In honor of this week's American Black Film Festival in Miami, FL I have selected my top 25 black films that truly have set the mark...to me they are official classics!! Now you may agree or disagree but its all good! I wish I could put them all on the list but only 25 make the cut.
You may ask how did I select my top 25, well there are three basic criteria to which each film must have at least one or all. 1) It must be a movie about the black experience; and/or 2) a movie that is written, produced and/or directed by black people; and/or 3) it has to be a movie with a black person in the lead role. Pretty simple you say, it is believe that. In some cases it will cover all three some two out of three, and just a few that will comprise of only one. In addition, to the criteria listed above there will be other key elements such as cultural influence, box office revenue, and of course a little bit of my own personal bias that will showcase why these particular ones have made the cut.
Well let's get the list started:
1) Do The Right Thing (1989): Do the Right Thing is a 1989 American film produced and directed by Spike Lee, who also wrote its screenplay and who would also be a featured actor in the film.
Do the Right Thing is a brilliant movie that never lags and never lets up. It manages to be vastly entertaining and powerful all at the same time. It would be one of those movies that is truly an amazing achievement in film history, not just black film history. The film also boasts a strong, memorable cast including: Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Samuel L, Jackson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, and John Turturro; and let's not forget the feature film debut of dancer/choreographer Rosie Perez and comedian Martin Lawrence. After watching it you will get a real view on racism that doesn't duck the difficult issues and is not afraid to tackle the real problem, and to see a master director Lee at work. In 2007, the American Film Institute listed the film as the ninety-sixth greatest American Movie in Film History.
2) Malcolm X (1992): This biographical film also directed by Spike Lee would be about the African-American activist and black nationalist Malcolm X. When all was said and done, Lee produced an epic blockbuster and a definite treatment of the man's life. He maintains keeping things fast-paced and interesting with his camera angles and colours/lighting. All that together makes an impressive, moving, beautiful movie – and it is - Malcolm X's story is a story that must be heard, and this biopic is an impressive near-perfect film that, truly, every cultured and intelligent person needs to watch. An added touch to the whole film is the inserted documentary footage, especially at the end, which shows how Malcolm's words still relate today. All in all, its a stirring tribute of a film that to this day still stands the test of time even after its release more than a decade ago. This was in fact a autobiography and educational film which some of the most dynamite performances ever displayed on film. Roger Ebert and Martin Scorsese would both rank Malcolm X among the ten best films of the 1990s.
3) Cooley High (1975): Produced and released by American International Pictures and written by Eric Monte (co-creator of Good Times) this film is definitely a classic of black cinema And with a soundtrack to match even with the time period at hand we still get the great urban landscape, wardrobe and slang...it still doesn't feel dated. What's also unique is the ending in the respect that it's one of the saddest and at the same time uplifting of all movie endings. This film sets the standard for African-American film excellence when it was made. If you watch Cooley High, you will see that many, many films have copied various elements from it in order to strengthen their own films. A prime example of this is Boyz N The Hood. Cooley High is frequently compared favorably to the 1973 George Lucas film American Graffiti and the The Big Chill. It would be ranked #23 on "Entertainment Weekly's" list of the 50 Best High School Movies.
4) The Color Purple (1985): Based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film tells the story of a young African-American girl named Celie and shows the problems faced by African American women during the early 1900s; including poverty, racism, and sexism. The character of Celie is transformed as she finds her self-worth through the help of two strong female companions. This movie can be summed up in two words...Life Transformation, and this film is an ideal example. Whoppi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and the others, all give us their 100% and you can definitely feel it - almost touchable! Goldberg defines who Celie is, she gives her that insecurity and feeling of inferiority that is needed for the character, and we get to grow with her, growing strong together with her, throughout the movie, and we triumph with her. Quincy Jones also adds even more beauty to this splendid film with the musical direction! The photography, the music, the director and the music makes this beautiful, soulful movie into a lifetime experience. Even with all the greatness it would be nominated for 11 Academy Awards, it did not win any! This would definitely ignite controversy because many critics considered it the best picture that year, including Roger Ebert.
5) In The Heat of the Night (1967): Based on the John Ball novel published in 1965, which tells the story of an African-American police detective from Philadelphia who becomes involved in a murder investigation in a racist small town in Mississippi. In order to understand what's happening in In the Heat of the Night you have to realize that it is set in a very specific time period. The Civil Rights Act had been passed three years ago in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act was passed two years earlier in 1965. But the impact of those laws was only beginning to be felt. The film would win five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. It starred Sidney Poitier, Warren Oates, and Rod Steiger, and was directed by Norman Jewison. The film would be followed by two sequels, They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! in 1970, and The Organization in 1971. It also became the basis of a television series entitled "In the Heat of the Night", starring Carroll O'Connor, Howard Rollins, Alan Autry, David Hart, Anne-Marie Johnson, and Hugh O'Connor. The film contains two classic lines read by Poitier. One of which is when Gillespie sarcastically asks Tibbs what they call him in Philadelphia, he snaps, "They call me Mister Tibbs."And the other "You take care now, Virgil," words to give support to the budding civil rights movement, exemplifying that, with effort, racial divides are capable of being overcome. This is one of the few politically correct films to make its point without resorting to heavy-handed, sanctimonious preaching.
6) Body and Soul (1925): Produced, written, directed, and distributed by Oscar Micheaux and starring Paul Robeson in which this would be his motion picture debut. This powerful silent film has Robeson playing two characters: the angelic Sylvester Jenkins and his evil brother, the “Reverend” Isaiah, an ex-con. The original version of Body and Soul was a nine-reel production. But when the filmmaker applied for an exhibition license from the Motion Picture Commission of the State of New York, it was denied approval on the grounds it would “tend to incite to crime” and was “immoral” and “sacrilegious.” Micheaux was then forced to re-edit the film twice before the commission would approve, which now reduced it from nine to five reels. Body and Soul was originally released to cinemas catering to an exclusive African American audience, and for many years the film was unknown to white moviegoers. Now of course, Paul Robeson drives this movie (his only silent appearance), and moviegoers would soon know of his brilliant voice. Without this, his penetrating eyes showed the emotion that must have matched his stage performances. In 2000, Body and Soul was presented at the New York Film Festival with a new musical score composed by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and performed live by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (it will also debut at the 2010 National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, GA). Body and Soul is one of three surviving silent films created by Micheaux, and is considered a lost film.
7) Imitation of Life (1934): This film gives a grand view of race from both sides.Toni Morrison would reference it in her novel
The Bluest Eye. It basically examines black internalized self-hatred, from a white point-of-view. Imitation of Life preached a powerful sermon on racial justice and equality, but the Hollywood congregation was not paying attention. It would be a very long time before black performers get black roles to which they would be treated with the dignity they so desperately deserved. In 2005, Imitation of Life was selected for preservation in the United States, and it was named in 2007 by TIME as one of “The 25 Most Important Films on Race.”
8) Boyz In the Hood (1991): A coming-of-age story about three friends in hot, South Central LA, starring Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Morris Chestnut, whose lives take divergent paths. Written and directed by John Singleton, this would put Singleton on the map in a major way. Before the opening scene of Boyz N' the Hood, two messages flash across the screen: "1 in 21 black males die of murder." and "Most will be killed by other black males." This statement would continue to resonate in present day as well as the future. The most important theme of the film is the benefit of a strong father figure on young black males. Other themes presented, but not covered as extensively, include gentrification of poor neighborhoods, drug abuse, assault weapons, equality in college admission, and cultural bias in standardized testing. At 24, Singleton would become the youngest director ever nominated for Best Director.
9) Glory (1989): An American drama war film based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as told from the point of view of its commanding of ficer, Robert Gould Shaw during the American Civil War. One thing about Glory it does not rely on the visual aspects to accomplish its perfection, but rather it relies on the emotional to convey its message and humanity. This is a film that managed to get some of the best actors of our time, as well as, withdraw from these actors their best abilities. Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman are masterful in this film about an all-Black regiment during the Civil War. Denzel won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Denzel Washington's powerful acting may never again have a showcase like it did in Glory. His beauty, rage, and pride scream in every frame. Glory brings the issues of the time - slavery, freedom and sacrifice - down to human scale. We can understand why the men of the 54th were willing to take up arms, and how tragic it was that they had to sacrifice their lives in order to be considered men.
10) Native Son (1951): Written and Directed by Pierre Chenal, and based on Richard Wright’s book, Native Son, its the first major black novel to speak against American racism in a strong and defiant voice. It tells the tale of Bigger Thomas (Richard Wright), a young man in Chicago who is hired as a white family’s chauffeur. Richard Wright's Native Son was the first major black novel to speak against American racism in an angry voice. This would translate into a film that speaks against American racism in an angry voice. It takes on many issues which most current films gloss over or ignore entirely. It doesn't have easy answers for the audience, but rather leaves the questions out there for the viewer to ponder.
11) Shaft (1971): Directed by Gordon Parks this was an action film with several elements of film noir. Parks' 'Shaft' may not have been the first blaxploitation movie but it was the most important and commercially successful of the initial batch, and it kicked open the door for other dynamic 1970s screen heroes like The Hammer, Coffy, Black Caesar, Foxy Brown and The Jones' (Black Belt and Cleopatra). In some ways it is one of the most conventional of the blaxploitation genre in the sense that all it really is is a black man (the charismatic Richard Roundtree) playing a part that up until then would have been played by a white one. A simple story with a twist done right. That is Shaft. The concept of a black man as a cool ultra slick, lady lovin' private detective. The black private detective has been imitated by many, but never duplicated quite like him since. With much of the character's success having to be attributable to Richard Roundtree, a perfect fit for the material. He wasn't so much playing a character named John Shaft, but rather he was John Shaft.
12) What's Love Got To Do With It (1993): This powerful biopic tells the life story of Tina Turner, following her story from a child and details the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband and music partner, Ike Turner. It was directed by Brian Gibson and starring Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne. The film is moving but never lets itself become overly emotional or sentimental. Instead it just soldiers on like Tina herself and the final scenes give you an impression of someone who has overcome to get to where she is.This film would also put Angela Bassett at what some may say the pinnacle of her career to date. She proved worthy of this role probably making Tina herself proud as well as her ownself. As an almost perfect production, it meshes together the cinematography, script, acting and music into a dazzling and sometimes horrifying tour de force.
13) Ray (2004 ): The independently produced biographical film on the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jaime Foxx in the title role; Foxx would go on to receive an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. Foxx is able to 100% transform into Charles so much that you believe it is him from the songs to the mannerisms. A fantastic counterpoint to Ray is the featured music. Anyone who loves and knows R&B will enjoy the early recordings of Ray's radio hits as much as his later ones which would bring him to the forefront of popular music today. This is a movie that will viewed over and over for years to come. It does what every movie should strive to do and that is take you to another place and time. Charles was set to attend an opening of the completed film, but he died before its premiere.
14) Purple Rain (1984): Written and Directed by Albert Magnoli, this semi-biographical movie showcases one of the all-time biggest rock stars—Prince Rogers Nelson. Some say the movie idea was apparently developed by Prince during his "Triple Threat" tour. Initially the script would be darker and more coherent. And not to forget the film would gross over $70 million, which speaks volumes for the time and type of genre. Ultimately, Purple Rain is all about the power of music to transcend, transform and uplift everything it touches for good or for ill, though good is ultimately the strongest influence it exudes. The main strength of the movie however is the superb soundtrack. The musical numbers are well staged and nothing short of electrifying. Prince without a doubt is a musical maestro with some acting skills.
15) Claudine (1974): Produced by Third World Films starring Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and King Coleman. Claudine was written by Lester Pine and Tina Pine, and directed by John Berry. It is noted for being one of the few mainstream films featuring a predominantly African-American cast, and released during that time period, that was not a blaxploitation film. It would exemplify the true definition of personal/group struggles and the importance of family bonds. As a result of this film we would soon have the images of an African-American family like the Cosby's and they made it fashionable. This film has the details which make it grittily realistic and believable.
16) Juice(1992): Written and directed by Ernest Dickerson, the film ventures into showing us the lives of four black youths growing up in Harlem. It follows the day to day activities in the young men's lives starting out as innocent mischief but growing more serious as time passes by. This would probably be one of Tupas's best performances as an actor. Many would call this a hip-hop classic especially those from the NYC and surrounding areas. Dickerson does an excellent job with capturing the energy of Harlem in an honest way, not dressed as a stereo-typical slum or focused on the historic 125th street, but neutral to lay the groundwork for the true challenges that living in Harlem has to offer these four young men.
17) Set It Off (1996): Directed by F. Gary Gray, and stars Jada Pinket (now Smith), Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise (in her theatrical debut), as four close friends in Los Angeles, California who decide to plan and execute a bank robbery. They decide to do so for different reasons, although all four want better for themselves and their families. Set It Off does more than showcase a planned robbery but gives us a graphic insight into the possibility of what people might do under certain circumstances and situations to survive. Gray makes imaginative use of L.A. landscape, but the viewer still leaves with a feeling of social conscience, especially when it touches the issue concerning the explosive rage inside the angry black woman, and the harsh realities of trying to survive in a rugged landscape. The movie as a whole is one beautiful creation.
18) Baby Boy (2001): Yet another urban drama film written, produced, and directed by John Singleton, the 90s-early 00's would be his time to shine in the film world. Some have considered it a sequel of sorts to Singleton's earlier, more famous work, Boyz In the Hood . Her would incorporate his intellectual skills, by expressing common black themes that were relevant then and still continue to be relevant now. The film stars the debut of R&B singer Tyrese Gibson (Jody, 20-year boy) who still lives with his mother, is the father of two children from two different mothers, has no real job and often just hangs about complaining and being spoiled. The film looks at this character, and how he begins to develop into manhood. Baby Boy is a great movie that combines drama, comedy, music and action to convey meaningful social issues.
19) She Hate Me (2004): Now here is one of Lee's independent comedy drama films starring newcomer Anthony Mackie, Kerry Washington, Ellen Barkin. The film garnered plenty of controversy, and, as with many of Lee's films, touches on comedy, drama, and politics. Surprisingly, unlike many prior works, Spike Lee does not have an acting credit in this film. This clever and striking film, breaks new ground in art, social commentary, satire, and caricature, with the likes of James Joyce, Marxist philosophers, Marshall McLuhan, Herbert Marcuse and others from the Frankfurt school, and pop culture icons, from Tom Lehrer, Bob Dylan, and Madonna, this film is right (or left) on target. Spike is definitely still a great story teller--even if you don't like the stories he chooses to tell. What makes this film challenging, and perhaps disappointing to some, is that it is so original that it does not easily fit into categories or expectations.
20) Poetic Justice (1993): Also written and directed by John Singleton would star Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Regina King, and Joe Torry. Each of these actor/actress brings an element that to a degree jumpstarts and/or moves their acting career forward. It's a real triumph in presenting a story that looks beyond Hollywood's usual stereotypes of urban youth. Tupac Shakur's performance saddens my heart....because he had so much potential as an actor as proven with his performance here. He had that quality that film actors envy in that the camera loved him.
21) Bamboozled (2000): This satirical film was written and directed by Spike Lee about a modern televised minstrel show featuring black actors donning black-face makeup and the violent fall-out from the show's success. The script expresses rage and grief at media representations of black people, largely through the eyes of its moral center, Sloan Hopkins. It also satirizes many icons of black culture including Ving Rhames, Will Smith (real-life husband of Jada Pinkett-Smith), Johnnie Cochran, and Al Sharpton. In many of the sketches you are prone to laugh, which in a weird twisted way the film has done its job; you then realize you are caught in the act of doing something and made you think. Bamboozled is a well thought, mentally challenging film that will change your life. It's a masterpiece that will leave you speechless, but hopefully will open some closed eyes and minds.
22) City of God (2002): This Brazillian crime dram film was directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund, adapted by Braullio Mantovani from the 1997 novel of the same name written by Paulo Lins. It depicts the growth of organized crime in the "Cidade de Deus" suburb of Rio de Janeiro, between the end of the '60s and the beginning of the '80s, with the closure of the film depicting the war between the drug dealer "Li'l Ze" and criminal "Knockout Ned". The tale of the City of God, and its myriad of characters is told by "Rocket", a young man who struggles to make something of his life, other than to wind up another victim of drugs or gang wars. In addition to the characters in City of God absolutely fascinating, they are also very endearing, but convincingly acted by groups of young and unknown actors. Their stories are well-told, and at times, funny, and at others, brutally shocking. The cinematic style of the film to a degree gives a nod to Tarantino, with some clever time-jumping, freeze-framing, and texts indicating another chapter of the film.
23) Trading Places (1983): This American comedy film directed by John Landis, starred Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, it tells the story of an upper class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet. many have mentioned that the storyline has been commented upon as a modern take on Mark Twain's classic 19th century novel "The Prince and the Pauper". This is probably one of the funniest films of the 1980's. It not only is a play on the classic nature vs. nurture theme, but it is also a somewhat comedic commentary on the "greed is good" decade of the 80's. It would marked the high point of Eddie Murphy's career in addition to being one of the movies that cemented his reputation as a great comedian.
24) Car Wash (1976): A comedy film produced by Universal Pictures & Art Linson Production and was directed by Michael Schultz from a screenplay by Joel Schumacher. Originally conceived as a musical, Car Wash deals with the exploits of a close-knit group of employees at a Los Angeles car wash. In an "episodic" fashion, the film shows a full day, during which all manner of strange visitors make appearances. Its is also a motion picture with a few symbols thrown in, most likely unconsciously. Since their creation, cars have always been a symbol of status: "you are what you drive". This very funny, lively and engaging comedy offers a slice-of-life serious/comical cinematic snapshots of a single frantic day at an inner city L.A. car wash. When writing 1995's Friday, Ice Cube was even quoted as saying he wanted to create a fun film just like Car Wash. Films like this would set the mark for American comedy today.
25) Eve's Bayou (1997): Eve's bayou was a drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons in which she would make her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L. Jackson would serve as a producer as well as starring alongside the film with Debbi Morgan, Jurnee Smollett, Lynn Whitfield, and Meagan Good. "Memory is a selection of images, some elusive, others printed inedibily on the brain. The summer I killed my father I was 10 years old"... These opening lines are the hook, line, and sinker for this film. It would also comprise of gorgeous photography and the acting more than proficient. Jurnee Smollett in her first role stands out, but Debbie Morgan as Mozelle the psychic aunt produces a three-dimensional character from a part which could easily have been done as caricature.
Honorable Mention (in no particular order)...
Friday (1995): Now some may argue that this should be on the list, however there were a few more that made the cut before it. Don't get me wrong this movie would be a great starting point for many of the actors featured, but just didn't quite make the cut. Friday is the story about a day in the lives of two best friends, Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker). Made with a small budget of $3.5 million, it went on to gross $32.5 million, and has spawned two sequels. This movie made Chris Tucker and Ice Cube huge stars, with this movie would securely put them on the map of cinematic success. Friday, in my opinion, is one of the funniest and most quotable comedies in American Film.
Amistad (1997): Directed by Steven Spielberg based on the true story of a slave mutiny that took place aboard a ship of the same name in 1839, and the legal battle that followed. Amistad is a very well crafted, well acted, most accurate, and well told story. It identifies what grand entertainment is and a much needed history lesson about man's need for and willingness to fight to be his own master.Ultimately this film's greatest strength is that it avoids offering any easy answers to subconscious issues about race and slavery. When watching this film, I imagine that I am sitting with my elders as they tell the stories of the past.
Sweet Sweetback Bad Ass (1971): Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss has a lot of historical significance. It is an early independent film in what's considered the current "modern" style, it is one of the earliest mostly black films of its era (there were all black films earlier, such as Oscar Micheaux's work, but they disappeared for awhile), it was controversial (it initially earned an X rating (later changed to an R) and touted that fact proudly as a tagline), it was made for $150 thousand but grossed $15 million, and most importantly perhaps for some film lovers, it is credited with starting the blaxploitation craze in the 1970s. It is worth watching for students of film on those merits alone.Little money had he, but a lot of guts, brains and a wonderful and creative imagination made this film the success that it was.
Black Orpheus (1959): Carnivale in Rio de Janiero is the place where this Orpheus and Eurydice story is retold. The true brilliance of Black Orpheus lies in the people who live on the side of the cliffs overlooking the harbor at Rio. It is their energy that prevails. Then there is the color, the costumes, the pounding rhythms, the spectacular vitality of life that is depicted as a carnival of dance and song in which we are driven along as on a wave. Won Oscar for Best Foreign Film.
Carmen Jones (1954): An American musical film produced and directed by Otto Preminger. This film shows just how much talent existed and was mostly unused because of the small number of pictures made with African-American casts during the Golden Age of Hollywood. After watching this film you will get to see a great performance by Pearl Bailey, and definitely be on the look out for a young Diahann Carroll.
Birth of a Nation (1915): This silent film directed by D.W. Griffith introduces us to how far the movie making process has come, and gives us all a way to truly appreciate some of the other early films, and how far the movie making technology advanced between 1915 and the 1930's. The film records a mentality which has been with us for hundreds of years, is still with us, and will remain with us unless we pay attention to what our films are trying to tell us, in spite of themselves.
Krush Groove (1985): Written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz (who also produced the movie, along with Doug McHenry). This film is based on the early days of Def jam Recordings and up-and-coming record producer Russell Simmons (re-named Russell Walker in the film), portrayed by Blair Underwood in his feature film debut. If you've seen High School Musical or any modern show of that variety I would put money on saying that this movie is the blueprint for that, and at the very least it's a blueprint for today's fashion trends.
Hopefully after viewing this list it will spark conversation on what should stay, be added, or cut. If you have seen at least a few of these films you will have a taste of what true "black cinema" is all about.
Let me know your thoughts! I am curious to know what may comprise of your top 25 list.
Also for more information on the American Black Film Festival June 23rd-26th, 2010 check out the website:
http://www.abff.com/
