The Best and Worst of Keith David

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “21 Bridges” star Keith David.

Films starring Keith David that I've seen:
Platoon
They Live
Road House
Reality Bites
Dead Presidents
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Volcano
Hercules 
Armageddon
There's Something About Mary
Pitch Black
The Replacements
Requiem for a Dream
Barbershop
Agent Cody Banks
Head of State
The Chronicles of Riddick
Crash
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Transporter 2
ATL
First Sunday
Gamer
Death at a Funeral
The Nice Guys
Night School

Best Performance: They Live (1988)
David is a hilarious and imminently likable presence in John Carpenter's fantastic anti-capitalist satire whose performance kicks into high gear once he becomes aware of the alien invasion his friend (Roddy Piper) accidently stumbles upon after discovering a pair of magic sunglasses in a rundown church. Also, I'd be lying if I didn't say that his involvement in one of the most gloriously excessive fight scenes ever put on film didn't help push this to the top of the list.

Worst Performance: Night School (2018)
It had been a little bit since David had done comedy, so I'm going to chalk up his failure in Night School to rust. The lazy hardass routine he does as the father of Kevin Hart's character was one of the most consistently unfunny elements of this largely up-and-down affair.

Best Film: The Nice Guys (2016)
The Nice Guys represents writer/director Shane Black operating at the peak of his warped powers. The dialogue is clever as hell, the '70s noir atmosphere is intoxicating and pairing Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as the leads in a darkly comedic buddy cop movie proves to be an unexpected stroke of genius. I'm glad that this has gone on to find somewhat of a cult following after massively flopping at the box office.

Worst Film: First Sunday (2008)
There are instances where talented actors can lift up otherwise questionable projects just by being there, but there are others where those problems simply exceed the grasp of their gifts. Exhibit A of this phenomenon: First Sunday. No amount of funny people (Ice Cube, Tracy Morgan, Katt Williams, David, Regina Hall, Chi McBride) on screen could cover up the stench of weak jokes and obnoxious preachiness that lingered over every frame of this aggravating disaster.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Knives Out” star Michael Shannon.