Review of Bamboozled (2000) by Bob V — 10 Oct 2007

Spike Lee has written and directed a black comedy about social issues in modern day America. When I reference "black comedy" there I am referring to the genre of film that would include "Dr. Strangelove" and "American Beauty" and not to the color of the principal casts skin. The film takes place in modern day New York City and follows two young unfortunately broke black men, played by Tommy Davidson and Savion Glover. Glover plays Manray, a talented tap dancer, and Davidson is his friend Womack.

The two make money on the streets from Womack's voice in advertising and Manray's incredibly fast feet. Their lives are going nowhere until a major television writer Pierre Delacroix, played by Damon Wayans with an outrageous accent, gives them the opportunity to be on one of his new shows.

The show written has to have a new edge according to television executive Mr. Dunwitty, played brilliantly by a hilarious Michael Rappaport. The show is "The Mantan Show", a musical black face comedy variety show, trying saying that three times fast, that generates a ton of controversy but also gets major media attention and becomes a smash hit.

The actors in the show are black with dark black makeup on their faces as a satire send up of old "black face" programming from the early half of the last century. The series keeps going on as a hit but the actors and creators start to have troubles inside with the show they are delivering to audiences across America.

The film was very well written and directed and was shot on a digital camera adding a different original feel, at the time this came out not many films were shot this way. The acting was on perfect and the whole film was very well done.

The ending leaves the viewers speechless and delivers a very serious and powerful message. Definitely Spike Lee's best film since "Do the Right Thing" and certainly redeems himself for 1999's unwatchable "Summer of Sam".