Black & White (2000)

James Toback's portrait of white and black culture mixing it up on the streets of Manhattan is like two films colliding. In the center of the swirl are a group of upper-class white teens (led by Elijah Wood and pop singer Bijou Phillips) who appropriate hip-hop culture to rebel against their affluent lifestyle, and a posse of gangstas and drug dealers (led by rap producer Oli "Power" Grant) who are themselves trying to get off the streets and into the business culture through their music. Aging indie filmmaker Toback has long shown an interest in character contradictions and quirks. Here the dynamic works: The two groups are genuinely curious about one another and mix with a cautious but untroubled ease. Less successful is the contrived drama that orbits this cultural mix but never quite meshes--such as Ben Stiller as a self-loathing New York cop who blackmails college basketball star Allan Houston into betraying his boyhood buddy turned street criminal.

Toback spices his Altmanesque style of restless camera work and impressionistic intercutting with attitude, nervous energy, and in-your-face sex. There's an interesting story to be told here, but the provocative cultural mix gets lost in the self-conscious melodrama and only periodically roars to life, notably in the edgy, unpredictable scenes with Mike Tyson (an inspired bit of casting that works marvelously). Also featured are rapper Raekwon, supermodel Claudia Schiffer, Brooke Shields, and Robert Downey Jr. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

An enjoyable enough watch even if the plots don't really go anywhere

Drama with two major plot strands: the first is Robert Downey Jr and Brooke Shields as a documentary-making couple making a documentary about white middle-class kids into black hip-hop culture and the second is Allan Houston's young black college basketball player being offered $50,000 by Ben Stiller's corrupt cop to throw a basketball match, which he then does but is then blackmailed by Ben Stiller and threatened with jail if he doesn't rat on his gangster friend Power. If you are a hip-hop fan you will enjoy seeing roles for a number of rappers in this film including Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killer. Also look out for Claudia Schiffer as Houston's treacherous girlfriend and a surprisingly intelligent Mike Tyson in a cameo as himself. Ultimately the plots in this film don't really go anywhere but that said it is still an enjoyable enough watch. July 13, 2008

Not Bad!

Well, I really enjoyed this movie because Im a huge fan of The Wu-Tang Clan and it gave me an opportunity to see some of my favorite band members acting skills! For the most part, Not a huge budget in this film but I have grown up around this type of environment and can relate well! It's star studded but not an overall smash or classic, but I still watch it every now and then! Peace March 11, 2008

Incoherent mix

I'm not an American so I don't know the relationships between whites and blacks, but I think both are presented at their worst in this movie. Some stupid impossible situations with no coherent flow, a lot of open sex, "nothing sacred" - nothing to aspire to in this movie. I bought it despite the bad reviews because I am a huge Elijah Wood fan, and I must tell you that he does shine as always, but only for a few short moments, so it's not worth your money - you will have to suffer to the end to see him kiss Brook Shields. I gave it 2 stars (and not 1)because it is not a mainstream movie, it is a bit different from everything i saw and maybe sometimes funny and interesting, but you know it's all not real. March 16, 2006

Cooperate not segregate

Finally a movie that shows black and white unite and learn about each other's culture. There are various stars in this movie from comedians to athletes, and musicians to actors. Each actor or entertainer played a part. There should be more movies like this one to cut out the sterotype in our American society. I think white kids should stop loving rap, they will turn into negative people. I love seeing Mike Tyson play a small part in this film. December 27, 2005

Worth Watching But This One is Not For Every One

I live in New York City and I could relate to this film. It was not a perfect movie but I think anyone who has some real experience in the New York area, especially in the hip-hop scene might find it interesting, but not necessarily totally accurate. I think Toback is trying to explore stereotypes though. I do not think that he is actually endorsing them here, but, instead, satirizing them - the drug dealer, the sports athlete, the macho male black sex fiend and the rapper. He has some moderate understanding of the peculiar way that blacks and whites are relating to each other in the new era, at least in New York. There are some really telling scenes when Mike Tyson castigates Brooke Shield's camera saying something like : "Wondering what the animal will do next?". I think Toback is trying to explore America's race-obsession but in a very subtle understated way. Hence, the looming camera of Brook Shields (i.e."the media") and the ridiculous questions she asks. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, much of the movie seems so contrived and over-acted. But I am glad he at least tried to explore this topic. I think it will definently appeal more, to strong Wu-tang fans, New Yorkers and younger folks though. He gets an A for effort; C for execution.
November 3, 2005

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