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I’ve vehemently expressed my problems with some of Tyler Perry’s films/works. I eventually had to call a truce – I vowed not to speak badly about Perry in my writing. I realized “It Aint All Tyler Perry’s Fault”. And just as I called a truce with him and let him do his thang, along comes… “The Help”. I haven’t been overtly against “The Help” on this blog – I simply brought to light alternative stories of black women that also need to be told (Reversing a Culture of Ignorance: Women that Were More Than “The Help”). I’m bringing all of this up because I want there to be full disclosure of where I stand when it comes to cinema - particularly black cinema.
There’s been a lot of discussion about the movie “Red Tails” (coming to theaters Friday, Jan. 20). People have been showing their support, detailing why this is a must-see film for the black community and how we have to go out and support it because of the movies black writers and black director. How we as a community have to show movie studios how important the “black dollar” really is. Even George Lucas spoke on it during an interview on Jon Stewart’s show and openly communicated what creative black minds have known for a long time…Hollywood only wants to fund “certain” black films. I read a great article (on one of my favorite film blogs, Shadow and Act) titled “But Does Anyone Really Want to See Red Tails?” that got me thinking… why wouldn’t people want to see Red Tails?
I originally wrote this piece to try and push people to see the movie because, well, of all the reasons I stated before. Then I started thinking…why do we rush out to see movies like “The Help” or “Precious” but have to be prodded and handed the guilt card to go out and support a film about “our story”?? I’ll be the first to say that “The Help” and “Precious” are definitely stories about the African-American experience, but they aren’t the ONLY ONES and they aren’t even a microcosm of the black experience. Why wouldn’t people get into Red Tails too? I mean, it has all the essential elements for a good film: war, action, drama, CGI, romance, and dammit, George Lucas! All of those elements are basically a winning combination for a great film, right?
Is it really that, subconsciously, America as a whole (even Black America), can’t handle black Americans in top roles? Why do we need to have huge campaigns to go out and support this film? “The Help”, any Tyler Perry film (no shade to Tyler, we’re still in a truce), and “Precious” didn’t need to have emailing campaigns, blog campaigns, ect. for people to come out and support it. Look at the majority of films where black actors get critical acclaim. Seriously think about what roles they played! As movie goers, we have to take a look at our current perceptions…
I was in IHOP eating lunch the other day, reading ear hustling on a conversation going on at the table behind me. There were two 30s/40 year-old white women discussing “The Help,” saying how that movie has to be so inspiring for black women. Is that how we feel? Is it really “inspiring” seeing black women as maids? Does it give us pride, considering who they were and where they came from? I’m not diminishing that aspect of black culture/history. That is ONE part of our history. Yes, the maids in the movie did overcome the perception that they were just “The Help”… but do we only believe (or want to see) African-Americans overcome positions of servitude, being down-trodden, or destitute???? “The Help” isn’t the only image that depicts this, but why is it a continuous image we’ve supported in Hollywood since the 1930s?
A few months ago I had the opportunity to see a very special sneak preview of “Red Tails.” It’s a pretty good movie. It had a few historic inaccuracies concerning a some of the prominent characters, but that wasn’t the point of the film. Is seeing black pilots fighting in World War II a problem? People came out in droves to see “Pearl Harbor” a few years back and that movie can’t hold a candle to this.
The point of my post is to say this – I want us ALL to question why we only support one type of black themed film or black actor and dismiss others. If we really look deeper we’ll see that we NEED to support more diverse portrayals of our culture on-screen… not just for the upliftment of the black consciousness, but for our interpretation of humanity.
I want you to go see Red Tails this weekend. But if you don’t, ask yourself - why wouldn’t you?
Mark A. Harris
January 19, 2012
My biggest concern will be only about the quality of the film. Outside of that? I’m going to see it.
I could care less about historical inaccuracies because most films (in Hollywood) have them. What I do care about is if the story is compelling, if the film is worth watching, and if people get off their behinds and watch something positive.
Period.
Maris
January 19, 2012
Here’s my issue…
“Red Tails”, much like “The Help” tells a compelling story of African Americans overcoming stereotypical views to become something more than they are. Wait, that’s also, kinda, what “Precious” was about. And, to some extent, some Tyler Perry films.
My point is, ALL those films only show one aspect of us, when you really break it down, and Red Tails MAY have just come about when people are tired of the “we shall overcome” storyline. I mean, where’s OUR Batman? Wesley Snipes can’t be Blade forever. Where’s OUR “One Fine Day”? Where’s OUR “Sherlock Holmes”? Where’s OUR “Sex and the City”? Where’s OUR anything BUT “Black Issues” stories? What happened to romance, action, thriller, suspense, mystery, HUMAN stories with developed characters that have nothing, at ALL to do with racism or slavery? RT is an important story, I will NEVER dispute that, but IT HAS BEEN TOLD. I would have been much more impressed of Lucas got his Kelsey Grammar on and went hard for a all-black comedy (SUPER hard to do, you see what happened to “Tower Heist”-if not, look it up. It was supposed to be a Black Ocean’s 11 before studio execs got a hold of it.), or even better, an original comedy starring black WOMEN (good luck).
Diggame
January 19, 2012
I agree totally! I just want to bring out the point of diversity in film period! I been waiting for an Octavia Butler joint for a min!
Maris
January 19, 2012
That’s why I am so shout-it-from-the-rooftops about Luther. He is complex, the story is richly developed, it sucks that it’s a mini-series but whatever, but the point is it could have been played by anyone, he just happened to be black. It wasn’t a “black story”, it was a “story with a black guy in it”. Mind you, I say the same about “monster’s ball”, but I won’t rehash that argument
Diggame
January 19, 2012
I have read and heard a lot about Luther but I haven’t sat down and peeped it! I definitely am going to though
Maris
January 19, 2012
It is a MUST see!
Maris
January 19, 2012
I just wanted to point out, though, that “Limitless” would have been MUCH cooler starring Will Smith. Just sayin’.
T-Bone
January 20, 2012
The point of the article to me was that America doesn’t want to see black people in any role unless it is one of being low grade. He seemed to be just using Red Tails as a backdrop. I you may have missed the point with just talking about this war film. America basically doesn’t want to see diverse black roles
Nina L
January 19, 2012
You are EASILY becoming one of my favorite writers with posts like this!! Very thought provoking post here Darryl!
The Pounder
January 19, 2012
Swizz! You were reading my mind man!! Itt shouldn’t have to a discussion because people should want to see this movie! George Lucas is involved what else do you need? As long as Jar Jar Binks doesn’t make an appearance this is a winning movie formula but you ask a good question can we see ourselves outside of “The Help”
Alli
January 19, 2012
I am with the pint you are saying but why the distaste for The Help, Precious, and Tyler Perry? They are all monumental movies that show the intricate dynamics of black culture. I feel your point but your post comes off very elitist and snobbish like you are better than folks who like those movies.
Diggame
January 20, 2012
How am I coming off elitist in this post? All I am asking is questions of why we choose what we choose
The Pounder
January 20, 2012
You don’t even make any sense in what you are saying right now. This post didn’t come off arrogant at all. Maybe the fact you can’t answer why you only support Tyler Perry and “The Help” films and Dig asked the questions to make you take notice made you upset and take it as arrogance
the Uppity negro
January 20, 2012
I’m putting a spoiler alert on this response.
I caught a midnight showing of it and as I was watching it, the movie seemed to be lacking something. After I watched it, I kinda realized it wasn’t lacking so much as it didn’t live up to the hype—or else I’m just off. Certainly the fight scenes were riveting and had me on the edge of my seat, and it was great to see Nate Parker in his role as a young black male actor, but there’s always an x-factor that I think a movie has to have to put it in the EPIC category and based on the hype around it, I was expecting epic.
Now I’ve never seen Star Wars, ergo I’ve never really seen a George Lucas film. I got the impression that a lot of the cinematography and the direction were tell-tale George Lucas markers and I think in retrospect, that was fine. All in all, I think Diggame is right tho, this movie could easily be compared to “Pearl Harbor” in terms of a feel–if we went to go see that, we certainly can go support “Red Tails.”
I found myself in the middle of the movie really saying I haven’t seen such a predominantly all black, and black male cast in a movie not made by Spike Lee or Tyler Perry or directed by John Singleton. It was weird to see a movie where, truth be told, Nate Parker almost solo, carried the movie.
Personally, I think the movie needed Denzel Washington — but I’ma leave it at that.
But, as I said on Twitter, I predict angry black female bloggers are going to destroy this movie to no end. Not having one single black woman in the movie is not going to sit well with them. But I’m just going to point in the direction of “The Color Purple” and walk off.
Diggame
January 20, 2012
I agree with your assessment! I never said it was epic. But that was the point of my post WHY does it need to be epic classic for people want to see a black film unless it is (movies I have talked about in the post)
the Uppity negro
January 21, 2012
Got into a really, REALLY heated debate with friends over Christmas break — in a room where one person had a terminal degree, my other friend is currently in a Ph.D. program, and I with my two advanced degrees — discussing the merits of Tyler Perry movies and the images portrayed. While with all those degrees we discussed more the nuances of the movies and the images portrayed, but what struck me was that I made the claim that TP movies indeed help us as a country move to a time when race doesn’t matter the same way it does now.
No one really saw it that way.
One of my friends, with a theater background, was saying TP has a social responsibility to image blacks in a certain way. I disagree. TP never made the political stances or claims as has the likes of Spike Lee. Which to your point D, we need to at least imagine the day when we can see a mainstream movie with a black cast rather seeing a black movie that’s trying to be mainstream.
Diggame
January 20, 2012
Side bar: I really hope female bloggers take the slant you are anticipating they will
Queen B
January 20, 2012
Why so much hate for “THE Help” and TP! They have given black actors a chance to shine in an industry that doesn’t hirer them much. Writers off you come off like big haters who want everyone be some type of intellectual or prepping type. Support all black movies because we will start to get more movies where they see our dollar move
Jovian Zayne
January 20, 2012
This is it- we’ll said!
“The point of my post is to say this – I want us ALL to question why we only support one type of black themed film or black actor and dismiss others. If we really look deeper we’ll see that we NEED to support more diverse portrayals of our culture on-screen… not just for the upliftment of the black consciousness, but for our interpretation of humanity.”
bill
January 22, 2012
this was nothing more than hollywood rewriting history with one dimensional characters.
Andrew
January 27, 2012
I’ll make each of my points as brief as I can.
On Red Tails itself. I’ve read about the Tuskegee Airmen and saw the HBO drama as well. Red Tails tries to be neither. It merely throws you into the war and sprinkles backstory assuming you already know the basis upon which it is built. It’s an average flick, although the themes are a bit generic. It still manages to be entertaining, because it’s entertainment.
I AM aware of my Blackness, but as a moviegoer I have the right to like what I like. We all do. Movies are entertainment. While I WOULD like to see more non-white actors in traditional roles (it’s SLOWLY happening), I don’t think that becoming a Black filmmaker commits you to carrying the burden of responsibility on your shoulders. I WOULD like more and better representation that Romantic Black Comedies. This isn’t confined to Black actors/actresses or on screen presence. I’d like to see more writers, producers and directors (not just Black ones) move away from Hollywood’s comfort zone. It’s odd that so many of “us” in the industry commit to creating product based on “our” experience and point of view, but give flack to “others” who do the same. It has to be a collective effort. Gimme action. Gimme horror. Gimme drama. Gimme comedy. Gimme biopics. Gimme romance…well maybe not romance. You get the idea. I’m ALL for supporting Black business, but you got to gimme a good product. Loyalty only gets you so far with my dollar. Okay, I’ll shut up…
Anna Renee
January 30, 2012
1. I won’t go see it because I’ve heard it’s a crappy film with one dimensional characters.
2. If I did go see it, does that mean Hollywood will now start wanting to tell black stories, and they will start bankrolling films about Fred Hampton, Angela Davis, or even Oscar Grant?
3. I don’t need George Lucas to tell me about my black history from a Star Wars perspective. I’ll go to the library and learn, plus it’s still free, thank you very much.
4. Lucas, don’t try to make me feel guilty, so you can recoup your investment in RedTails.
5. I don’t like war films.