@ The Movies: Vantage Point
Friday after work & before the gym, I had to get my twilight movie fix & since I had a free movie pass, I could afford to get popcorn. I decided to spend this free movie pass on “Vantage Point” & had high hopes to actually be entertained to not feel like wasted my pass.The movie started of a little slow but picked up momentum very fast, like within the 1st 10 minutes or so. Once the movie started moving it did not slow down one bit. Well, maybe a little because of the flashback scenes but that made the film very intriguing! The plot was heavily intertwined & if I had not popped three Ritalin (don’t ask) I may have gotten lost when shit really started jumping off.
There were so many things right with this film, that I do not feel like listing them but there was one thing that I found to be a turn off & that was Forrest Whittaker’s role as “Howard Lewis”. Everything Forrest touches usually turns to gold but this time it was fools gold. After winning an Oscar last year, Forrest was reduced to play a somewhat insignificant Magical Negro, which puts him in good company with Morgan Freeman (Shawshank Redemption), Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile), Will Smith (Bagger Vance) & Cuba Gooding Jr (Everything he plays in!) to name a few.
The other thing that I wish was different was what happened to the bad guy. I was really hoping that they would get away with everything. Maybe because I would not mind if something like that happened to the fool we have in office now (disclaimer: I am not a terrorist, not do I support terrorist organizations or have plans to fuck up the “Decider” of America). Anyway, there should be more movies where the bad guy actually gets away.
So outside of introducing a new Magical Negro to the world & my disappointment with another bad guy going do in a lack luster blaze of glory, the film was great & will be added to my DVD collection when it drops and placed with other great movies with starring a Magical Negro. This was mos def a well spent free movie pass!
I wonder what Arab and or Northern African race/culture/religion watchers are saying about the role of very smart & highly organized terrorist roles in the film.
Did you see it? What are your thoughts? Am I tripping on Calling Forrest a Magical Negro in the film???
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Advertised Synopsis:
Thomas Barnes and Kent Taylor are two Secret Service agents assigned to protect President Ashton at a landmark summit on the global war on terror. When President Ashton is shot moments after his arrival in Spain, chaos ensues and disparate lives collide in the hunt for the assassin. In the crowd is Howard Lewis, an American tourist who thinks he's captured the shooter on his camcorder while videotaping the event for his kids back home. Also there is American TV news producer Rex Brooks, relaying the historic event to millions of TV viewers across the globe. As they and others reveal their stories, the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place - and it will become apparent that shocking motivations lurk just beneath the surface.
Labels: At The Movies, Black Issues
posted by Tafari at
7:52 PM
3 Comments:
I haven't seen the film yet so can't comment on that. And this is the first time I've heard the term "Magical Negro." (You truly do learn somethin' new everyday!)
I suppose my militant side is just as offended as others by this archetype that, without a doubt, has been used repeatedly in film. But my more benevolent side can see the truth in this type of character. I've known many black people who are spiritual and know their connection to the earth. History proves that Spirituality is born out of Africa. So it makes sense that others, even in their ignorant disregard (and sometimes lack of humanity) are still able to see the true spirit of black people. Perhaps it is so pointed out in black characters because they see the lack of it in some other peoples.
In that, I can see the beauty in this type of character. It is real, even if tinged with super-humanness. And in reality, isn't it mostly showing the lack of spirituality in others?
Maybe Spike should show the same types of characters (Magical Negro vs Ignorant, Undeserving White Person), but flip the script. Show it from the perspective of the Magical Negro...rather, what he (magic negro) REALLY thinks!
Now that would be a great movie I bet! :)
By
Carla, at Monday, February 25, 2008 10:19:00 AM EST
That would make a great movie.
By
Invisible Woman, at Monday, February 25, 2008 12:38:00 PM EST
*Die Magical Negroes, Die!*
L
By
Lola Gets, at Monday, February 25, 2008 7:02:00 PM EST
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