Bamboozled (2000): Dir: Spike Lee / Cast: Damon Wayans, Jada Pinkett, Savion Glover, Tommy Davidson, Michael Rapaport: Satiric view into racism and entertainment. Title represents the manipulation of this image into the minds of society. Damon Wayans plays a creative consultant at a T.V station. His boss claims to b e black because he married a black woman. He approaches Wayans about creating a program of racial controversy for ratings. Wayans scouts about and eventually turns two black street performers into characters named Man-Tan and sleep 'n' Eat for a program called The Alabama Porch Monkeys, which is both a media sensation and a controversy. Director Spike Lee highlights with images from black T.V. programs. To his previous credit are Malcolm X and Summer of Sam. Wayans creates an individual who is tired of media manipulation yet pulled by its corruption to the point where he is staring at consequences. Jada Pinkett-Smith is his voice of reason until her brother is killed due to controversy stemmed from the show. Now her sense of loyalty is altered in favor of self served justice. Michael Rapaport brings much humour as the enthusiastic forceful boss. Savion Glover and Tommy Davidson play the exploited entertainers forced to wear blackface. Their destinies prove different in this well-crafted look at racism, media and one's soul. Score: 10 / 10
Review of Bamboozled
