In the current review we can read :
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While all the main characters are black, this story transcends race
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Why this sentence is never written about white movie ?
"While all the main characters are white, this story transcends race"
Funny comment.
I agree. Just because this movie is a primarily black story doesn't make it inexorably good. What we have here is a quite mediocre film. It has a story with everywhere and nowhere to go. What I mean by this is Denzel Washington had a great opportunity to really make this a film that could say something. The fact that it even bothered to tread on the "*beep* and his master" card even once proves that emotional maturity for a film about a difficult black life has not yet been reached.
This film is not without it's good parts, specifically the opening dream sequence and the "Antwone confronts his Mother" scene, but in the end it shoots in a wrong direction. I have faith Denzel can do better than this.
If you want to see a film that truly transcends race you have a plethora to choose from, but "Antwone Fisher" happens not to be in the bunch.
I agree. I saw this film and I didn't think much of it. I am not a Denzel Washington fan. I saw the movie "Training Day" and his performance was much more disturbing than it was Academy Award material. "Antwone Fisher" is not a great mediocre film but a mediocre mediocre film and a sizable disappointment.
shareAnyone who thought "Antwone Fisher" was mediocre...well, you're entitled to your opinion, but *I* think that this is one of the best films I have ever seen.
...and that comment about the film "transending race." was made, of course, becasue most of the time, "Black" films made by the Hollywood machine dwell on their "Blackness," and not the actual personalities of their characters. The characters are often given stereotypical "stock" types: the thug, the player, the hootchie, etc. This film transends all of that. It tells a real story about a real man in a real way. And I applaud it for that.
And no one's ever going to say that about a film with an all-white cast becasue...there's no need. White people *run* Hollywood. White people *own* Hollywood. It's not a strange and unusual thing to see a film with and about white people *not* dwell upon race. It *is,* however, strange and unusual to see a Black film not dwell upon race.
This movie was so good that it had me crying tears of joy at the end. Very few films are worthy of emotions like that from me, in my opinion.
it's funny because in most white movies, there is at least one white person acting "black". have u noticed that too?
stay sexy
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"The characters are often given stereotypical "stock" types: the thug, the player, the hootchie, etc."
I live in Detroit. They really act like that.
"The spirit is willing, but the flesh is spongy and bruised."
I don't think you understood the first poster's question. The question is about the supremacy of Hollywood and the obvious bigotry.
shareMe personally, I think the whole "this movie transcends race" comment that,like the other poster said are tagged onto black films, is stupid for the simple fact that I don't see why such a film has to so-called transcend race for anybody to like it in the first place. That dosen't have s*** to do with whether a movie is good or bad. I watch foreign films all the time---Asian,European, & African in particular---and they are made for their specific audiences---they could care less about "trancending race". The point I'm trying to make is why the hell should a film with an all-black cast or an all Asian-American cast (interestingly enough, there were similar comments made about BETTER LUCK TOMORROW,a good film which had an all AA cast) or any non-white cast have to "transcend race" for anybody to like it. I think that's just plain prejudice on the part of the studios/distributors/marketing people who apparently won't give the white audience credit for just wanting to want a damn good film, no matter who the hell's in it. That's the way I look at a film, period---it's either good or it isn't. BTW, I didn't think ANTWONE FISHER was a great film either, but I would hardly call it mediocre, since I found it very moving sad and thoughful myself--I almost cried at the ending,too.
To the poster who claimed that there are no good stereotypical black films out there---not true---there's a lot of them--the problem is that they tend to be independent films made by independent black directors/writers/producers, which means they have a harder time getting made/distrubuted/seen because they weren't made with the backing of the Hollywood system. Plus they tend to show black people/other people of color in a more realistic and thoughtful light, and since they don't present us in the same negative light that Hollywood presents us in,that means that most of them go straight to DVD being virtually unheard of---the kind of movies you find at your local Blockbusters or local DVD rental place (not Blockbusters) and wonder why you haven't heard of them, particularly after you watch some of them and find out that they're surprisingly good movies. Here's a list of really good ones I've seen:
PARK DAY
MARRIAGE PREP
THE LIST
ALL ABOUT YOU
LOVE COME DOWN
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
UNTAMED WOMEN
HIGHWAY PATROLMEN
DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST
MIXING NIA
ALMA'S RAINBOW
THE BUS IS COMING
BUCK AND THE PREACHER (this is actually a very good 1972 Hollywood black western made by Sidney Poitier,but it seems to have been virtually forgotten,so I'm giving it a mention)
Training Day was great...
Antwone Fisher is excellent.
One is a fake cop action/drama, the other is a true story about a living breathing human being.
Maybe you only think that because it doesn't transcend race as well as whoever originally said that believes it does. Mm?
There -are- cultural differences to take into account here. I enjoyed the movie, and believe it very well reflects a seemingly growing issue that's obviously not very often talked about.
No one said that because it's a "primarily black story" (even though there are clear reflections along many different cultures) it's inexorably good. It's good because it's good.
What I find profoundly interesting is your grave misunderstanding not only its points, like, for example, the "master and the slave" *card* as you put it, though it has absolutely NOTHING to do with race and EVERYTHING to do with culture, psychology and sociology, with dominance and submissiveness and especially distribution of power and where it lies, but the overall film itself.
Try thinking outside of your cultural box. And if you can't be bothered to do that, don't bother watching films that don't reflect your culture. This way, you won't sound so ignorant when you rate them at least.
yeah, i wonder things like that too. it's ignorant.
*shakes her head*
--d
http://www.angelfire.com/journal/dabu
I totally agree.
I mean, what's the big deal? So many films out there have all-white casts, and they're never commented on like that.
God bless,
Lois
- x -
it's a big deal because most 'black' movies are portrayed in a negative light, white movies have been praised for decades, so when a GOOD black movie comes out, (that is not about drugs and pimpin' etc) people tend to think it's a really good thing. I think you should think about what you're posting before you do in future, because everything you typed in that message was complete rubbish.
shareThis comment is why so many black films aren't made or even consider by the time Oscar nominations are coming around. But who cares about the Oscars anyway. This was a very moving and wonderful film. I think all stories should try to transcend race, religion or whatever else. This comment implies alot does a black film has to have a white character for it to be a major success? No for the slow people. For the person who wrote that comment. Hey black people can be dramatic lol. Denzel did a terrific job his first time out. The shots and mise en scene was great. And for all those people who think this film was medicore and your're not feeling this story. You are emotionally dead. Thank you for reading. Support and encourage all minority films.
shareI read your comments and I respect you for making them. But I totally disagree with you on some issues. I don't think people are promoting the fact that and all black casts if the greatest thing on film, but it is rare in films to see one. I think Baby Boy is one of the worst films ever made along with many others. But there aren't enough films out there for people of different cultures. That example can be seen by some of the awards ceremony that doesn't regconizes the good ones like Monsoon Wedding, Real Women Have Curves, Antwone Fisher and even good documentries.
I can't believe you actually think that high schools and really all schools teach a "diverse" curriculm. From the beginning schools always teach you about George Washingston, Abe Lincoln, the Civil War, and some African American history doesn't start in some history books until the civil rights movement or slavery. I think all history needs to be taught not just tic for tac. I learned more history in my college courses and my own readings than in high school were they don't teach s*!#.
I want to be the first to say to you be proud being white nobody is telling you not to be. But I feel pop culture is gear more towards the white masses more than other cultures. I also feel it's promoted everyday. So no one is trying to be racist but you have to admit when a comment such as this is being made "While all the main characters are black, this story transcends race" one has to think about the one writing the comment and who is the comment is for.
This society will never be color blind as long as you have prejudice and stereotypes of all people.
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I just read your remarks and your cool with me
shareeminem is a rapper....therefore you consider him to be :as black as anywhite man could be" a white man raps, and wears baggy clothes...this makes him black? talk about stereotyping. i guess if a black man dresses up in western gear and sings country hes white? like you said:"The fact is, however, that we will never get past prejudice and stereotyping." maybe you should look at yourself first, before looking at everyone else.
-"how did i escape?.......with difficulty"
"how did i plan this moment?...... with pleasure."
rebelo, my man you have to understand how they market films. The whole point is profit. They make "black" as "accessible" as the audience wants it to be. A majority of the cinema fans want to enjoy a film such as "Never Die Alone" or "Are we there yet?". What could be a goofy, stupid film to you, could be entertaining to another segment of the population. You have to keep in mind that production companies greenlight a lot of the crap you don't like because there is a profit in it. We could have African-American "auteurs" like Julie Dash or Kassi Lemmons who make serious-minded black film, but instead we "keep it real" with the DMX themed action films. (no disrespect to X) Our main man Mike Epps keeps the "comic relief" rolling in Resident Evil: Apocalypse and your "black is cooler" theme is mimicked by a segment of white culture. And as for the american history angle - keep in mind; "Black History Month" and "White History Year!"
It's a given fact the pop culture of whites is rammed down our throat ; Friends (was the most popular running NBC comedy ever), Allie McBeal, Simpsons, blah blah blah - it got so bad there had to be a black network, the WB and UPN. Don't worry about the "white heritage" thing - just check the local blockbuster War of the Worlds (Tom Cruise), Batman Begins (Christian Bale) and in the upcoming "The New World" and Herbie Reloaded (Lindsay Lohan) - its all good dude - its all white for the next decade - XXX State of the Union flopped.
The majority of white youths depend on where you are, my man. I don't quite think the trend has spread as much as you think. We wont be seeing "The Hamptons in Hood" or "That's my White Mama" anytime soon.
later!
African Americans make up 12.3 percent of the united states population. I dont know about the school that you went to but my high school incorporated African American history into our lesson plan about a tenth of the time, which is about right.
No matter your race, if you live in the US and attend an American History class you will be taught American History. If all of the sudden all the white people moved out of America and America was 100 percent black, in your 100% black American History class they would teach about white people because white people made up most of the population.
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they teach alot actually, mostly in elementary school, i believe its one of the first history classes taught....
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quote from mophaneart: This society will never be color blind as long as you have prejudice and stereotypes of all people.
Surely being colour blind is not the solution? To be colour blind is to completely ignore the fact that you're looking at a black/white/brown/yellow/green/whatever person, ignoring their culture and ignoring a whole bunch of things.
I think... the solution is, instead of being oblivious to people's skin tones, we should embrace and accept people of other cultures/races for who they are on a personal level first and foremost, IE who they are as a person. But not forgetting what background they have come from. Accepting it.
Although, having said that... I'm tired and I want to finish this post quick... white people are made to be ashamed of the fact that they're white so that other races have their "equality". Surely now, in this current (and ongoing) state of affairs, if other races want to be equal (which they are, regardless.. we are all equal as the human race) then they too should be made to feel ashamed of who they are.
I'm not racist. Whoever decides what is and isn't racist is racist in their implied hatred of the white race in preference of the rest of the races of the world. And that is definitely over-use of the word race.
In short: If you're not white, be proud, you're allowed. We're not. It's fascist if we show any pride.
As soon as that changes, the world will be a much, MUCH better place. And we may even have films with reviews including: Despite having an all white cast, this film transcends race, or whatever the line in one of the first few posts said.
If I was more awake, this would be more structured and coherent, but hey, at least I didn't make any spelling or grammar mistakes, and surely THAT, my fellow internet geeks (coz everyone online is a geek), is what is important.
Not all this race crap.
While all the main characters are black, this story transcends race
You will never read that sentence in regards to a white movie because it goes without saying. This society is white male heterosexual dominated. In the last thirty years of Oscars, how many winning films have had an ethnic minority centered cast? Zero. You can tell me Driving Miss Daisy or In the Heat of the Night, but neither places people of color at the center of the story without their having to share it with white characters of equal importance. Dances With Wolves, the one film that focuses on Native Americans, is told from a white man's perspective and identifies the Native Americans as the "other." A female centered story that wins Oscar's? Three in thirty years. And none with gay, lesbian or bisexual main characters.
Some people have written some very embarrassing and offensive things in this thread in regards to race relations in the United States. Great inequalities exist between the different races in America and the attitudes expressed by certain people on this post do nothing but perpetuate racism in this country. Sometimes it's best we open our eyes and realize the damage we unconciously cause.
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The fact that this movie "transcends" race is what white people say when they go to see the film. Antwone Fisher may be a very traditional film but it definitely is a black film. The film is about healing through the search for family. That is made clear in the first scene of the film. Antwone dreams that he is welcomed by generations of his family not just mother and father and two kids, but his by ancestors. That’s a Black thang!
His transformation is made with the help of a Black man who not only guides him, but gives him pride in his own culture and explains the abusive behavior of his foster family by giving him the book The Slave Community (which gentleman who claims he knows Black history should read). The doctor also helps him with his issues around confidence which are partly rooted in skin color issues and by giving him a book on Marcus Garvey. Now that is about as Black as you can get. The film ends with a family reunion where he is welcomed home by the eldest member of the family, another Black thang! I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. Most whites do not think of whiteness as race or ethnicity, to them it is invisible, normal, average, regular so when a critic makes a comment like that, they think it is a complement. They said the same thing about Barbeshop and Drumline. If we are not killing ourselves, selling crack or our bodies, most whites cannot relate to the Black cultural elements any of these these film, because they are blissfully ignorant of most elements of our culture. Ignore them, support these film and Hollywood will make more films that they think they totally "understand".
Well that is never said about a movie with an all white cast because movies with all white cast never transcends race.
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