white officers without any acknowledgement of the unfair treatment that was handed to him? Jewison did an acceptable job displaying life for a black man in 1944, searching for his own identity in a world of whites who believe they are superior; I just think that representing open racism as "OK" is not OK.However, the acting is superb. Denzel Washington in particular, did an exceptional job, playing Private Peterson, as he resisted Sergeant Waters and refused to be talked down. Even though he couldn't back all his talking and lost in a fist fight against Waters, he did admirably well as he refused to be disparaged by another black man with only a few stripes more than him. Adolph Caesar, who starred as Sergeant Waters, also did a delightful job portraying a hateful man who enjoyed putting black men away who made his race look bad. Although he was malicious and intolerable towards his all black troop, he became a character you'd love to hate. Because of his sharp wit, small stature and roughness, he gave A Soldier's Story a slight sense of mean humor. Moreover, he gives the audience a sense of black on black hate and opens up a new perspective of how blacks had to endure racism with-in their own culture.A Soldier's Story is highly recommendable. It's a type of movie that keeps it's audience captivated through-out the entire view and never gets dull. The film is unpredictable and comical but only to a certain extent. Addressing serious issues, there are times when A Soldier's Story draws the audience in to sympathize with the characters and feel their pain. However, a special appearance from Patti LaBelle will help ease that pain and standing up and shouting is the only option when she blows only like Patti LaBelle can.
8 out of 10 people found the following review useful: A gripping military drama, 12 July 2003 Author: jc1305us from United States
A Soldier's Story, (1984) is the story of an Army sergeant who isfound murdered in cold blood. Whodunnit? The choices are many in this engrossing, complex morality play which is set in thebackdrop of the segregated Army of WWII. (Only 60 years ago!)This is truly a black eye on the military if there ever was one.Several future stars are featured here including Oscar winnerDenzel Washington, David Alan Grier, and the excellent HowardRollins Jr. who stars as an Army Capt. and lawyer sent fromWashington to unravel this mysterious killing. The movie reallybelongs to Adolph Ceasar as the murdered sergeant , however. AWWI veteran and medal winner he constantly affirms the the abilityof the black soldier in a segregated Army as professional, efficientand courageous, but who fails to stand for any "weaknesses" hesees in his men, many of whom are naieve country boys, whoseways he believes are keeping black men subjugated in UncleSam's Army. One chiling scene not to be missed is Ceasar'ssolliliquy in the bar with his staff sergeant, in which he describesan incident in France in WWI. An excellent movie which should beviewed as part of recent US history. Highly recommended.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Intriguing, wonderfully done in every way, 26 November 2002 Author: trpdean from New York, New York
A murder mystery among black soldiers during World War II - in the last years of the segregated military. The plot is completely unpredictable but fascinating. The characters are strongly written, very believable and varied. **** SPOILERS **** Like the best movies, the central motivation for the crime runs away from cliche. In his rage for an idea - that black men be given respect and have dignity - the sergeant doesn't care about individuals and their welfare. Anyone under his command whom he believes retards that respect from being accorded - or who fails to reflect pride and dignity as a black man - must be punished - regardless of their warmth or personality.The fact that rural black southern men seem in the early 1940s to this sergeant to be relatively old-fashioned in their relaxed ways (compared to northern blacks - most of whom lived in large cities and work in large industries), in their acceptance of a "second class" citizenship and in their deference to whites, drives the sergeant wild with hatred.In that sense, this movie is like the French play and movie, "Danton" - for the villain, the individual is unimportant (no matter how sweet, how well-loved by others) and his welfare is subordinated to a greater idea (whether fraternite and egalite for all mankind in Danton or respect and dignity for the black man in America in A Soldier's Story). Of course, like in Danton, the general principle (egalite or respect) causes the authority (here, the sergeant) to treat the person retarding the principle's acceptance at least as badly as the injustice from which the reformer (the sergeant) seeks relief.The murder at the heart of this movie is the revenge by those who care for individual human beings more than they care for the general principles about how those individuals should be treated. **** SPOILERS END **** I found the setting and characters both believable and intensely interesting, and enjoyed the frequent humor (e.g., the reaction of townspeople and black soldiers to a black captain). The reaction of the regiment to the news that they were being "allowed" to go into action against the Axis powers was moving - and the way this news overshadowed (among the soldiers) the resolution of the murder, was very well done and believable. This is one terrific movie - truly one of the best American movies of the 1980s. I fear that the largely black cast might cause whites to relegate the movie to to a separate "black audience" category - it shouldn't be seen that way - its appeal is completely universal.
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful: A must-see mystery drama inside a WWII black army base, 14 January 2006 Author: jqa3-1 from United States
An old movie I never saw but had heard about. It has held up very well over the two decades since it came out (1984). The DVD comments by the director are interesting: low budget, core cast came from Broadway stage version, filmed at Ft. Chafee, Arkansas, Governor Bill Clinton visited the lot, local buildings and people were heavily used. Denzel Washington is fine in an early role; Adolph Caesar (well named for his role!)is fascinating; Howard Rollins is a force. Hard to put a finger on a weak link. Much of the music and barracks scenes are improvised giving the word "ensemble" real meaning. Definitely worth a first or second look. The spontaneous celebration of the long-awaited announcement that the unit is finally going to be shipped to Europe to fight is a special and real moment--validating the men's commitments to the U.S., with all its flaws, and the army itself, which would gradually emerge as a leading force for racial integration in the country.
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