Zettelhead
Joined Nov 2009
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Ratings64
Zettelhead's rating
Reviews47
Zettelhead's rating
The American Society of Magical Negroes is not only a necessary film, but also a really well-made one with a fantastic cast.
First and foremost, Justice Smith shines as a highly sympathetic, sensitive actor who not only manages to express even the finest emotional nuances, as he has already proven in "All the bright places", but he can also be damn funny.
The love story with An-Li Bogan as a congenial partner is beautiful and touching, and his existence as a failed artist is also portrayed credibly at every moment.
Perhaps the script sometimes follows the "boy meets girl" pattern too much, but given the charm of the main actors, you're happy to accept that. And the twist at the end is just fantastic - my wife and I laughed until we cried...
But now to the elephant in the room: The only reason there can be for this catastrophically bad IMDB rating is that the film doesn't suit many viewers politically. Not only does it attack the "Magical Negro" cliché, but it also addresses the social reality of a large part of American society, namely the fear of being discriminated or even killed for racist reasons. And it does so in a very direct, yet elegant and very convincing way.
It is shocking that the film is being punished with bad reviews for exactly this politically motivated reason. And that is 56 years after James Baldwin said in an episode of The Dick Cavett Show: "I am not your negroe" - an absolute scandal!
So, watch it and help this really great film to get a proper IMDB rating!
First and foremost, Justice Smith shines as a highly sympathetic, sensitive actor who not only manages to express even the finest emotional nuances, as he has already proven in "All the bright places", but he can also be damn funny.
The love story with An-Li Bogan as a congenial partner is beautiful and touching, and his existence as a failed artist is also portrayed credibly at every moment.
Perhaps the script sometimes follows the "boy meets girl" pattern too much, but given the charm of the main actors, you're happy to accept that. And the twist at the end is just fantastic - my wife and I laughed until we cried...
But now to the elephant in the room: The only reason there can be for this catastrophically bad IMDB rating is that the film doesn't suit many viewers politically. Not only does it attack the "Magical Negro" cliché, but it also addresses the social reality of a large part of American society, namely the fear of being discriminated or even killed for racist reasons. And it does so in a very direct, yet elegant and very convincing way.
It is shocking that the film is being punished with bad reviews for exactly this politically motivated reason. And that is 56 years after James Baldwin said in an episode of The Dick Cavett Show: "I am not your negroe" - an absolute scandal!
So, watch it and help this really great film to get a proper IMDB rating!
This one is really hard to judge, because the good and the bad things are in such an extreme opposition. I thought several times: Okay, Spang-Olsen wanted to make a cheap looking B-picture... but then...
Well, let' s start with the good aspects: The acting is very good to great (Kim Bodnia). The script is great and funny and spiced up with a lot of probably improvised jokes and some good running jokes.
On the other hand the music is absolutely terrible and does not work with the story arc. The cinematography is absolutely terrible as well. Most of it looks like a cheap home video form 1986. And the editing is groce as well.
So when you watch this always keep in mind, what a great movie this could have been with good camera, good music and good editing. It would have been big hit, for sure!
On the other hand the music is absolutely terrible and does not work with the story arc. The cinematography is absolutely terrible as well. Most of it looks like a cheap home video form 1986. And the editing is groce as well.
So when you watch this always keep in mind, what a great movie this could have been with good camera, good music and good editing. It would have been big hit, for sure!