Black and White (1999/I)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

James Toback

Writer (WGA):

James Toback (written by)

Release Date:

5 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Thriller

Tagline:

What happens when you mix it up?

Plot:

A group of white high school teens become involved with Harlem's black hip-hop crowd.

Plot Keywords:

Hip Hop | New York | Sex | Recording Studio | Gangster

Cast

Scott Caan	...	Scotty
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Terry Donager
Stacy Edwards	...	Sheila King
Allan Houston	...	Dean Carter
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Raven
Kidada Jones	...	Jesse
Jared Leto	...	Casey
Marla Maples	...	Muffy
Joe Pantoliano	...	Bill King
Bijou Phillips	...	Charlie
Oliver 'Power' Grant	...	Rich Bower (as Power)
Raekwon	...	Cigar
Claudia Schiffer	...	Greta
William Lee Scott	...	Will King
Brooke Shields	...	Sam Donager

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, graphic language, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:(Banned) | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | France:U | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 | USA:R (certificate #36809) (cut) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Columbia University - Broadway & 116th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Bigel / Mailer Films

Trivia:

Claudia Schiffer had to have her ears pierced specially for the large hoop earrings worn by her character in this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: Dean is described repeatedly as a "star point guard." Actually, like the actor (a star basketball player in real life), Dean is a shooting guard who sometimes also plays small forward.

Quotes:

Terry Donager: Pa loves cock. Sorry.

Movie Connections:

References Rush Hour (1998)

Soundtrack:

Hip Hop

I hated them all

Watching Robert Downey Jr. try to seduce Mike Tyson is worth the ticket price alone, but only just. The appropriation of black hip-hop culture by privileged white teenagers should prove interesting ground for storytelling, but James Toback's film is undermined by the lack of even one likeable character. It's very hard to care about the motivations or destinies of people you hate. Two pleasant surprises amongst the vignettes: Ben Stiller can be convincing outside of trash comedy; and Claudia Schiffer can actually act.