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One Black Critic Says I Refuse To See A Black Biopic Directed By A White

posted 10 years ago by FuriousQuik
9 replies | jump to latest

So there's an article from a black film critic floating around the net whose says she refuses to see this film because the white director of "The Help" is directing it. Is it really that serious ? Can't it just be about the love of an Universal Artist like James Brown ? If Bill Duke, Ernest Dickerson or Julie Dash were to take on biopics on Tito Puente, The Bee Gees or Kurt Cobain, I wouldn't care that the director is black! I'd be going to see the film for the music and to learn more about the subject. What are you thoughts

He think hes bad with class! Im gonna rock this shotgun up his *beep* ass!

[–] dacookielad 10 years ago

People who use the race card to justify their complaining are just as bad as feminists who do the exact same thing.

[–] choyt19 10 years ago

Given the current filmmaking climate, we could've easily ended up with Tyler Perry's Get On Up.

Does a world with a movie like that sound like a world worth living in?!

------Jesus loves you, but only as a friend.------

[–] mjack421 10 years ago

As a black man, that is just idiotic to have that viewpoint. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit.

moviemanjackson.wordpress.com

[–] Ithilfaen 10 years ago

<sarcasm> No! Obviously we should all only be concerned about people from our race and care and admire people we most closely resemble. Otherwise, it's blatant racism! </sarcasm>

Yeah people are stupid. Even some black people. Sadly no color is exempt from having morons in their ranks.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] threadman80 10 years ago

Taylor Hackford directed Ray, and did a fine job with that. Plus he has Helen Mirren- extra points for that.

[–] Iceman-15 10 years ago

Normally, I'd agree with you. Talent, and is the director versed on the subject are usually the main issues for me. But in this case, I think it needed a black director to bring the "soul" of James Brown, and that era to life. I mean, James Brown made a song called "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud." Which at that time was an anthem for black people. I don't think a white director can really relate to that.

I graduated from the college of the streets, I gotta Phd in how to make ends meet.

[–] BrwnSongBird 10 years ago

I agree there. What I also found rather disturbing about the movie is that they swept over Teddy Brown's death like it was nothing in favor of James Brown 'mourning' over Ben Bart's death. What kind of bizarre mess is that? In actuality, James Brown didn't even attend Ben Bart's funeral and I doubt he had tears streaming down his face like Chadwick was instructed to have.

There were a several flaws in this movie and apparently, James Brown's son wasn't too thrilled with it either. He recently wrote some type of piece discussing the movie and the errors in it.

[–] sandifay62 10 years ago

I wasn't surprised that a lot was glossed over. That's how most biopics turn out. This movie wasn't perfect and wasn't that deep. But It's not because of the race of the director, it's because of the level of talent of the director. Any better director no matter what race would've done a better and more thorough job.

They're lucky it wasn't directed by Quentin Tarantino. Lol

[–] joekiddlouischama 10 years ago

But It's not because of the race of the director, it's because of the level of talent of the director. Any better director no matter what race would've done a better and more thorough job.

I concur; ultimately, what counts is the quality of the filmmaker, irrespective of race.

The argument is that a white person cannot fully understand what it's like to be black in America, and that's probably true. The argument also is not a new one; when Clint Eastwood directed Bird, a 1988 biopic of Charlie Parker, Spike Lee suggested that a white man should have directed the film. The NAACP evidently disagreed; it gave Eastwood an NAACP Image Award in response to the film.

http://www.film.com/photos/clint-eastwood/attachment/clint-eastwood-fo rest-whitaker-annual

But even if a white person cannot fully understand what it's like to be black in America, that does not mean that he or she cannot do a good job of grasping the human elements and transmitting them to the screen. What counts is the quality of the director.