Angela Bassett is a powerful and captivating actor with a long career in Hollywood. Like many actors, she started out making the most of smaller roles in films and television. But her talents couldn’t remain hidden for long and soon she was starring in some of the most interesting and acclaimed films in Hollywood.
Throughout the years, Bassett has maintained her ability to find intriguing roles in great movies. She is an Oscar-nominated actor who has also been a part of some of the biggest movies of all time. She is a favorite among critics, having made movies with will go down among the all-time greats. Here are Angela Bassett’s best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Nothing But the Truth (82%)
Nothing But the Truth is an underrated thriller that is worth seeking out. The movie stars Kate Beckinsale as a reporter who publishes a controversial story that makes her the target of the government who pressure her to reveal her sources. Bassett has a supporting role as Beckinsale’s boss.
The movie is a tense and thrilling story with an impressive cast. It never goes over the top, but rather takes a grounded approach to telling a real-world story with timely themes.
Chi-Raq (82%)
Spike Lee is one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the business who is always delivering powerful and interesting work. Chi-Raq is a unique story centered on the mounting violence in the streets of Chicago. It follows a group of women who join forces to put an end to the senseless violence. Bassett plays one of the central figures in this movement
As always, Lee does not shy away from the controversy of the subject matter and fully embraces the ambitious approach to the story. The is humor and fun to be had, but this is also a very powerful look at a topical issue.
Akeelah And The Bee (85%)
Bassett has appeared in some of the biggest movies around, but she also likes to lend her star power to smaller stories worth telling. Akeelah and the Bee is a charming indie film about a young girl from a poor Los Angeles community who works to compete in the National Spelling Bee. Bassett plays the young girl’s mother.
The family-friendly film follows the formula of the underdog sports movies and makes spelling genuinely exciting. The movie is sweet and inspiring with strong performances from Bassett and a young Keke Palmer in the lead role.
Malcolm X (88%)
Bassett appeared in another of Spike Lee’s films and one that is counted among his greatest films. Malcolm X stars Denzel Washington as the historic figure in this epic and honest portrait of the man’s life and the fight he dedicated his life to. Bassett plays Batty Shabazz, a fellow Civil Rights activist, and wife of Malcolm.
Lee creates an honest and powerful depiction of Malcolm’s incredible life while using his story to deliver an equally powerful message. Washington gives a towering performance in this sweeping and unforgettable epic.
Bumblebee (92%)
The Transformers movies were never regarded very favorably by critics, that is until Bumblebee came along. Bringing the story back to basics, the film is set in the 1980s and follows a young girl who discovers a run-down old car that happens to be the Transformer, Bumblebee. Bassett provides the voice of Shatter, a Decepticon.
The movie goes for a smaller-scale story compared to Michael Bay’s films and it works extremely well. Hailee Steinfeld is great in the lead, the action is fun and exciting, and there is a real charm to the film that feels like early Spielberg.
City Of Hope (94%)
While Bassett was still looking for her breakout role, she would often appear in supporting roles as part of an ensemble. City of Hope is a drama set in an unnamed neighborhood of New Jersey and focuses on a variety of people and their stories surrounding an apartment building that is set to be torn down.
The movie is an intense look at the street level mayhem of these big cities and the desperate people who live in the poorer neighborhoods. It is a powerful and grounded film with a stellar cast.
What’s Love Got To Do With It? (96%)
After delivering some acclaimed supporting work in high-profile films, Bassett finally got her shot at the spotlight, bringing to life one of the most iconic singers of all time, Tina Turner. The movie follows Turner’s rise to fame from humble beginnings, her volatile relationship with Ike Turner and her search for independence.
Bassett is sensational in the starring role, channeling the power of Turner perfectly. The story of her success is a fascinating one that the movie beautifully tells, resulting in an aspiring look at the superstar.
Boyz N The Hood (96%)
Bassett truly began to get noticed after starring in supporting roles in films like Boys n the Hood. The intense drama follows the struggles of a group of African American men living in a violent neighborhood in South Central. Bassett plays the mother of one of the boys.
The movie is a powerful look at a world that had not often been depicted in Hollywood up until that point. Young director John Singleton took an unflinching look at this world with depth and emotion.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (97%)
Bassett has been gravitating towards the big blockbuster lately, even joining the wild action franchise, Mission: Impossible. In this sixth entry in the series, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) must work with the CIA to track down a madman looking to detonate a nuclear weapon. Bassett plays a CIA official.
The movie once again proved that Cruise and his team are willing to go to some crazy heights (literally) to deliver some amazing action sequences. The movie is a pulse-pounding thrill ride from beginning to end in a franchise that seems to only be getting better.
Black Panther (97%)
Bassett joined the expanding world of the MCU in one of their biggest and most acclaimed films. Black Panther picks up the story of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who, following the death of his father, is now king of Wakanda. However, he quickly encounters trouble when a mysterious figure challenges him for the throne. Bassett plays T’Challa’s mother.
The movie continues the MCU’s trend of delivering fun and exciting adventures that continue to explore the different aspects of the Marvel Universe. But director Ryan Coogler also uses the massive film to explore complex themes which results in a powerful and epic superhero film.
