Review of Spinning Into Butter (2009) by Melanie W — 28 Jun 2009

This film has a lot to sayâ?¦on some very intriguing and crucial topics concerning our society. However, in the hands of its writers (mainly Gilman, as it is based on her play), it is painful to sit through for its unrealistic dialogue throughout.

Five minutes in, I thought the film was condescending to the viewerâ?¦it got worse and worse as it went along. The very talented Miranda Richardson is given horrible direction hereâ?¦playing a simplistic caricature along with the rest of this castâ?¦all given unbelievable and embarrassing lines to speak.

If you want to make a meaningful or even lasting statement on a subject as serious and as important as race relations, you better put it in the hands of an effective writer and a director who can relay that vision to the audience in a provocative manner.

Instead, both writers and director here manage to exploit, patronize and humiliate the very characters who they believe they are speaking for. Near the end of the film, Mykelti Williamson screams to the student who is responsible for the hate crimes going around on campus (which was predictable in itself): â??This is an embarrassment!â?? I think he was speaking for everyone involved in this empty, embarrassing film.