An unexpected pleasure awaited me as I began to view this almost two hour quasi-soliloquy about a pretty non-political guy who somehow got thrust into politics anyway, just because he wanted to see fairness and equality served and not double standard-ed. I don't know whose idea it was to portray this biographical account in this unusual manner, but it most assuredly held my attention for its duration.
Enter Laurence Fishburne, hair permed, dyed and fashioned ala Mr. Marshall, as our sole actor in this film. His chronological account of Mr. Marshall's life was rife with laid-back, humorous, yet firm depictions of events that shaped our central character's life, and to some degree, all our lives. Mr. Fishburne's demeanor throughout this piece was so comfortable and relaxed, I wondered at times had Thurgood himself crept back to Earth and infused himself into our actor's psyche to help him along with this account of his life. Also, I wondered if this show was cut and edited in a couple spots, just to give Mr. Fishburne a break in this seemingly non-stop monologue!
Credit is also due the Stevens' guys for setting the unusual tone here, with aptly placed snippets of historical dialog and subtle background scene settings to buttress these accounts that were adjunct to Thurgood's life. In conclusion, a fitting addition, indeed, for Black History month.
