Bijou Phillips Movie:

Editorial Review:
James Toback's portrait of white and black culture mixing it up on the streets of Manhattan is like two films colliding. In the center of the swirl are a group of upper-class white teens (led by Elijah Wood and pop singer Bijou Phillips) who appropriate hip-hop culture to rebel against their affluent lifestyle, and a posse of gangstas and drug dealers (led by rap producer Oli "Power" Grant) who are themselves trying to get off the streets and into the business culture through their music. Aging indie filmmaker Toback has long shown an interest in character contradictions and quirks. Here the dynamic works: The two groups are genuinely curious about one another and mix with a cautious but untroubled ease. Less successful is the contrived drama that orbits this cultural mix but never quite meshes--such as Ben Stiller as a self-loathing New York cop who blackmails college basketball star Allan Houston into betraying his boyhood buddy turned street criminal.

Toback spices his Altmanesque style of restless camera work and impressionistic intercutting with attitude, nervous energy, and in-your-face sex. There's an interesting story to be told here, but the provocative cultural mix gets lost in the self-conscious melodrama and only periodically roars to life, notably in the edgy, unpredictable scenes with Mike Tyson (an inspired bit of casting that works marvelously). Also featured are rapper Raekwon, supermodel Claudia Schiffer, Brooke Shields, and Robert Downey Jr. --Sean Axmaker

Black and White [Region 2] Reviews:
You Might Think Toback Is Whack But He Ain't No Hack
2009-08-31 - This is probably the most in your face and ridiculous film James Toback has ever made which is no small claim considering his filmography. I say that because it's the easiest film of his to mock and disregard as a dumb movie. That's partly because of the way it was marketed as being about rich white kids (Bijou Philips, Elijah Wood, and Eddie Kaye Thomas) who try to imitate their hip hop idols by dressing and talking like them. We've all encountered our fair share of people like that and indeed we laugh at them and don't take them seriously. I'm not claiming that Toback gives us some kind of psychological insight into why people act like that but when you have actors as talented as Philips and Kaye Thomas you pay attention to them and want to understand them. The film is much more than white kids trying to act black. It's too much more in fact since Toback throws in too many different characters and subplots that all hinge on certain outcomes that don't seem realistic. There's a former gangster (Power) who's trying to go legit as a rap producer, a D.A. (Joe Pantoliano) trying to come to grips with his sons immersion into the thug life, a college basketball player (Allan Houston) who gets propositioned by a gambler (Ben Stiller) to throw a game for $50,000, the basketball player's girlfriend (Claudia Schiffer) who has eyes for his friend, and a group of white kids (including Scott Caan) opening a nightclub in the gangster's turf. Chronicling all of this is documentary filmmaker Sam Donager (Brooke Shields) and her husband Terry (Robert Downey Jr.). Sam initially follows the kids around and through their interactions meets all the other players including Mike Tyson. Tyson plays himself in the film and he is absolutely brilliant. I haven't mentioned yet that most of the film was improvised. Toback provided the actors with an outline of what the scenes were about and let them come up with their own dialogue. Keeping that in mind watch those scenes with Tyson, especially one where he counsels Power who's thinking about having someone killed, and marvel that Tyson came up with that dialogue himself. Toback couldn't have scripted it better. Or take a scene where Downey (whose character is gay) hits on Tyson and watch how quick Tyson turns from passive to violent. It's stuff like that and the brilliant performances of Philips, Stiller, Shields, and Downey that make this film exciting in spite of all the other B.S. Toback throws into the mix. I strongly recommend that you watch this movie twice in order to get a fuller understanding and appreciation of it. The DVD has two extended improvs, one featuring Tyson and Downey Jr. and the other between Bijou and her teacher (Jared Leto). The commentary track by Toback is easily his worst. He sounds stoned here and slurs his words a lot. If you're a fan of the movie and really wanted to learn more about it's creation it's a big letdown hearing Toback in this kind of shape. Easily one of the most uncomfortable commentaries I've ever listened to. The film has moments of pure genius but you really have to get past all the hype and posturing to appreciate them.

A Semi-entertaining Look at One of the Dumbest Phenomena in History
2009-04-05 - I saw this movie a long time ago, then caught the first 20 minutes on HBO recently. It is good for a few laughs, although the basic idea it explores--the '90s phenomena of white kids affecting stereotypically inner city black speech, speaking patterns and body language--is so ridiculous that it really couldn't hold my interest. Some things just don't merit much serious discussion. It reminded me of my high school when we had a few of these white kids who, between the eighth and ninth grade, seemed to go through a wholesale personality change! The problem with Black and White is that they were laughingstocks even to us 14 year olds. So I think the film kind of makes Toback look foolish--it's obviously an older man's interpretation of a phenomena that he saw on MTV, etc., and took seriously, whereas the people who were actually there were always aware of how ridiculous it was. I mean, with something this dumb, everyone was always pretty much in on the joke. Except apparently Toback. Knowutimsayin', G?

Not Bad!
2008-03-11 - Well, I really enjoyed this movie because Im a huge fan of The Wu-Tang Clan and it gave me an opportunity to see some of my favorite band members acting skills! For the most part, Not a huge budget in this film but I have grown up around this type of environment and can relate well! It's star studded but not an overall smash or classic, but I still watch it every now and then! Peace

Incoherent mix
2006-03-16 - I'm not an American so I don't know the relationships between whites and blacks, but I think both are presented at their worst in this movie. Some stupid impossible situations with no coherent flow, a lot of open sex, "nothing sacred" - nothing to aspire to in this movie. I bought it despite the bad reviews because I am a huge Elijah Wood fan, and I must tell you that he does shine as always, but only for a few short moments, so it's not worth your money - you will have to suffer to the end to see him kiss Brook Shields. I gave it 2 stars (and not 1)because it is not a mainstream movie, it is a bit different from everything i saw and maybe sometimes funny and interesting, but you know it's all not real.

Cooperate not segregate
2005-12-27 - Finally a movie that shows black and white unite and learn about each other's culture. There are various stars in this movie from comedians to athletes, and musicians to actors. Each actor or entertainer played a part. There should be more movies like this one to cut out the sterotype in our American society. I think white kids should stop loving rap, they will turn into negative people. I love seeing Mike Tyson play a small part in this film.