Michael B Jordan’s Oscar Win
For a long time now, Michael B. Jordan has been one of the most engaging actors working in Hollywood today—an actor who seems to have a winning combination of charisma, vulnerability, and intensity in almost every role he accepts. His Oscar award for his role in the film Sinners is a major milestone in a career that has been marked by hard work, dedication, and a desire to constantly improve. “”Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan won the best actor Oscar Sunday night at the 98th Academy Awards, beating out a crowded field that included Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio,” according to ABC News.
The Oscar award is not just a recognition of one role. It is a recognition of a career that has grown from promising beginnings to leading-man status. To Jordan, whose motto has been “How can I do better?” the award is not a surprise but rather a recognition long overdue.
A Performance
For his performance in Sinners, Jordan gives one of his most nuanced performances to date. The movie, a gripping drama that examines the complexities of morality, power, and salvation, demands a lot from its male lead, and Jordan does not disappoint, giving a performance that has been described as deeply emotional and psychologically complex.
For his role, he has to play a character in a state of moral turmoil, conveying a sense of strength as well as vulnerability. Jordan’s ability to convey his character’s inner turmoil is a big part of the movie’s emotional impact, especially in more subdued scenes, where he conveys a whole story with his facial expressions, as well as in more intense scenes, where his commanding screen presence dominates the screen. “But less than a month ago, it seemed unlikely. Jordan’s success at the Actors awards was the first serious hint that he could beat Timothée Chalamet, who had won at the Golden Globes and was the frontrunner for much of the awards campaign,” according to The Guardian.
The performance was well received by the audience and critics alike, who felt that Jordan had produced the best performance in his career so far. The decision by the Academy to present Jordan with an Oscar is a reflection of the common opinion that *Sinners* marks a new high point in Jordan’s acting career.
Courtesy of Hilary Thomas (Flickr CC0)Beginnings to Stardom
However, Jordan’s road to the Oscars has been a long one, with years of work in a series of carefully chosen roles. His start was in television, with appearances in such highly regarded series as The Wire and Friday Night Lights, in which he again demonstrated his ability to create emotional depth in his performances from an early age.
However, his performance in Fruitvale Station in 2013 marked his emergence as a significant talent in Hollywood cinema, as he played the role of Oscar Grant, a young man whose life was tragically cut short in a police encounter. The performance was a poignant yet deeply human one, demonstrating his ability to carry a film with a sense of emotional depth.
Since Fruitvale, Jordan’s career has taken a rapid turn, with his being recognized for his performance as Adonis Creed, a boxer in the film Creed, a movie that breathed new life into the iconic Rocky series. The performance allowed him to show his ability to be physically intense as well as emotionally vulnerable, a combination that has become a hallmark of his acting style.
Stealing the Spotlight
However, Jordan’s versatility was perhaps best seen in his role as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther. Superhero movies are known for their use of spectacle, but in *Black Panther*, Jordan’s performance as a villain was so nuanced and sympathetic that he nearly stole the show from the hero of the movie.
Killmonger was more than simply a villain in *Black Panther*. He was a character driven by pain, anger, and a need for justice. Jordan’s performance in the movie gave the character emotional depth, making him one of the most iconic villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While it is rare for a movie in the superhero genre to be recognized for any award for acting, Jordan’s performance in *Black Panther* proved that such movies could be nuanced in terms of character development.
Drive for Improvement
One of the reasons why Jordan’s Oscar award looks so justified is because of his reputation for self-improvement. Many people who work with Jordan say he is one of the hardest-working actors in the business.
Jordan has said himself that he has always tried to work with a certain kind of attitude. Rather than dwelling on past successes, he has often asked himself, “How can I do better?” This has motivated him to seek increasingly challenging roles.
In recent years, Jordan has not only acted but has also worked on the other side of the camera. His first film as a director was Creed III. This has given Jordan a new perspective on film-making, which has likely contributed to the quality of his performance in Sinners.
Recognition
For many, Jordan’s Oscar win is one that has been in the making for years. While he has always been well-received by critics, recognition in awards shows has sometimes eluded him.
This is why Jordan’s success in Sinners is so significant. Not only is it a recognition of his work in this movie, but also a recognition of his body of work over the years.
This is because, in a business where success is often a fleeting thing, Jordan has managed a rare balance between commercial viability and artistic credibility. He has demonstrated that it is possible to have blockbuster movies and also have dramatic chops.
A Defining Moment
The win puts him in the company of the most revered actors of his generation. However, if his career to date is anything to go by, the win will not be enough to make him rest on his oars.
Jordan has consistently proven to be an actor who does not see success as an end in itself, but rather as a catalyst to keep improving. The question he has asked throughout his career, and which will probably continue to influence his film choices and the stories he wants to tell, is one he has asked himself: How do I get better?
It is good news, then, for movie fans everywhere, because if *Sinners* is anything to go by, Michael B. Jordan’s best performances are yet to be seen.
Jordan’s win is not just significant because it is an Oscar win, but also because it is a win by an actor who has spent his career developing his craft, and one who, despite being one of the best in his field, still seems to be looking to improve further.
By David Loran Jr
A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.
Sources:
ABC News: ‘Sinners’ star Michael B. Jordan thanks past Black Oscar winners in emotional speech
The Guardian: ‘How can I do better?’: Michael B Jordan’s Oscar win for Sinners is a deserved reward for an outstanding actor
Featured Image Courtesy of Gage Skidmore’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Hilary Thomas‘ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
