Am I the only one that remembers it’s Black History Month? I we finally have a black president, but does that mean we don’t have black history month anymore? Last I checked, it’s still on the calendar. If you do want to celebrate black history month, you may enjoy watching a few great films regarding race and our society. I know everyone thinks of Malcolm X, Amistad and The Color Purple when they think of African American films, but here are five great movies that tend to get overlooked.
Bulworth
The Basic Plot: A white senator [Warren Beatty], sick of politics and life in general, takes out a life insurance policy on himself and hires a hit man to whack him. Since he doesn’t care what happens to him, he starts speaking to people about the truth of politics, for example, if you don’t donate money to your representative’s campaigns, they won’t represent you. In the process of exposing Washington corruption, he finds a new interest in life when he falls for a beautiful black woman from Compton [Halle Berry]. Now he needs to avoid the hit man, win his lady and deal with the media frenzy his new “campaign tactic” has created.
Why Was It Underrated: People either thought it was going to be a stupid movie about a white senator pretending to rap, or they heard about the politics of the movie and were turned off. Either way, this movie is constantly listed as one of the top underrated films of the 90’s.
Why You Should See It: It is damn funny to see someone tell movie executives they wouldn’t be criticized about decency standards if they just made better movies. Aside from the humor though, there are some great political points about what happened to the leaders of the black community, why so many black youths enter gangs and more.
More: Bulworth at Amazon | Wikipedia
Bamboozled
The Basic Plot: An African American television writer [Damon Wayans] is criticized one too many times by his white “not racist” boss [Michael Rapaport] for not being street enough. As a way to get back at his condescending boss, he proposes a modern day minstrel show, complete with black actors in black face. Amazingly, the show not only is approved by the executives, but becomes a nation-wide success leading to legions of fans running around the streets in black face. As you could guess, things could only go downhill from there…
Why Was It Underrated: Some people found the whole concept rather offensive, completely ignoring the fact that it was a satire created by a black man. Other people simply don’t look to Spike Lee for humor, though if they did, they may be pleasantly surprised.
Why You Should See It: It’s a funny movie filled with some of the best, biting satire of the last century. You’ll find yourself laughing awkwardly and not believing your eyes at points of the show. At the same time, you’ll realize that the show isn’t much of a stretch for modern television.
More: Bamboozled at Amazon | Wikipedia
Men of Honor
The Basic Plot: The true story of the first African American U.S. Navy diver. Carl Brashear [Cuba Gooding Jr.] must not only struggle to become a diver, but to live through the harassment and racism of his fellow trainees and the trainer [Robert DeNiro] determined to see him fail. In the end, he not only wins the respect of other soldiers, but manages to become the first black diver and the first amputee diver.
Why Was It Underrated: Maybe it was Cuba Gooding Jr. - after all, a lot of people consider him to be about as “black” as Colin Powell. Maybe it’s diver-discrimination and people would much rather see a movie about black fighter pilots than a black diver. Whatever the reason, this moving film received little attention, especially when compared to the George Lucas Tuskegee Airmen film, Red Tails, expected to come out sometime this year.
Why You Should See It: This is a touching story showing the ugliness of racism and the strength of the human spirit. I know it sounds kind of cliché, but it is a good movie depicting how many obstacles we can pass when we set our hearts to doing something.
More: Men of Honor at Amazon | Wikipedia
Dead Presidents
The Basic Plot: Three young black men are recruited to join the Vietnam War. After serving duty, the three friends all end up back home in New York. After finding it difficult to adjust to modern society outside the army, the group sets up an armored car heist. The ensuing action is not to be missed.
Why Was It Underrated: Between Menace II Society and their later works like American Pimp and From Hell, this fantastic film directed by the Hughes brothers seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle. Additionally, many people didn’t know how if this movie was a heist movie, a Vietnam flick or a statement about racism in America. Since people often like their movies to be easily classified, this may have been the film’s downfall.
Why You Should See It: Although on the surface, it appears to be a heist movie, this film highlights important issues facing black veterans of the Vietnam War and the continuing racism they experienced when they returned home to a country still wrought with civil rights injustices. This early Hughes Brother’s film is a great display of their talent and a promise of the good things to come.
More: Dead Presidents at Amazon | Wikipedia
Higher Learning
The Basic Plot: When three kids from all walks of life start attending college together, they start encountering racial tension and personal problems like finances and personal insecurities. The main African American character [Omar Epps] is a young African American track star without an exceptional mind. The main female character [Kristy Swanson] is date raped and joins a feminist group to cope with her demons. She begins to become attracted to another woman [Jennifer Connelly] in the group. The main white character [Michael Rapaport] has a hard time fitting in with anyone until a group of white supremacists accept him as one of their own. Rape, racism, sexuality, education and more are all touched upon in this intense film depicting reality on college campuses across the nation.
Why Was It Underrated: Many critics found the characters to be a little stereotypical, but when there are so few movies actually exploring these roles in depth, is that really a problem? Another reason it may be underrated: how many people expect a deep-thinking movie to involve Tyra Banks?
Why You Should See It: There is an all-star cast in this film and it does an excellent job depicting relationships of all types –student/teacher, woman/man, woman/woman, white/black and more. Additionally, it’s one of the few college movies that moves beyond grades, booze and money and depicts a student’s path to self-discovery.
More: Higher Learning at Amazon | Wikipedia Do you think I missed any? If so, please let me know in the comments.
all these groups of protected classes have faced major struggles in america then fought against the oppression to do many great things. why aren't they recognized as well?
aren't we all equal now? isn't that what Martin Luther King JR was fighting for? i was hoping now that we have a black president everyone would tone down the "please feel sorry for us because i'm black and my ancestors were slaves 150 years ago, dangit!"
i guess i was wrong.
May is the Jewish American Heritage Month and March is Women's History Month (explained here).
Native American Heritage Month is November.
...would be the one movie I'd add to that list (though maybe Bamboozled fills your Spike Lee quota). A beautiful, tense, honest film that really makes you struggle sometimes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097216/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO214IFRW1M
Thanks for enlightening us. Too bad none of us have ever heard about these "special" months (including Mike Wallace who is a Jewish man). Also, where are your neatorama posts about Jewish history and women's history months? Last time you checked March and May were still on your calendar, right?
@vrtclsmile
Morgan Freeman is a genius. He is a true American man who speaks the TRUTH no matter how much it hurts whine-bags like Alex. Can we start embracing men like him instead of fools like Lil' Wayne, Tupac, and P Diddy? I know they can make a stellar rap song but are they really better advocates for how to be a successful black man than Morgan Freeman or Bill Cosby?
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........
Thanks for your question to Alex, if he didn't answer it I wouldn't have been aware about Jewish American, Women’s History, and Native American Heritage Month.
"He is a true American man who speaks the TRUTH no matter how much it hurts whine-bags like Alex."
Huh?
He [Morgan Freeman] is a true American man [male from The United States of America] who speaks the TRUTH [tells it like it really is] no matter how much it hurts [offends, upsets, insults - you get the idea] whine-bags [complainers, whiners, moaners, nit-pickers - you get the idea] like Alex [the poster of this post].
Whewww... got it? K, thanks.
But I like the midget Spike Lee and have bought a copy.
Though in the UK the cover is a totally dull photo from the film not the incredibly tricky "Pickaninny" one you have in the US.
I'm pretty surprised that it was released like that in the US. Not that there is anything wrong with the pic, it is just that usually there is the knee jerk reaction to things over there. Like the English prof who got fired for using the word niggardly.
Meaning to be penny pinching and miserly.
and having NO relation to the racial epithet.
Oh I also bought Dead Presidents on your recommendation.
Alex doesn't sound like he's whining, and Morgan Freeman is saying what?
"Am I the only one that remembers it’s Black History Month? I we finally have a black president, but does that mean we don’t have black history month anymore? Last I checked, it’s still on the calendar."
You really don't read that as whining about black history month not getting enough press? Come on.
Morgan Freeman says this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO214IFRW1M
- it's a link posted by vrtclsmile (thank you, vrtclsmile) in the 5th comment from the top.
This is a blog, people can post whatever they heck they want. The only person who is forcing you to read this is yourself, so your argument (should there actually be one) is moot. There is one thing I think is stupid. Aligning one's self with an opinion of a larger group because they can't stand on their own feet (or to avoid being attacked on one's opinion), usually started by people who were suffering and had the right to speak their mind (or just to feel self rightous), but now only now spoken by people with no connection to those original people and do so just to play the victim. Use these moments of rememberance to reflect on the history of those who made the world what is now, but don't use it for selfish personal gain.
Just so you know youtube.com is blocked at work so I have no way of accessing whatever thing you’re pointing to, so how about using your own words for once?
Also, I agree with cuimhne about Men of Honor. Retch.
Men of Honor = Bag of Poo
Especially if you watch Bamboozled first you will be much less tolerant of the memes in Men of Honor.
Also I think there was a senator who dared to call the senate "niggardly" and was critized by an illiterate colleague.
I'll have to watch it later after work, sounds like a good interview. Thanks.
1) This was the biggie - the underlying idea was that white people everywhere in modern America are responsible for all the poverty, gang violence, and ills of the black people. Furthermore, only a white politician can save them.
2) Warren Beatty rapping. Not only does he rap, but it first recorded, then horribly dubbed in, without any sense of the acoustics in the surrounding scene.
3) I know Hollywood has had older man/younger women dynamics for years, but seriously - Halle Berry in love with grandpa Beatty?
As for the list... only one I've seen is Higher Learning and I hated that movie with a passion.
SPOILER!!!!!!
The only thing it has going for it is that Tyra Banks dies..... except for the cheesy as hell "WWWWHHHYY?" crud.... ugh.. god I hate that movie....
And don't forget Singleton had already taken a hit with Poetic Justice.
What about Fear of a Black Hat? Anyone?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106880/
Higher learning, very overrated, every cliche in the book.
"aren’t we all equal now?"
Forgive me if I am misinterpreting sarcasm for insane ignorance, but the answer to that question is no.
Remembering that this is 2009 and not 1960, please elaborate your P.O.V. on how we are not all equal (with we in this case being American Citizens).
@gauldar - I highly reccomend you watch the interview because it is powerful. If you can't at work, here is a news article about the interview:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10482634
I didn't mean to offend you if I did. But like you said: "This is a blog, people can post whatever they heck they want."
Thats right they sure can, including posters like myself. Nobody is forcing you to ready my comments either, yet you continue to respond... hmmm. Wouldn't that make your argument, should there be one, "moot" as well?
Had you meant what you are pretending you did now, you would have to have said something like, "We all have equal rights under the Constitution."
Instead, you said (paraphrasing here), "Aren't we all equal now...Martin Luther King...'please feel sorry for us'...blah blah usual crap."
Translation: Isn't racial inequality a thing of the past? Can't You People just get over it? The answer to the first question remains no, and the answer to the second question is call me back when you're black.
Although I understand how tempting it is to try to make up something now to obscure the intended meaning of your original paragraph, please to remember that the words themselves, in all their glory, remain unchanged at the top of the page, and we can read.
I'm thinking of choreographing a new dance called The Weasel Wiggle. It's not for everybody though; you have to be able to get your entire foot into your mouth.
I never had an argument, I just wanted you to keep replying so I could get an idea of why you felt the need to call everyone associated with this post a whine-bag. I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't post, just wanted to get a much deeper reason for your comments other then being a morgan freeman fan boi.
Anyway, to the topic at hand,
i have watched Men of Honor and Dead presidents, i loved them both, but i thought Dead Prez was just another low B udget black movie which was actually good.
i will look out for the rest
I'd like to think it's more inclusive than marginalizing.
I'd like to recommend The Last Dragon http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089461/
1.) Bulworth is an insulting movie (though sympathetic to black people its depicition of black people is very out of touch).
2.) Bamboozled, the best of the bunch, falls apart storytelling-wise towards the end like every other spike lee movie.
3.) Dead President was told with no historical authenticity (young kids depicting what they thought the 70s were like without doing any research).
4. Higher Learning just treaded in the most two deminsional(sp) stereotypical identity politics (Methinks Singleton didn't know any white people in college and struggled on depicting them with any depth).
5. Didn't See Men of Honor but I hear good things about it.
If you want to check out underated black films I would start off with Black Films that truly speak from a Black POV and not films that don't require white characters which are often used to lure white viewers into the theaters. From this perspective, I think you have to see "Eve's Bayou". I gaurantee if you see this film, you will amend your list.