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What constitutes a "black film?"

  • O-Trap
    Had a friend on Facebook ask the following question:

    "[What is the] Best Black films to watch on Netflix on this most snowy of all days?"

    So I ask: What constitutes a black film? What makes a film a "black" film?
  • rmolin73
    Here we go.........
  • wes_mantooth
    Tyler Perry
  • O-Trap
    rmolin73;1562850 wrote:Here we go.........
    I am aware this is going to end up resembling monkeys throwing feces at each other, as most threads do if they involve race.

    But I'm genuinely serious. I asked her, as if I've seen a good one, I would recommend it, but the response was, "if the protagonist is black it is a black film/ cinematic experience."

    Obviously, the former is easy to determine. But the latter still seems nebulous and arbitrary.

    Hopefully, someone can actually give a decent response before this devolves.
  • O-Trap
    wes_mantooth;1562853 wrote:Tyler Perry
    Okay. A starting point. Now what makes it a black film?
  • LJ
    A black ensemble movie

    http://kelciewillis.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/black-ensemble-casts-big-screen-comebacks/
  • Manhattan Buckeye
    I think the person wasn't necessarily trying to be racist, and to the point above was referencing a film by a Black director, which is often Tyler Perry. That is unfortunate given that the Hughes Brothers and Singleton have directed some quality films.
  • ernest_t_bass
    A Spike Lee Joint
  • Manhattan Buckeye
    ernest_t_bass;1562881 wrote:A Spike Lee Joint
    Aside from "Do the Right Thing", I'm not sure what he's done other than being courtside at Knicks games and an annoyance to Reggie Miller. But it made for a great joke on "The Office" when there was a Michael Scott joint.
  • O-Trap
    Manhattan Buckeye;1562864 wrote:I think the person wasn't necessarily trying to be racist, and to the point above was referencing a film by a Black director, which is often Tyler Perry. That is unfortunate given that the Hughes Brothers and Singleton have directed some quality films.
    Oh I don't think she was trying to be racist at all, and I didn't take it that way.

    Moreover, there might be such a thing as a "black film," if it was intended to be so and there are criteria for it. I was just curious what she was actually looking for. Would Ali be considered a black film? Django: Unchained? Boyz N the Hood? Coming to America?
  • Con_Alma
    O-Trap;1562902 wrote:... if it was intended to be so and there are criteria for it. I was just curious what she was actually looking for....
    ...that could be the answer....one that was intended to appeal to the black community or one that the black community found appealing.

    It would make your question hard to answer if you didn't know the intentions of the producer or have seen the response of the black community to a particular film.
  • LJ
    O-Trap;1562902 wrote:Oh I don't think she was trying to be racist at all, and I didn't take it that way.

    Moreover, there might be such a thing as a "black film," if it was intended to be so and there are criteria for it. I was just curious what she was actually looking for. Would Ali be considered a black film? Django: Unchained? Boyz N the Hood? Coming to America?
    See below
  • ptown_trojans_1
    Manhattan Buckeye;1562888 wrote:Aside from "Do the Right Thing", I'm not sure what he's done other than being courtside at Knicks games and an annoyance to Reggie Miller. But it made for a great joke on "The Office" when there was a Michael Scott joint.
    Malcolm X, Mo Better Blues, He Got Game, Original Kings of Comedy, Inside Man, and Mike Tyson show.

    Those are his great films in my view.


    As to what is a black film, I'd say a largely black cast. Simple as that. Doesn't have to be a comedy at all. So, yeah O-Trap, all those movies you listed would probably be listed as a Black film.
  • wes_mantooth
    O-Trap;1562858 wrote:Okay. A starting point. Now what makes it a black film?
    All black cast typically and I don't know one white person that can stand his shows or movies

    Problem is....I don't know one black person that can stand his shows or movies
  • Manhattan Buckeye
    ptown_trojans_1;1562920 wrote:Malcolm X, Mo Better Blues, He Got Game, Original Kings of Comedy, Inside Man, and Mike Tyson show.

    Those are his great films in my view.


    As to what is a black film, I'd say a largely black cast. Simple as that. Doesn't have to be a comedy at all. So, yeah O-Trap, all those movies you listed would probably be listed as a Black film.
    Malcolm X is a maybe. Mo Better Blues and He Got Game haven't aged well. I haven't seen the rest so no judgment one way or the other.
  • Ironman92
    Cool Runnings

    The Klumps

    Lol
  • Rotinaj
    New Jack City.
  • GoChiefs
    Boyz N Tha Hood
  • Belly35
    "mofo" is in the dialogue
  • reclegend22
    Manhattan Buckeye;1562888 wrote:Aside from "Do the Right Thing", I'm not sure what he's done other than being courtside at Knicks games and an annoyance to Reggie Miller. But it made for a great joke on "The Office" when there was a Michael Scott joint.
    Inside Man was a Spike Lee Joint and it was one excellent film.
  • BRF
    Shaft!

    They say that cat Shaft is a bad....

    hush yo mouth!
  • O-Trap
    I would have lost a bet on how long this stayed civil.

    So, largely black cast. What about a mostly-white cast with a black protagonist and a theme around a major moment in black history?
  • BRF
    The Mod Squad

    Linc


    major moment: the 60's
  • Chesapeake
    At some point, they're gonna have to stop having black colleges, black tv channels and etc. Shit is racist.
  • BRF
    ^^ oh wait........that was a TV show....my bad.