one of lee's most formally audacious and assaultive films and as scathing a media satire as there has ever been. a batshit reworking of Network and The Producers into a perversely funny and horrifying vision of america's historical racism maintaining itself in images/entertainment/industry and the illusion of choice that white money gives to black artists. "look at what you contributed to!" "keep em laughing." not over the choice to film most of this in crummy DV (which make the bland office spaces and heightened performances feel even weirder) and then the images of the modern minstrel show on this very colorful 16mm so that it pops off the screen! god ellen kuras

"Where the fuck did you get that accent?"

Look at all the brothers on the wall

Nothing’s changed. Black people are being shot dead on the streets by cops while Hamilton tries to cleanse an ugly ugly history and is the biggest musical in the world.

Look at all the brothers on the wall

A deeply deeply ugly and unpleasant film because it’s what America is and deserves.

Look at all the brothers on the wall

America will rape and murder black people and sell it back as humiliating entertainment. As a commodity. 

Look at all the brothers on the wall

I remember seeing some of those cartoon as a child

Look at all the brothers on the wall

America will celebrate black art and still call you the n word. It will still kill you because of what you are. Black. But it’s okay, because

Look at all the brothers on the wall

I nearly spat my coffee out when I saw Bill Clinton

Spike Lee's scathing satire on the black-face minstrel image of African-Americans is a misunderstood masterpiece, and one of Spike Lee's most thought-provoking films. It's angry but honest, blistering but passionate; it's Lee criticizing the hypocrisy, conformism and capitalist puppets of a business so narrowed in on caricatures when portraying blacks on TV/film. An absolute powerhouse of a film that will move, inspire, and infuriate whilst it frantically descends into a myriad of ideas & emotions for a wild yet moving conclusion. Lee's masterpiece.

Watch this back to back with Blackkklansman and weep for how Hollywood neutered Spike Lee. A full appreciation of this film cannot be attained unless one sees the confused and noticeably insecure reviews of it as well, only then can you say to have enjoyed the full experience.

I have a longer, more detailed review for this movie coming up - but for now, we'll have to wait because I don't think it feels appropriate to share my own writing at the center. But there's something very poignant about this film today, especially given the times that we are living in now, especially as we come to think about how this film portrays how the media wants to retain their image of African-American people - often at their expense, and where it continually leads up into.

Essential viewing, perhaps one that's only going to resonate even more with the passing of time.

And don't forget to donate: blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#donate

A cruel and unflinching dark comedy on the dehumanization of black people in our cinema and television. In addition, what our art ends up planting in us, internalizing untruths. I cannot truly do the film justice for all that it tackles, with it being both hauntingly comical and almost blindingly enlightening. Another Spike Joint I can’t recommend enough.

an experience 2 experience

20 years old and relevant as ever. Spike Lee conveys a great message through out and really hammers it home right before the credits roll.

I just wish some of the main characters weren’t just so thinly written, or I probably would have loved this.

A tough sit at first, but undeniably genius throughout. Plays like an update on Putney Swope that morphs into an update on Network. Another Spike banger.

É inacreditável o que o Spike Lee faz aqui

A lot to unpack with this film. I enjoyed it but it was very hard to stomach. Tons of messed up/racist things in this film, which I knew going in but not the full extent.

I recommend watching this film if you haven’t.

The ending of Bamboozled is one of Spike Lee's most impactful and on point moments in his filmography. Spike loves cinema and he's not going to let us forget how Black men and women were depicted.

Like most films I have seen directed by Spike Lee, this one too was ahead of it's time. Highly offensive? Yes. Politically Incorrect? Definitely. But it's also hilarious and thought provoking at the same time. The small cameos are a winner and the final montage is a heartbreaker! The 20 years I waited to see this film was well worth the wait!

this was a lot. Deeply uncomfortable. Very indicting of whiteness. Weird echoes of Lumet’s Network (which has its own racial commentary that is worth contrasting with this film). Lots of meta references. So many moments with layers of racial, sexual, class-based commentary. Lots to unpack in individual scenes. A courageous and challenging film.

I still think this is pretty great, but can't help but think if this had a few more jokes in it this would have been perfect for a Boondocks movie

also that digital camera is pretty distracting at 1st lol

One of the most eerily prescient movies of the the millennium, Spike Lee’s under-seen masterpiece grabs the viewer by the throat and forces them to reckon with centuries of dehumanizing stereotypes. Taking inspiration from classics like Network, The Producers, and Ace in the hole, Spike’s searing satire reminds us that the influence of minstrel shows remains ingrained in our culture and shows how easy our shameful history can be repeated if representation isn’t made a priority by the largely white media landscape. Even if the digital cinematography looks pretty shifty by today’s standards, the startling images of modern day blackface are crystal clear and appropriately off putting. Also Spike manages to get a great performance out of the living turd known as Michael Rapaport.

We're putting white actors in black face?!
No my dear, we're putting black actors in blacker faces.