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August brings with it another fun genre fest, so we’re going to take a quick look at this year’s Toronto After Dark fest by reviewing the French arty blaxploitation epic Black, as well as the insanely delayed anthology-style horror flick, Trick r’ Treat. We’ll also be reviewing this weekend’s biggest new film, the ambitious first feature from Neill Blomkamp, a sci-fi actioner called District 9.
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[...] Listen to our review from podcast #146 [...]
There were a few good bits in BLACK and a few good laughs (such as the mumu scene.), but I actually did get a bit bored with this movie. Was too long. The main actor was really bad. But I actually thought he was bad in a good way.
P.S. Nice with the Sunset Rubdown.
I was waiting for that. I played it just for you. WORD!
I have mates who worked on the film and who spoke with the director about the Nigerian stereotype. He was trying to represent what he experienced in South Africa, and the unfortunate fact is, there *are* Nigerian gangs who have taken over many areas in South Africa, who did subsist in segregated areas, usually with some kind of head honcho, selling some illicit product. Although “un-PC” compared with what we expect these days from film, South Africa is an unusual place from what I’ve been told due to the recency and severity of its race issues. The director, I heard, was also trying to highlight how minorities begin to work against each other when there are scarce resources. He wanted to present what he saw and experienced, as awful as it is. That’s not to say, IMHO, that all Nigerians are like that (not at all!) But I think it is interesting to consider how film makers are supposed to present brutal realities about some members of ethnic groups without insulting the rest of them. So, I think it would be good to talk with the director directly about those stereotypes, because I think it would be an interesting dialogue.
Please note that at the end of this broadcast we announced a Tarantino special could be heard on our site. This show is now postponed until next week but in the meantime you can always check out Episode 143 for our review of Inglourious Basterds.
Thanks