Black & White

I wish the the summary line I wrote was a joke, but unfortunately, it isn't. This film catered to every tired-out racial cliche known, and the dialogue was stilted and wooden. Every character was completely unbelievable. Nauseating. That anyone reviewed this film positively is a sign at just how far we have to go on matters of race...most people would rather lie to look PC than tell the truth and actually embrace people based on their own merit instead of having outmoded racial stereotypes.

By the way, it's "bass", not "base", Mr. Canadian Reviewer.

Watching Robert Downey Jr. try to seduce Mike Tyson is worth the ticket price alone, but only just. The appropriation of black hip-hop culture by privileged white teenagers should prove interesting ground for storytelling, but James Toback's film is undermined by the lack of even one likeable character. It's very hard to care about the motivations or destinies of people you hate. Two pleasant surprises amongst the vignettes: Ben Stiller can be convincing outside of trash comedy; and Claudia Schiffer can actually act.

While many people may comment on the bad aspects of "Black and White", i believe the film had many interesting points. What society, especially those who are 'white' upper middle and middle class seem to NOT understand is that "Race" is Socially CONSTRUCTED. So if blacks want to be white, and whites want to be black, so what??? Why are you concerned? If you look at "Race" as a "social construction" and an IDEA that society has put on us, then you will see that there really is no difference, exept what society has tried to enforce. I think many upper white middle class people were offended because they think that trying to be black is going down another level, when you YOURSELF are being racist by saying that, which means again that you are another 'blind' follower of society. FACE IT! The world is changing and kids will do what they want to do, not what you want, especially when you dont want your kids adopting other cultures. The hardcore sex scenes between whites and blacks has been something that 'white' society has never been able to live with. Well, i am working on directing films, and trust me, that kind of sexual situations betweem whites and blacks will exist in ALL of my films, to help you see that there is NO such thing as RACE. Its constructed!!! Thats what 'Black and White' helps you to see. Do you really have to learn that from a high school student??

I just don't understand how some people can comment on this film saying that it had little structure yet can comment about Independance Day being good!!!! This film is realistic and quite humerous. It doesn't depict Blacks as wanting a quick lay and it doesn't potray White as trying to be bling!!

It just depicts the characters we see do what they want to do... And besides, if you hated the film so much, you should have turned it off. The fact the very vast majority did not suggests you are not at all being honest in your opinions of this film.

Get a life people and carry on watching your Hollywood Superflicks!!

My verdict: 7/10

I always find the idea of improvised (or semi-improvised) film making an interesting one, even if the results themselves are disappointing, and very rarely work (exceptions being some of the movies of Christopher Guest and Abel Ferrara). It's a risky idea because it's a true test of an actors talent. Some succeed and some fall flat on their faces. 'Black and White' is a perfect example of this, for every interesting moment involving say Ben Stiller, or yes, Mike Tyson, there's way too many dull and rambling scenes that go nowhere (come on down Brooke Shields and Bijou Phillips). What makes this movie even more frustrating is James Toback is obviously aiming for a BIG STATEMENT regarding race relations in contemporary America, yet the movie is so superficial and confused it ultimately says nothing much. Toback is a maddingly uneven film maker, but he is responsible for one of my all time favourite movies, the sadly underrated 'Fingers', so I usually give him the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately 'Black and White' is a missed opportunity and has very little to recommend it. I suppose Toback deserves some credit for at least attempting to do something other than mainstream Hollywood dreck, but ultimately a crappy movie is still a crappy movie, no matter how good the intentions.