A Sociedade Norte-Americana dos Negros Mágicos

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

This is the kind of movie where it has an interesting premise and it could have explored interesting satirical themes and ideas but instead, the filmmaker doesn't really offer much with any creative outlooks and follows cliched and uninteresting tropes.

Kobi Libii has a concept that could have been interesting but his bland direction and the unambitious tones really create a hollow and investing story with dull cliche tropes, uninteresting characters and weak performances from the cast members. I like Justice Smith and Smith is trying his best but unfortunately his dull character and the poor dialogue really lacks his performance. Throughout, I found myself feeling bored and thinking that this movie could have been at least interesting if the filmmaker had thought about actually trying to add something that feels weird or unique. But that's not what I got. Instead, what I got was more of a dull and uninspired narrative that really wastes the talented cast and concepts.

What a shame.

The American Society of Magical Negroes T(ASOMN) is a film that fails to deliver on multiple fronts.

One of the primary issues with TASOMN is its lackluster storyline. The plot is riddled with clichés and predictable twists, making it difficult for viewers to stay engaged. The film attempts to tackle 'sensitive' themes but it does so in a superficial and often clumsy manner. The lack of depth in exploring these themes leaves much to be desired and results in a film that feels more like a missed opportunity than a meaningful commentary.

The performances in the film are another area where it falls short. While the cast may have had potential and if they did their talents are not utilized effectively. The characters are one-dimensional and lack the complexity needed to make them relatable or memorable. This is particularly disappointing given the film's attempt to address significant social issues. The lackluster performances fail to evoke any response making it challenging to connect with the characters or their struggles.

Furthermore, the film's pacing is inconsistent, with some scenes dragging on unnecessarily while others feel rushed. This uneven pacing disrupts the flow of the narrative and further detracts from the viewing experience. The dialogue often feels forced and unnatural, which, combined with the subpar performances, makes the interactions between characters unconvincing.

In terms of technical aspects, TASOMN does not fare much better. The cinematography is uninspired. The film's score is forgettable, failing to enhance the mood or add any emotional depth to the scenes.

TASOMN is a film that fails to deliver anything of value. Its attempt to address 'social issues' is undermined by a weak storyline, poor performances, and lackluster execution.

I didn't know what this movie was gonna be about I just thought the name was funny. It's starts off awkward, seemed like a typical role for Justice Smith. I was hoping it was gonna have some grandeur to it, I was expecting a really funny black Harry Potter maybe. The premise is a little weird, maybe racist too. And I don't think the movie as a whole was executed well.

I had a couple laughs. Like how they couldn't figure out a better way to design a secret entrance in the barber shop. The speech he gave about the magical society and sharks was hilariously bad. I kept comparing this to American fiction, very unfavorably. It felt like that's what they were trying to do. Felt like it could be funnier. The story and its characters took everything seriously even though the premise felt extremely silly.

Throughout the movie, I was inundated with waves of second-hand embarrassment and awkwardness. The premise relies heavily on white discomfort, well I'm black and I was like "ugh, no" a lot. The movie felt inconsistent, with some scenes seeming okay, as if they belonged in a better film, while others gave me the urge to scream "nooo!!" even louder than Charles Leclerc in France. The final speech was particularly dreadful, it was out of the blue, replete with cringe-inducing moments and also unjustified based off what we saw of the character. He was simply a socially awkward guy, period. It had nothing to do with him being black. The collective sighs of "oh no" from the audience were frequent. I shouldn't say the audience, there were only like 5 other people in the theatre. A lot of scenes were hard to watch.

However, I did like the romantic bits, which could have easily formed the basis of a separate film. I'd certainly be keen to watch a cheesy romcom starring Justice Smith and An Li Bogan.

There were a few bits that I liked, that made me laugh, but this could've been so much better, or maybe not even made at all lol. I don't think the movie had any meaning behind it that it conveyed successfully. I think if I liked the movie, I'd have maybe liked the ending. Instead I thought "oh no, there's gonna be another one."

I'm really shocked ANYONE at ANY POINT thought this script was a good idea. It's one of those films that makes you uncomfortable - not due to the tropes they included, but because of the fact that this is just lazy lazy LAZY writing!

Any sort of movement forward has been pushed back by decades thanks to the 'brain trust' that came up with this garbage. It's 2024 - we're better than this, aren't we?

The premise of this whole film is insulting to our people - in ALL regards. The fact that it bombed at the box office is of no shock - nor should it be to anyone who saw it. Thank goodness we have American Fiction; at least that spectacular film made its point w/o being ridiculous .

I was hoping to atleast get a couple laughs or see some interesting/fresh takes on black American culture; I was sadly disappointed. I expected so little and was still so let down. I'm mostly confused as to why anyone who want they names attached to such a stupid, ignorant, devisive and hateful script. I'm trying to think of a single redeeming feature of this film... the acting was ok even good at times and the direction wasn't bad. That's all I got.

I do not recommend. Don't waste your time. It's not even worth the watch for the lulz or for watching a train wreck.

It's soul sucking to any decent human being, maybe this should be used down in Gitmo for torture?