He was great in this film. Is it because he doesn't play some baddass 'gangsta' like all the rest, and is more of a positive influence to the film? Shame on all of you. He was great. Good actor.
"Affirmative action is a stain on the American soul." - Charlton Heston
Powell (Mal) didn't go crazy in this, either. He faked it, so he could take the full blame, for the fight. Pay attention to how he acts, toward his cellmate, as he leaves for solitary. He felt paternal toward him & wanting to protect him. Notice that Mal gave him his copy of Ralph Ellison's 'The Invisible Man'. Powell was great in this. The philosophical heart of the film.
True that! he was one of my favorite characters next to Cash. Cash was a great character because he wasn't just peachy good he had some bad elements as well which made him more interesting than Avery or Dre.
Hell yeah, he was the only one who walked out of that fight without a scratch. I also love how he's the only calm one when being taken away after that fight, pure bad-ass.