Black and White (1999)
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39% of critics liked it
(80 reviews) -
31% of users liked it
(5,280 ratings)
The inner workings of the New York hip-hop scene, and the fascination of white observers with rap music and hip-hop culture, set the stage for this drama written and directed by James Toback. Rich Bower (Power) is a mover and shaker in the world of rap music (he's involved with a number of other… More The inner workings of the New York hip-hop scene, and the fascination of white observers with rap music and hip-hop culture, set the stage for this drama written and directed by James Toback. Rich Bower (Power) is a mover and shaker in the world of rap music (he's involved with a number of other licit and illicit business ventures as well), and his apartment is a favored meeting place for musicians, hangers-on, and hipsters who want to seem cool, including a clique of white kids who want to be on the inside of whey they consider the coolest scene of the day. Sam (Brooke Shields), a filmmaker, is making a documentary about Rich and his circle, with the help of her husband Terry (Robert Downey Jr.), a closeted homosexual who doesn't feel at home in this milieu. Dean (Allan Houston) is a talented college basketball player and Rich's friend since childhood who is offered a deal by a bookmaker, Mark (Ben Stiller) to throw a few games for a price. Dean takes the money against his better judgment, and he soon realizes how much of a mistake he made when Mark turns out to be a cop hoping to dig up dirt on Rich. Rich in turn discovers that Dean might be forced to tell what he knows to stay out of jail, and he decides that Dean has to be killed; however, rather than murder his friend himself, Rich asks one of the white kids who hangs out with him, who seems especially eager to prove himself, to do it for him. The kid, however, is actually the son of the District Attorney. Also contributing to Black and White's supporting cast are controversial boxing legend Mike Tyson, musician Bijou Phillips, Wu Tang Clan rapper Raekwon, model Claudia Schiffer, and Donald Trump's former spouse Marla Maples. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- James Toback
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Jun 7, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- Palm Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Todd McCarthy, Variety
As lively and amusing as the film is in some ways, it does set up expectations at the outset that are never really delivered upon.
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, Time Out
It looks like a mess -- if one stuffed with incident, issues and intrigue.
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Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
It doesn't try to spell out all aspects of the issue or arrive at any particular point. Toback presents specific characters dealing with specific problems and, through their stories, somehow manages to take the temperature of the times.
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Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
This lively mess proves that when Toback loses his head, he does it with style.
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Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Black and White is defeated by its structural shapelessness, and a down-with-it attitude that glosses over the script's lack of any real analysis of hip-hop's cultural influence.
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Cast
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Scott Caan
as Scotty
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Robert Downey Jr.
as Terry
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Stacy Edwards
as Sheila King
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Allan Houston
as Dean
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Gaby Hoffmann
as Raven
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Kidada Jones
as Jesse
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Jared Leto
as Casey
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Marla Maples
as Muffy
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Joe Pantoliano
as Bill King
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Bijou Phillips
as Charlie
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Power
as Rich Bower
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Raekwon
as Cigar
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Claudia Schiffer
as Greta
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William Lee Scott
as Will King
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Brooke Shields
as Sam
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Ben Stiller
as Mark Clear
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Eddie Kaye Thomas
as Marty King
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James Toback
as Arnie Tishman
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Mike Tyson
as himself
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Elijah Wood
as Wren
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Kim Matulova
as Kim
- Rory Cochrane
- Gina Gershon
- Ron Silver
