US (1984): Drama/Mystery
Director Norman Jewison's adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play explores the ramifications of racism and loyalty through the prism of blacks in the military, revealed through a murder mystery set in the 1940s deep South. Howard E. Rollins plays a military investigator assigned to the murder of a drill instructor (Adolph Caesar) in charge of a black platoon. 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 animosity, and confronting the question of what it means to be black in a white man's world. Rollins is a riveting, stoic, and emotional lead, and Denzel Washington makes an early appearance as a soldier with a deep grudge against the drill instructor and a deep mistrust of Rollins' investigator. The cast also features Art Evans, David Alan Grier, David Harris, Dennis Lipscomb, Robert Townsend and Patti LaBelle. A powerfully written story that makes the most of its large and impressive ensemble cast, this is a deeply affecting and worthwhile film. (Robert Lane, Amazon.com)
3 nominations
· Best Picture 1984: Norman Jewison, Ronald L. Schwary & Patrick Palmer - Producers (Caldix, Columbia)
· Supporting Actor 1984: Adolph Caesar
· Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1984: Charles Fuller
