Summary
One year after starring in the incredibly popularMarvelmovieBlack Panther, the late Chadwick Boseman starred in the thriller21 Bridges, which is now available on Netflix. On March 1st 2024,21 Bridgesjoined the long list of thrillers that are available on the streaming service, includingDavid Fincher’s movieThe Killer. With a catchy title and all-star cast,21 Bridgesis the perfect movie for anyone looking for strong performances and an engaging plot.
While Chadwick Boseman is known for playing T’Challa/Black Panther in various Marvel films, includingCaptain America: Civil War, he starred in a few other movies such asDraft Day,Marshall, and42.21 Bridgesis an entertaining thriller starring the talented actor, who tragically passed away in August 2020 from colon cancer, and it shouldn’t be overlooked.
What Happens in 21 Bridges?
The Chadwick Boseman21 Bridges, which is now available on Netflix, tells the story ofNYPD Detective Andre Davis (Boseman) who closes the bridge to Manhattan Islandso he can find two criminals, Ray Jackson (Taylor Kitsch) and Michael Trujillo (Stephan James) whokilled two members of the police. While the reveals at the end of21 Bridgesmight not be considered some ofthe best movie plot twists, they are definitely enough to keep audiences interested. Andre learns more as time goes on, and audiences will want to find out what is really going on.
Brian Kirk
Writer
Screenplay by Adam Mervis, Matthew Michael Carnahan Story by Adam Mervis
Cast Members
Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, Taylor Kitsch, Keith David, Stephan James, J.K. Simmons
100 minutes
November 22nd, 2019
Rotten Tomatoes Score
54%
In some ways,21 Bridgesis a fairly standard thriller with tough-talking characters who sound like they could be in any generic action or thriller movie. However, some pieces of dialogue stand out, like when Andre says:
“We got twenty-one bridges in and out of Manhattan. Shut them down. Three rivers. Close them. Four tunnels. Block them. Stop every train and loop the subways. Then, we flood the island with blue.”
Why You Should Watch 21 Bridges
Watch 21 Bridges OnNetflix
21 Bridgesis worth watching because ofChadwick Boseman’s impressive performance. While it might not be afun interactive thriller movieor be as unique as some other films,21 Bridgesshould get credit for its fast-paced story and good performances from its cast members such as J.K. Simmons, Keith David, and Sienna Miller.
21 Bridgesis also worth watching because it’s one of the few movies on Boseman’s resume that wasn’t released by Marvel, and it’s interesting to see him in this role. In an interview withEsquire, Boseman talked about how21 Bridgesfit into his career, and he shared that he was happy to do something different. He said:
“I mean, it’s refreshing. It’s a relief. I enjoy doing what I do withBlack Panther, but I also enjoy not having to put on a suit or train like a professional athlete. You know, this is the type of movie that I enjoy watching the actors that I love do.”
Boseman continued:
“It’s kind of like, you want to see how you would do it. And not in a copying way, but in a, “How do I define this in my own way?” So it was great to have that challenge, and to have something that was unfamiliar to me that I can dive into.”
Fans should also watch21 Bridgeson Netflix because of the feel-good story behind it. As Sienna Miller explained in an interview withEmpire Magazine, she wanted to star in the movie but asked for a certain amount. Boseman ensured that she was paid equally. As Miller explained, “Chadwick ended up donating some of his salary to get me to the number that I had asked for. He said that that was what I deserved to be paid.”
21 Bridges' Critical Reception
The critical reaction to the Chadwick Boseman movie21 Bridgeswas mixed. According to the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, some critics felt that the movie wasn’t unique enough to be compelling. Others thought that it was a fun and entertaining thriller. Several notable publications rated21 Bridgesfairly highly, however. Rogerebert.com gave21 Bridgesthree stars, and The Guardian gave it four stars.
No matter what critics wrote about it, however, most agreed that21 Bridgesis amovie that showcased Chadwick Boseman’s incredible talent.
