Issue #1
Nov.2nd 2000
SNEAKING INTO THE MOVIES ...with Benny Blanco from the Bronx.
BAMBOOZLED.
Has Spike Lee done it again?
The most prominent African-American director since Gordon Park (Shaft), latest foray into film making, Bamboozled, is a controversial depiction of Blacks in network television. Damon Wayans stars as Pierless “Pierre” DeLaqua, an executive who is pressed into developing anew sitcom for his struggling network. His creation “Mantan’s New Millenium Minstrel Show” features the dancing talent of street hoofer turned blackface celebrity, Manray (Savion Glover) and his sidekick Sleep n’ Eat (Tommy Davidson). Needless to say, the development of a variety show, based on “Amos and Andy” and featuring African-American characters in blackface, stirs up a melee of controversy, ultimately leading to the show’s success, tempered by an upsurge of reactionary angst from certain segments of the Black community.
Reminiscent of “Fight the Power”, Lee delivers a powerful statement, while maintaining the objectivity of the camera. He expertly blends reality with
fiction, giving the audience the surreal feel of a documentary, while presenting subject matter that is so far over the top that it becomes bizarre and at times laughable. The film’s most powerful moment comes when the two stars of Mantan appear onstage in blackface in front of stunned and confused audience. Both the fictional and real viewers are divided in
whether or not to laugh or cry at the ridiculous behavior exhibited by the shucking and jiving duo. The film mimics a range of conflicts that we find
in real life. Spike explores the relationships between the rich and poor, Blacks and Whites, men and women, as well between the community and the individual. He does it all in his signature style, by masking truth in lies and pairing logic with folly. The film reminds us of the strength of
the “Black” dollar and the popularity of anything that has to do with “Black” culture. Several hip-hop artists make cameo appearances, enhancing the realism of the project. The “Mau-Mau”, a group of pseudo mc-revolutionairies, made up of Charli Baltimore, MC Serrate, DJ Scratch, Cannabis, Mumms, better known as Poet from HBO’s hit series Oz, and Mos Def (who’s breakthrough performance as Julius a.k.a. Big Blak Africa is masterful), present a refreshing view of rappers who are about something more than diamond rings and shiny things. Hopefully, their roles in the film are true representations of their off-camera personalities. The real life single “BLAHBLAH” appears on the soundtrack by BLAHBLAH records.
Overall, the film is very impressive. The only potential criticism lies in the length. It starts to lag at the two-hour mark, but with the late additions of some very important twists and character developments, Spike is able to close with a bang. Damon Wayans is superb, stretching his role, forcing the viewer to appreciate the satirical nature of the film, while portraying a man who is both sincere and despicable. Savion Glover proves that dancing is not his only talent by delivering a staggering performance as a character that grows as an individual through the course of the movie. Through graceful cinematography and excellent supporting performances from Jada Pinkett-Smith as DeLaqua’s ambitious assistant, and Michael Rappaport as the “I’m white but I grew up around Negroes” network director, Bamboozled engages, enlightens and entertains its audience. Personally, I seriously doubted that any network could even consider airing a show such as Mantan, but through the course of the film I started wondering. I was also forced to consider the lengths that some people may go to achieve fame and fortune, which raised the question “are we all dancing for the system while making clowns out of ourselves for a few measly dollars?”
My advice: see Bamboozled it is definitely a movie that you will enjoy, definitely worth the $9.75,and it definitely will evoke thoughtful and inciting conversation with whomever you choose to see it with. Yes, Spike has done it again; my rating 4 out of 5 stars.
Im out!
Benny Blanco
-from the Bronx
NUBIAN ARTS Vol.1
