Is it me? Or, has anyone else noticed ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

during times of racial tense in the U.S. (that is felt by white folsk ... because for Black folks, it's always racially tense ... but I digress ...) ... during time of racial tense, Hollywood hits us with a big budget "Magic Negro" movie?

https://www.google.com/#q=southpaw+trailer

[randys1]

1. Who is the "Magic Negro" in that one?

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Forest Whitaker. n/t

[mercuryblues]

3. Roots remake

http://www.nola.com/tv/index.ssf/2015/07/roots_remake_new_orleans_filmi.html

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. The "Amazing Grace" of the Charleston 9 families! n/t

[Man from Pickens]

5. Do you mean...

that it's almost as if the racial strife was scripted in advance as well, events engineered with narratives already prepared to provoke predictable responses?

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. Nope ... The other way around ...

these big screen images are a/the RESPONSE to racial strife.

[BillZBubb]

7. Sorry to sound naive, but what is a "Magic Negro" movie?

I've never heard that term before.

[1StrongBlackMan]

11. "Magic Negro" ...

A movie theme wherein the sole Black character saves to save/take care of the white character; but, seems wholly unable to save/care for him/herself.

[BillZBubb]

13. Got it, thanks.

[msongs]

8. aren't movies pretty much planned years before release (except for low budget jobs maybe)? nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

9. Yes and the release dates are fluid. n/t

[heaven05]

10. wouldn't surprise me to find out

that is part of the plan to try to mollify emotions.

[Number23]

12. Paging AA Forum Film Critic, JAG. JustAnotherGen, please pick up the black is beautiful phone at

reception. JustAnotherGen please pick up the black is beautiful phone at reception.

This is TOTALLY my girl's area.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. Answering

[Number23]

15. So I know this is your thing. You were furious about so much about The Help but it seemed like one

of the main things you (and a whooooooole bunch of other sistas) were so angry about was the TIMING of it almost as much as the subject itself. Smack dab in the middle of the Obama years and we suddenly need to see depictions of black women as maids and servants. Again.

Do you think that 1SBM may be on to something with this OP?

[JustAnotherGen]

17. See below

On this one I'm not sure.

And one movie I disagree with it on - is Bagger Vance.I didn't realize that was an old myth modernized. I took a deep dive into that and then -aha - I got it.

That said - that one did not come out in a time of racial strife but had the concept swirling around it at launch.


This one is - but the main character was based in Eminem and as I understand - a continuation of 8 mile in a different venue. If Sutter wrote it with him in mind (originally the lead) - he couldn't have continued that story without a black actor in that role. That's Dr Dre I think.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. This one is tough

Kurt Sutter used Eminem as the model for the character - a parallel. He was also originally tagged to play the Jake G part. Sort of a continuation of 8 mile . . .

He closed the script in 2010 and it's been through a few different hands. If Harvey Weinstein had not picked it up - it wouldn't be on screen. This one was a tough one to bring to production - and if it does well could be up against The Revenant and Joy - Oscar Bait. Note the man that wrote it was a key creator of Sons of Anarchy.

Back on point - I'm going to wait for this one until it comes on demand and reserve judgment - but from a chunk of the script I had fall into my hands - I don't think the Whitaker character is magical. He's a parallel to Dr Dre and if that's the case . . .

I'm not gonna write it - that man will kick my ass!

From the comfort of a secure job (Number23 knows this and that I loooooove film!) - I'm seriously pursuing screen writing - - Because - there aren't a lot of good stories being told these days. And I'm getting some "interesting" feedback. I'm soaking up everything thing I can on the back end of the business - and how scripts get selected. I also have some connections on the back end -

I don't think Harvey was thinking 'racial strife' and I'm not certain the Whitaker character HAD to be black.But when you look at that cast . . . It's broad enough to bring in broad demographics. If I'm bored on a rainy Sunday and it's playing - I'm going to see Rachel and Forrest do what they do well and the cinematography - because . . .

This is not a writer / auteur known for grand themes. If it was Tarantino I might think differently. But then he would o over the top and make fun of every movie that ever had a 'magic negro' in it and have Whitaker kill everyone on the last five pages of the script.