A Soldier's Story (1984) - Norman Jewison 

Well over the years, Nomran Jewison has assumed the role once reserved for Stanley Kramer as a director of liberal films that could still be watered down for mass consumption. The two went head to head in 1967 when Jewison's In the Heat of the Night defeated Kramer's Guess Who's Coming to Dinner for best picture. Most people would consider that a wise move at least in opposition to each other. Jewison's films however have been largely overwrought and only partially worthwhile. A Soldier's Story was the fourth film of Jewison's nominated for best picture, and probably his best. The film does not dwell on the overwrought racism of previous films, considering these things were slightly out of fashion in 1984, and Jewison was ever the popular entertainer before a social commentator. Instead its focus, as we generally see is on black racism towards blacks. The dead Sgt. at the beginning of the film might be harsh, and might seem an unnecessary antagonist, but you come to see his point, and it does seem valid. To him, the "Yas'm" throw backs to the days of slavery were what he despised most. Not the racism directed at them, but the black man's willing acceptance and compliance. In the end justice is only partially done. The killer's are found out, and it certainly isn't who we thought initially, and you can''t readily rejoice at their being brought to bear. A damn good film and featuring some "before they were stars" performances from numerous black actors including Denzel Washington, who would deliver one of his greatest performances under Jewison in 1999's The Hurricane.

*A Soldier's Story was nominated for best picture, best adapted screenplay, and best supporting actor (Adolph Caesar)