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114 |
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Plot:
If you're looking for a movie that shocked the filmgoing public with its outspoken take on race relations in corporate America circa 1969, look no further than this Robert Downey debut effort. Made on...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:June 23, 2008
The most under-rated of the boon of blaxploitation films that came out in the 60s. I think this film is finally getting the recognition it deserves but if you haven't seen it yet, do so.
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MCT:June 8, 2008This movie was ahead of its time on tackling the taboo subject of race relations, its knock out funny too.
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MCT:March 30, 2008
Interesting offbeat satire, that has some funny scenes. I really liked some of the camera work too, but it loses some momentum towards the end.
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MCT:March 6, 2008From the twisted, drug addled mind of Robert Downy Senior, watching this will explain why his son is such a masterful actor and such an emotional drug-dependant wreck. Notable for enabling the resume of Antonio Fargas, the majority of the actors never devloped much beyond this project. While an anti-racism screed, the ultimate message is Blacks are their worst enemies and given a chance will screw things up (the first I agree with, the latter has been proven not to be the case). Bizarre in content, there are some uncomfortably hilarious scenes here that the open-minded will enjoy very much, which makes it a must see for the serious filmhead...
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MCT:April 19, 2007When the Chairman of an advertising agency dies during a Board meeting, the remaining Board Members vote for his successor and unwittingly appoint the token black man, Putney Swope (Arnold Johnson) in the misguided belief that no-one else would vote for him. The result is a radical overhaul of the company, with black employees replacing whites, offensive adverts and lots of unorthodox management practices.
Shot on a miniscule budget and with a cast of mainly non-union African American actors/actresses, Putney Swope is a prime slice of 60s "underground" satire that gleefully mocks a culture guided by the whims of consumerism and capitalism. Drawing upon his own personal experience in the advertising industry, Robert Downey Snr employs a rapid fire approach in his attack and whilst admittedly not all find their mark, he certainly gets to bite the hand that fed him.
Despite the fact that some of the gags have dated poorly and the low budget meant sacrificing quality acting, the film's strong points lie in its rapier-like dialogue (spat with particular venom by Antonio Fargas as the "Arab") and a number of gloriously trashy TV advert parodies. Perhaps the most subversive aspect of the film is its in-your-face take on race relations in the US and I have no doubt that some white patrons would have felt a little uneasy sitting in the cinema.
The film does lose some of its impetus as it progresses but a number of bizarre, almost surreal additions, such as a dope-smoking dwarf as the President of the US, ensure that it remains interesting if not always entertaining. And just in case you are wondering it was a deliberate decision to dub Swope (the voice is that of the director as Johnson could not remember his lines).
If you are a fan of the whole American counter-culture/underground period of the late 60s/early 70s then this is certainly worth a looking. The lack of coherence and plot make it difficult to watch at times but taken in its historical context this is essential viewing. Recommended. -
MCT:November 19, 2006
Revolutionary. This movie has some of the best dialogue of it's era and is one the most over-the top satire's on advertising I've seen. Some of the best 85 minutes of my life until this point.
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