ME vs. Black Cinema

All right, let me ask you this question, and at the same time, i'm going to ask myself this. What was the last good film you saw where the majority of the cast was black?

think for a second... *thinking*

ok, Miracle at St. Anna written by James McBride and directed by Spike Lee. Hm. If you know some history about black cinema, you know some of the best black films came from Spike Lee. Some others from John Singleton and F. Gary Grey. Now, what my problem with black films is that they are becoming all too typical, predictable, and flat out, the same thing over and over again. Aside from like a handful of good dramatic films, its mostly Comedy or Romantic Comedy. I love romantic comedies. What I dont love is seeing the same actors playing the same roles in the same situations with the same outcome. I will give it to Tyler Perry for having some decent writing and cinematography in his films, but the whole black people being down, lets go to church thing is getting very old aside from Why Did I Get Married and The Family That Prays.(they actually didnt really even pray haha) It happens in real life, but can we please see something different? Why is it that ever damn year at Sundance or Cannes or the other popular film festivals we do not ever see any films with a black cast? When it comes to major film companies or major motion pictures do we get Next Day Air, This Christmas, First Sunday, and all this other shit that is exactly the same shit thats been put out for years. I liked Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins but I think that was the last straw for me as far as black comedies go. I'm tired of it.

Can we get another Antwuan Fisher mam?! Can we get another Boyz in the Hood? Can we get another Mo Betta Blues? Or a Best Man? PLEASE! I mean, I know we(black ppl) can write good films I know it because I've seen it. But why is not happening? Can I see a black film that doesnt bring the race factor in aaall the time? Is that impossible? Ah, and my final plea is, CAN WE STOP CASTING RAPPERS WHO CANT ACT FOR SHIT????? Seriously. Spike can't do it all by himself. The last good John Singleton movie was what? Baby Boy? Surprisingly, Tyrese and Snoop did good jobs. Idlewild, eh it was ok. ATL, humorous , but I'll pass. I'm sorry, but I'm tired of this shit. This is the second reason why I got into film in the first place. The first is because I like writing stories period, we all know that, but I definitely want to bring black cinema back. Or at least be one of the people who does it. I'm not saying that to be cocky but thats a goal for me. At the end of the day, as black people, we can do better.


p.s.I orignally wanted to see Next Day Air, but taking a look at it, its just like the rest of em. I just like seeing Mos and Wood Harris on screen. =]