Is "Bringing Down The House" a Racist film?

[cocktail42]

Am I the only one that thinks "Bringing Down the House," the new film with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah, is a racist film? It's stereotyping of all Blacks as hustlers, thiefs, drug users and other anti-social types seems to be almost 100%. Also, I haven't seen Whites portrayed as such single minded racists since "Birth of a Nation."
Not to mention that the script sucks and all character development is adjusted to the needs of each scene without any regard to reason or logic.
Finally, it is anti-bulldog.

 

[Angel]

Uh, the stereotypes are part of the whole point of the stupid movie.

 

[Spinaroonie]

fuk u crakkker.

Seriously, I don't know, I haven't seen it.

 

[Gilly Bean]

uh......huh

 

[red_rose]

No, I don't think it is.

There is one scene with Queen Latifah where she pretty much spells it out. Steve Martin asks her why she acts/walks/dresses/etc the way she does when she's such an obviously intelligent person. She basically tells him that she does it because she wants to. She doesn't want to be a stuffed shirt. She lives the way she wants to and her demeanor shouldn't define who she is.

And, if anything, the whole Eugene Levy schtick should have shown anyone who thought this was a racist film that it's all just one big fucking joke. Yeesh.

 

[cocktail42]

Uh, the stereotypes are part of the whole point of the stupid movie.

Yes, but what does the film teach us - stick with your own and let the Ghetto dwellers suffer their own inequities. Of course Latifah's character does move 'up'
How did Martin's character learn the colloquialism of the bar scene - with the change of clothes?

 

[cocktail42]

No, I don't think it is.

There is one scene with Queen Latifah where she pretty much spells it out. Steve Martin asks her why she acts/walks/dresses/etc the way she does when she's such an obviously intelligent person. She basically tells him that she does it because she wants to. She doesn't want to be a stuffed shirt. She lives the way she wants to and her demeanor shouldn't define who she is.

And, if anything, the whole Eugene Levy schtick should have shown anyone who thought this was a racist film that it's all just one big fucking joke. Yeesh.

You know I love a fucking joke, I just don't love it when people are told to stay in their fucking place. With the Bush White House we seem to be sliding back to the conservatism, fascism and racism of the fifties.
I think this film is a pretty good icon of that kind of thinking. Notice at no time does white skin actually touch black skin to inflame the sensitivities of the general population.
Eugene Levy's character reminds me more of "A Big Fat Greek Wedding" that carefully changed the male character from Puerto Rican to White College professor. Eugene seems to be uncomfortable who he is in this film and tries to conform to Latifah's character's needs.
In this film you are either Black, bad, White, a prig, or neither - Levy's character - a Jew and Latifah, an upwardly mobile African American. There is a strong sense of "let's maintain the status quo" as Martin returns to his ultimate suburban very White family structure - safe, sound and away from reality.

 

[RastaPope]

One's demeanor should define who one is.

If somenoe acts a certain way, and that's all they put out, fine, that's who I'll accept that person to be. Otherwise, they wouldn't be putting that out.

Don't like how people see you? Tough shit, change.

 

[cocktail42]

One's demeanor should define who one is.

If somenoe acts a certain way, and that's all they put out, fine, that's who I'll accept that person to be. Otherwise, they wouldn't be putting that out.

Don't like how people see you? Tough shit, change.

I think I agree but how does that relate to the topic on hand - is there racism in the film "Bringing Down the House" -

 

[Angel]

Yes, but what does the film teach us - stick with your own and let the Ghetto dwellers suffer their own inequities. Of course Latifah's character does move 'up'
How did Martin's character learn the colloquialism of the bar scene - with the change of clothes?

The film wasn't meant to teach anyone anything.

It isn't a goddamn documentary with instruction book for race relations in the USA.


It's a frigging movie poking fun at racial stereotypes for a laugh. It might not be funny to you, not everyone shares the same sense of humor but anyone with half a brain can tell the difference between making fun of yourself/race/social status for fun and being a racist.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

So the Cheech and Chong movies were racist too?

 

[Angel]

So the Cheech and Chong movies were racist too?

Yes they were. I saw plenty of stereotypes pertaining to the marijuana plant.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

Yes they were. I saw plenty of stereotypes pertaining to the marijuana plant.

The dopes

 

[Angel]

The dopes

Green Racist.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

Green Racist.

Ganja lover

 

[Angel]

Ganja lover

Tobacco Ho.

 

[cocktail42]

So the Cheech and Chong movies were racist too?

After careful analysis I think this is where we lost control of the topic.
All right, listen here, listen here - this is now a free flow thread. That doesn't mean anything goes, it just means it's free. Look to your right, look to your left, remember you have got to take care of your brother, you got to take care of your sister. Enjoy yourself.
Thank you Chip Monk