Shooting on video with a near-improvisational style, Lee's confrontational filmmaking seems ideally suited to this kind of material, combining sharp satire with harsh drama as it examines the sorry state of African-American characters on television. He seizes every "negro" icon, shoves it in our face and shatters it forever; in this way the film is important and filled with raw vitality. Yet the utter lack of irony makes it also feel forced and preachy, even though Lee is smart enough not to draw obvious conclusions. He jabs his own subculture just as much as he invokes "white angst" with the incessantly bigoted imagery. Much of the film is extremely funny, even as we squirm at the horrific stereotypes on display, both in the minstrel show and in the film itself. Wayans never quite emerges beyond a comedy sketch character, but the rest of the cast is terrific. Glover and especially Davidson shine as the two artists who gradually realise how serious this game is. Perhaps Lee's biggest mistake is to never take the issue beyond his insular world (Asian, Latino and Eastern Europeans stereotypes are just as bad!). By relaxing and opening up his approach just a little he could have said much more.

adult themes, language, violence

2.Apr.01

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