10 year movie review: Bamboozled

When I read about the fried chicken served at NBC I was immediately reminded of something. A movie that disturbed me. A movie that moved me. A movie that I think should be shown on broadcast television, uncut, every time the nation celebrates Black History Month.

Bamboozled.

I'm sure most of my readers have not seen this film by Spike Lee. It wasn't popular when it came out, and it still isn't. It may well never become so. Which is a testament to the images and meaning the film embodies.

This is a difficult film to watch. It strikes me with anger and shame in equal parts. It upsets me for what I see on the screen, and what those images mean in relation to the real world. It infuriates me with it's reflection of the real world and the societal norms in the nation.

The more I hear of acts like that in NBC, the more I find stories like that of Megan Williams, Oscar Grant, Mauricia Grant and so many more the closer I believe we get to Mantan and the new millienium minstrel show. The more I see Snoop Dogg and the horde of rappers that are excused and praised for their disrespect of women and themselves, the glorification of drugs and violence, the more I see Mantan. The more I hear talk of a post racial America, while States like North Carolina make decisions to edit American history (starting just AFTER the civil war and slavery) the more I see the potential to fall back to the norms of 1950 or 1920, or 1850.

But Bamboozled is not just a movie about African Americans, it's about America. It's not just painful to see what is possible, but what is happening. It's Chris Matthews proud President Obama can be "in a room full of White people" and still be "unaffected". It's the unreported 19% unemployment rate among African Americans. It's the accusations that to disagree with policy is to be a racist. It's the concept that an African American MUST love President Obama and cannot deviate from supporting him.

Bamboozled came out in 2000, and 10 years later it is even more accurate and troubling than when it was made. Yet it is a movie that is unspoken, unwatched and even less fully understood as a statement of right now.

Here are parts of the film, but it hardly is the complete context.







If you don't get Bamboozled, you don't know American history - current or past. If you aren't angry and uncomfortable watching this film, you can't see the world around you. But see this film you should, for many I would even say must.

Yes you could beat Michael Jordan

I am sure that it won't take long for this interesting item to circle the net, if it has not already. But i just lucked upon it and you need to see it.

Michael Jordan, in his post-Wizard's days had a basketball camp. And those that went to it got the rare pleasure of playing against the super athlete. Of course mere mortals would lose against him, just as beating Tiger Woods on his home course would be unthinkable.

But the laws of averages says that even the most improbably outcome can happen at least once. And as it happened a CEO named John Rogers Jr. was able to beat Jordan. Not only did this happen in front of witnesses, but there was video of it too.

Add to that the fact that Damon Wayans was in attendance. So the camp-goers got the rare treat of watching Wayans let loose his stand-up wit on Jordan as well. My only question is why did it take this long for the video to come out. You know that no one believed Rogers back home.

Going to Michael Jordan's basketball camp - a lot of money
Playing Michael Jordan and not being NBA quality - almost unreachable

Beating Michael Jordan, in front of witnesses while being video taped, and having Damon Wayans take your back - truely priceless



So where is Tiger at? I feel lucky.

Can the Wayans make it on VH1

**This post can also be seen at All American Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

Do we need another celebrity reality series? Is there any reason for another ‘reality’ program of any sort? Obviously network television executives think so. And one of the upcoming programs has potential. That is the potential to by abysmally bad, or astoundingly good. My bet is towards the bad, and mark my words, there is no middle ground.

Why are there so many ‘reality’ programs? They are cheap. They are dumb. They embarrass, in general, individuals and more commonly these days’ celebrities. The first 2 reasons are attractive to networks because it means they are easy to profit off of. No real sets, smaller crews, no writers (sort of), and no debates on renewing contracts. But all the profits of a successful show even if it’s only in the lower half of all programs on television.

The last reason is self-defining. The public loves to watch entertainers and celebrities fall. Add into the mix the fact that these shows tend to emphasize the bottom tier of notables, those with lesser or barely existent talents and the envy gives way to mean spirited laughter at their expense. That’s the honest answer why most watch these things. It’s not humor with, but at those on the program. It’s the most base and scraping the bottom of the barrel common denominator in television since it was invented.

This reminds me of what Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Williams used to call television, ITV. Meaning idiot television. 20 years after the fact he is more correct than ever before.

But there are moments of real human interest. Like when Flava Flav would up in a relationship with Bridgette Nielsen, who would have guessed that? Or that Christopher Knight would wind up marrying model Adrianne Curry. But such real and warm moments are fleeting.

Then there are the programs made to emulate the reality of life, with a twist. Like the show Entourage. I’ve never seen it, so I have no clue on its appeal or quality. But I trust the multiple sources that state it’s wonderful. Even moreso because it seems that the Wayans’ family will be involved with a similar (possibly rip-off) version of the program. You know you are doing well in Hollywood when others copy what you are doing.

Now the word is that this will be on VH1. And thus we see how it could be great or horrendous and nothing in-between. VH1 LOVES celebrity ‘reality’ programs. They love to talk about anything involving un-scripted celebrity life. Entourage is right in that vain. And as one blogger mentioned (Whudat.com) if it’s about the lives of the various Wayans clan that could be interesting.

But on the other side are the issues. VH1 is owned by Viacom, the company responsible for the programming at Black Entertainment Television (BET) for years. VH1 is home of the various Flava Flav programs like Flava of Love. To say it succinctly, Viacom has shown a repeated, company wide, ideology of portraying African Americans in the worst light possible.

Add to that that the last several project headed by Shawn Wayans, Lil Man and White Chicks, have neither been the most successful or highest quality to come out of the family. While there is a relationship with Viacom (the old WB program headed by Shawn and Marlon is shown regularly on BET) that is not to say it’s a great one. And if this Entourage-esque program is just their written work, given the standards and expectations of Viacom, horror seems a big potential.

Now I have nothing against the probably most successful Black family in television and movies. I like the work that Keenan and Damon have done, generally. There’s even been one or 2 things that Shawn and Marlon have done that was of some interest. And I love the fact that they provide more work for more African Americans and minorities than roughly a dozen other programs or films, in front of the camera and behind it.

But I still have reservations. Will I see what the program is like when it’s announced? Surely. Will I be happy to know that they are employing so many that every other studio and Production Company seems to be oblivious to, definitely. Would I look at the minor characters and sideline people for up and coming stars? Without doubt, as the family has a knack for finding and developing talent everyone else ignores. [Where did Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, Tommy Davidson, and Jamie Foxx all come from?]

So I will wait and see what VH1 goes with. I hope for a great show, which is quite possible. But I also will steady myself if Viacom is true to its unspoken corporate policy and the program is horrendous. At least we know what the odds are.