12. Dr. John Prentice (Guess Whos Coming To Dinner)
Sidney Poitiers Dr. John Prentice is of course one of the most classic figures in film history (and Hollywood likes to constantly remind us of that, as if Hollywood is the reason the world is differentas Jon Stewart said, And racism was never a problem again.). But he truly is a wonderful character. The screenplay of Guess Whos Coming to Dinner goes in many unexpected directions, and Prentices character certainly goes through some fantastic emotional twists and turns with Poitiers outstanding signature acting attributes. In this case, race is at the heart of that story, and like A Soldiers Story, John Prentice is a man dealing with a problem in society that pervades his experience almost everywhere he goesbut he doesnt need to be a victim, uneducated, or a criminal, nor does he need to speak poorly, be violent, curse, ruin his life, or even really raise his voice to give the audience an incredibly intense journey. He doesnt need or expect anything from the world of white peoplenot approval, pity, apathy, or even the woman he loves. Not every character has to be as refined or demonstrate the range of emotions John conveys, and that wouldnt be beneficial anyway, but its very effective in this story. He makes you feel what he feels as a man. This is true cinema about understanding, but even more, its not just about the problems, but the people within the problems. If this movie was so influential, why arent more movies with these layers and sensibilities made every year? Its not just talent.