iloveblackmovies
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MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize
Theron star in "Hancock."
Theron star in "Hancock."
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The Dark Knight
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize
Theron star in "Hancock."
Theron star in "Hancock."
Tropic Thunder
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
3 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
3 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
(Left)Al Jolson in blackface.
Ben Stiller is dead wrong. Guess the brainchild (co-writer and producer) of the new comedy "Tropic
Thunder" hasn't seen Spike Lee’s biting satire on race and racism within the modern media world
"Bamboozled." Why else would he cast Robert Downey Jr. to play an actor who portrays a black
man?
White actors performing in blackface was popular in the early days of Hollywood. It was a demeaning,
ugly and racist practice that promoted stereotypical viewpoints of African Americans. Downey revives
the wickedly evil tradition as he plays a black man. This is essentially Downey in blackface in 2008.
Although the thought of this sickens me, surprisingly, he pulls it off in this wildly uneven comedy that
offends just about everyone on every level.
Thunder" hasn't seen Spike Lee’s biting satire on race and racism within the modern media world
"Bamboozled." Why else would he cast Robert Downey Jr. to play an actor who portrays a black
man?
White actors performing in blackface was popular in the early days of Hollywood. It was a demeaning,
ugly and racist practice that promoted stereotypical viewpoints of African Americans. Downey revives
the wickedly evil tradition as he plays a black man. This is essentially Downey in blackface in 2008.
Although the thought of this sickens me, surprisingly, he pulls it off in this wildly uneven comedy that
offends just about everyone on every level.
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No offense but Downey 's performance, which closely ranks with Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker in
aspect of the movie except for Brandon T. Jackson a "real" African American who plays a rapper
turned actor.
Jackson and Downey share the majority of their scenes together and it's Jackson's counter reactions
to Lazarus portraying a black man that save Ben Stiller's ass for crossing the line and hiring Downey
to do the unthinkable.
Overall "Tropic Thunder's" premise is difficult to grasp. It's a movie within a movie and many of the
jokes require that the viewer have an insider's knowledge of the movie business. Nonetheless, the
movie's funniest moments are when Downey and Tom Cruise, who makes a riotous cameo, are on
screen. Don't want to spoil the fun, but Cruise is "Eddie Murphy on SNL" funny. Downey deserves the
most props for representing without offending. Here's your ghetto pass brother.
aspect of the movie except for Brandon T. Jackson a "real" African American who plays a rapper
turned actor.
Jackson and Downey share the majority of their scenes together and it's Jackson's counter reactions
to Lazarus portraying a black man that save Ben Stiller's ass for crossing the line and hiring Downey
to do the unthinkable.
Overall "Tropic Thunder's" premise is difficult to grasp. It's a movie within a movie and many of the
jokes require that the viewer have an insider's knowledge of the movie business. Nonetheless, the
movie's funniest moments are when Downey and Tom Cruise, who makes a riotous cameo, are on
screen. Don't want to spoil the fun, but Cruise is "Eddie Murphy on SNL" funny. Downey deserves the
most props for representing without offending. Here's your ghetto pass brother.
Robert Downey Jr. and Al Jolson in blackface.
Baruchel, Nick Nolte, Ben Stiller and
Brandon T. Jackson.
Brandon T. Jackson.
Godfrey Cambridge "Watermelon Man" (1970)
Cambridge is a white businessman who wakes up to discover he is
black. His life falls apart as he deals with the consequences of being
an African American.
C. Thomas Howell "Soul Man" (1986)
Howell is a white man who disguises himself as a black dude to get
an affirmative action scholarship.
Eddie Murphy "Coming to America" (1989)
Murphy plays an old Jewish man who hangs out a barber shop and
talks trash with his black buddies.
Shawn and Marlon Wayans "White Chicks" (2004)
The Wayans go undercover as white women.
Eddie Murphy "Norbit" (2007)
Murphy is an Asian man who runs an orphanage.
Robert Downey Jr "Tropic Thunder" (2008)
Downey is an award winning white actor who decides to challenge
himself by changing his skin color to play an African American.
Shawn and Marlon Wayans as "White Chicks." Eddie Murphy as the
Asian patriarch in "Norbit."
Asian patriarch in "Norbit."
Traitor
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
4 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
4 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
complicated maybe a bit too much for its own good. But if taking the SAT test didn’t intimidate you
then you’ll be right at home following Cheadle as a former U.S. Special Operations officer deep
undercover trying to undue a terrorist organization.
Cheadle helps sell the film’s central message of religious conviction by effortlessly portraying a
man (Samir Horn, a devout Muslim and disaffected U.S. soldier ) severely torn between his faith and
duty to his country. Cheadle so smoothly glides from scene to scene it’s almost like he’s not acting.
But he’s the glue that keeps this over-long movie together.
“Traitor” starts smart and ends smart. And the movie never bails out becoming something that it’s
not. Cheadle doesn’t magically transform into Blade by the end of the movie. There are no
unnecessary explosions. And the tone stays so realistic it may depress many.
It’s just too bad “Traitor” is about a subject most want nothing to do with at the multiplex. Maybe it
really is too soon for movies about terrorism because they have bit the dust at the box office. Look at
the long list of recent flops:
1. Stop-Loss (2008)
2. The Kingdom (2007)
3. Rendition (2007)
4. Cavite (2006)
5. United 93 (2006)
6. World Trade Center (2006)
7. Munich (2005)
8. Syriana (2005)
Sorry about the reality check Mr. Cheadle. I loved your film. I just don’t think most people are ready
for it or want anything to do with it. But here is some advice people. Just think of “Traitor” as one of
the “Bourne” movies if Matt Damon were black.
then you’ll be right at home following Cheadle as a former U.S. Special Operations officer deep
undercover trying to undue a terrorist organization.
Cheadle helps sell the film’s central message of religious conviction by effortlessly portraying a
man (Samir Horn, a devout Muslim and disaffected U.S. soldier ) severely torn between his faith and
duty to his country. Cheadle so smoothly glides from scene to scene it’s almost like he’s not acting.
But he’s the glue that keeps this over-long movie together.
“Traitor” starts smart and ends smart. And the movie never bails out becoming something that it’s
not. Cheadle doesn’t magically transform into Blade by the end of the movie. There are no
unnecessary explosions. And the tone stays so realistic it may depress many.
It’s just too bad “Traitor” is about a subject most want nothing to do with at the multiplex. Maybe it
really is too soon for movies about terrorism because they have bit the dust at the box office. Look at
the long list of recent flops:
1. Stop-Loss (2008)
2. The Kingdom (2007)
3. Rendition (2007)
4. Cavite (2006)
5. United 93 (2006)
6. World Trade Center (2006)
7. Munich (2005)
8. Syriana (2005)
Sorry about the reality check Mr. Cheadle. I loved your film. I just don’t think most people are ready
for it or want anything to do with it. But here is some advice people. Just think of “Traitor” as one of
the “Bourne” movies if Matt Damon were black.
Edwards co-founded the African American Film Critics Association and is
currently working on his third documentary “Our Heroes: The 25 Best Black
Sports Movies (Ever)."
currently working on his third documentary “Our Heroes: The 25 Best Black
Sports Movies (Ever)."
CROSS RACE PERFORMANCE HALL OF FAME
