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BLACK AND WHITE Send This Review to a Friend
James Toback has long been a filmmaker with an odd take on whatever subject he chooses. In "Black and White" he zeroes in on whites who try to cozy up to African-Americans and hip-hop music. Writer-director Toback has an eclectic cast of characters with a wide range of actors to portray them. There's a lot going on in the story, which takes place in New York, and that's part of the trouble. There's more activity than focus, but while the film never comes together satisfactorily, one can enjoy its parts and its satirical viewpoint.
For example, Mike Tyson plays himself and the scene in which Robert Downey, Jr. as Terry makes a pass at him is downright funny. Toback casts basketball star Allan Houston as--who else?--a basketball player. Brooke Shields plays a documentary filmmaker, Ben Stiller is a detective and Claudia Schiffer is the woman who has left him for the basketball star.
Others in the large cast include Scott Caan, Stacy Edwards, Gaby Hoffmann, Jared Leto, Marla Maples, Method Man, Joe Pantoliano, Bijou Phillips, William Lee Scott, Elijah Wood, and Power and Raekwon of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The plot ultimately becomes melodramatic. Let's just say that the film is a mess, but an often likable mess. A Screen Gems release.
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