Review of Bamboozled (2000) by Charles C — 25 Jul 2007

This film is original and very powerful. It deals with the subject, application, and reprecussions of 'black-face' minstrels in a variety show represented in film and pop culture. The main character goes to great lengths to escape being pigeon-holed as a black stereotype, even going as far to change his name so it sounds french.

In a fit of desperation and slight insanity he pitches an idea for an unbelievably offensive tv show, to his great surprise it's a hit and all the problems start there. This film is not afraid to go there in terms of radical humor and character actions, and in it's representation of the races - showing both sides of black and white and being equally cynical and cruel to both.

We even see two of the main characters killed within the film. This is by far my favorite Spike Lee film!