Black and White [DVD] [2001]

I saw this on tv last night and while I didn't find it especially engaging it does have some interesting stuff to say, but mainly its worth seeing for Robert Downey Jr's performance. He's real funny, and the scene where he's coming on to Mike Tyson is brilliant. I mean personally if I was a fella I just wouldn't say to Tyson 'I had a dream and you were holding me', would you? Tyson is pretty good too and came across as having a much softer character than I'd thought. The character of Greta was well played by Claudia Schiffer too, though I have to admit for most of the film I was thinking 'she looks just like Claudia Schiffer' until it dawned on me it was her. Dopey or what? Ben Stiller plays a good creep, and somewhere in there, according to the credits, is Jared Leto but I don't recall seeing him. Maybe he was the kids teacher, I don't know. But if you don't recognise an actor they must be doing something right.

This is a film that I think was unfairly looked over- probably because it deals with issues that America likes to look away from. The film moves between a 'fiction' of New York encounters between 'black' & 'white' people & towards a Brechtian depiction of racial relationships. This is seen with people playing themselves: Mike Tyson,Method Man, Ghostface Killah etc. We look at the white tourists of the hip-hop/gangsta-rap world: Elijah Wood,Bijou Phillips, Brooke Shields etc- there is the whole talking 'black' patois. By accquiring the same rap-vernacular they feel they are 'on the level'. The most interesting point here is how white-Americans want to be 'black'- which has been evident since Norman Mailer's 'white Negro' concept or Lou Reed's 'I Wanna be Black'. See also John Turtorro in 'Do the Right Thing' or Quentin Tarantino in 'Pulp Fiction' (using blaxploitation language). The latest development is the awesome 'Bully' (which also stars the wonderful Bijou Phillips- one of the best actors in film today) where all the characters are white & middle class- yet soundtrack their lives to Cypress Hill & Dre. As with 'Black & White' they profess to be 'real'-when we know they're not- but the posturing gangsta speak leads to peer-machismo & then murder. A similar thing happens with the DA's son in 'Black & White'...The camerawork is brilliant- particularly when we cut to Shield's digital-camera or the conclusion where Raekown raps to the camera as we shift between a multitude of split screens...The characters are so interesting that I wonder if they could have continued this into a spin-off TV-series? Robert Downey Jr. is great as ever- while Jared Leto proves that he is going to be a De Niro (or at least a James Woods) for the 21st Century. Look at the edgy roles he's done: Fight Club,American Psycho,Requiem for a Dream, The Thin Red Line, Panic Room...Another interesting facet is the notion of homosexuality- through the Downey Jr. character mostly & inter-racial relationships- that are closer to Fassbinder's 'The Marriage of Maria Braun' than Lee's 'Jungle Fever'. Anyone who has read Susan Faludi's 'Stiffed' will find lots here that relate to her themes of masculinity in crisis...There is so much in 'Black & White'- from the notion of redemption in an injust justice system, to the notion that "we're all slaves now"- relating to the final summation by Raekown & co. that colour/race is no longer an issue. It's those in power: "cash moves everything around me/get the cream dollar dollar bill" & the startling depiction of New York cityscape.

James Toback has delivered an audacious & fiercely intelligent dissection of the racial divide in America today. Hopefully it'll find an apprecitive audience in years to come- which is doubtful in a world raised on the lightweight notions of Hollywood.

This is a very good film if your in to hip-hop or not. The story is followed easily and makes you think about what the director ment. The guest stars in the film make it even better i couldnt help but feel good when Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan) is stood by "The Wall" in Statten Island and Method Man (aslo Wu-Tang) rolls up in his jeep with his tunes playin. Also Mike Tyson as himself makes for a brillinat scene and acting on his part. This is a good film that talks about racial issues and looks in to gangta criminal life and leaves you to make up your mind.