Movie Stakeout: Black Movies Matter
September saw Movieland detectives Dick Japowski and Joey Arizona focusing on black cinema, from biopics to blaxploitation flicks, because Black Movies Matter.
The Arizona Case Files
42 (2013)
Biopic about baseball legend Jackie Robinson, the first black man to player in the Major League, and portrayed by the recently departed Chadwick Boseman.
I don't really watch sports, and of all the sports out there I think baseball is one of the most boring to watch, right up there with Golf and Cricket, but I love sports movies, and what's not to like about a story of overcoming adversity and changing the societal mindset?
It says a lot about Boseman that in only his third movie he plays the lead, and not any old lead, portraying one of the most famous figures in American sport...Harrison Ford was pretty good too.
First watch: 4 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Foxy Brown (1974)
Foxy has two men in her life; her drug dealing, number running brother and her former undercover agent boyfriend, who has just had plastic surgery to assume a new identity, and that pretty much tells you the film your in for, but because this is a blaxploitation flick there's also plenty of violence, nudity and revenge.
Less gratuitous boob shots than we found in Coffy, Jack Hill's previous outing with Pam Grier, but still plenty of envelope pushing, and actually a few laughs.
First watch: 3 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Super Fly (1972)
A drug dealer tired of the life plans to retire, just as soon as he makes one last big score.
Hands down my least favourite blaxploitation flick thus far, at least twenty minutes of the movie are spent watching people walking or driving accompanied by a funk/soul soundtrack, and largely it's pointless, you spend more time watching someone get to a place than you do watching them at the place they were going to.
There are some great pieces of dialogue though, and a sweet soundtrack.
First watch: 2 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Good Burger (1997)
Ahh here goes... A new Mondo burger restaurant threatens to crush the good burger establishment. It's a battle of the buns starring your favourite Nickelodeon stars Keenan and Kel, minus the orange soda!
I was a big fan of their show and I can't think why I never watched this film before? But now was the time, and it was like catching up with old friends.
With a plot that SpongeBob Squarepants would later use to great success and a simple comedy that rarely gets made anymore.This was a warm hug of a movie, with plenty of laughs.
First watch: 3.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case File
Message From the King (2017)
A South African man arrives in LA in search of his estranged sister, who needed his help but has now vanished.
There's a interesting mystery here with Chadwick Boseman following the trail, but most of the characters are very one dimensional giving this little appeal for a rewatch. There's also one very disturbing moment which may actually haunt me forever.
First watch: 3.5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Biopic done right on the rise of L.A gangster rap group N.W.A. and how they exploded and imploded before finding a resting place somewhere in the middle!
For me I always find the most satisfying biopics the ones where I don't know all the stories going in, which was definitely the case here. I enjoyed all the main portrayals of Dr Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube.
O'Shea Jackson Jr in particular being amazing as li'll Cube. It's also mad watching this after recent events in America and seeing how little things have changed. F the police indeed. Warning this review and the movie contains strong Language.
First watch: 4.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Poetic Justice (1993)
A poetry writing hairstylist named Justice (Janet Jackson) hitches a ride to a show with Lucky (Tupac Shakur), a postman driving a mail truck to Oakland. Along for the ride are Justice's best friend and her boyfriend, who's also one of Lucky's work mates.
John Singleton follows up his critically acclaimed Boyz N the Hood with a rather shallow road movie, it tries it's best to be deep but largely comes of as cheesy. The Jackson/Shakur love story is a little unbelievable. What keeps you invested though are the four main characters, who despite the dramas are largely fun to spend time with.
First watch: 2.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
187 (1997)
Samuel L Jackson plays a high school teacher who is brutally attacked by a student, when he finally gets back to teaching he isn't the same man he was, and these kids are pushing him too far.
I watched this several times back in the day, and while I recall liking it I remembered little about it, sometimes it's good to have a fishbowl brain. While the ending is pretty good, it would've been better if you didn't learn the truth until the finalé.
Rewatch: 3 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Miles Ahead (2015)
Part biopic about the life of Jazz legend Miles Davis, part artistic interpretation of the music of his music. It's this second element that makes the movie, a fictional tale of Davis (Don Cheadle) teaming-up with a journalist (Ewan McGregor) desperate for an interview, as they attempt to retrieve a can of new music stolen during a house party.
I'd quite happily watch a series of movies following these guys.
First watch: 4 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Another 48hrs (1990)
Nick Nolte is a cop on the edge, driven to find the notorious "Iceman" a drug dealer that the rest of the force doesn't believe exists. After getting in trouble with his superiors in a hilariously over the top shoot out at a race track, Nolte has to get the help of Eddie Murphy, who's fresh out of prison.
In another 48 hours I may rewatch 48hrs as I can't remember that first movie or why Murphy was in prison, which may or may not have helped with my enjoyment of this one. It's always good to see Andrew Divoff in a bad guy role who is trying to silence the pair of unlikely partners. Far from classic but pleased to see it.
First watch: 2.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Coming to America (1988)
Eddie Murphy plays a wealthy prince of a fictional African kingdom who does not want an arranged marriage, so heads to America with his faithful companion to find someone who will love him for himself and not for a life of luxury.
This is a movie which never gets old, I don't know how many times I've watched it over the years.
Rewatch: 3.5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Cool Runnings (1993)
Some people find it hard to believe, but Jamaica they had a bobsled team!
The Disney true underdog story of Jamaica's attempts of getting to the Calgary winter Olympics. This movie has all the heart, humour and stereotypical European bad guys that you want and also features one of John Candy's last performances. One of the ultimate family watches.
Rewatch: 5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Blade (1998)
A half-vampire vamp hunter hunts vampires.
I put it to you universe that Wesley Snipes played the first black superhero, sorry Chadwick, Rest in Peace.
I haven't seen this in years and had forgotten how good it is, if only the CGI didn't let it down, it was actually pretty good twenty plus years ago, but looks pretty dated now. Also is there a better moment in any vampire movie than the rave at the begin, that shot of the unwitting douche wondering where the dripping blood was coming from while all the vamps raise their arms to the sky behind him.
Rewatch: 4 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
12 Years a Slave (2013)
The true story of Solomon Northup, a free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery.
The first time I saw this I was hungover, and decided I was going watch something at the cinema, there were several Academy Awards nominees showing at the time including American Hustle, but I decided on this. I went solo, only a handful of other patrons in attendance. I spent the next two hours alone in the dark, hungover, sobbing at regular intervals...this time round was better hydrated but no less emotional.
12 Years a Slave is a movie everyone should see, but not one you want to come back to too regularly.
Rewatch: 5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Ghost Fever (1987)
A couple of bumbling cops investigate a haunted house once owned by a slave driving plantation owner. This plays in the tradition of old haunted house comedies or Scooby-Doo cartoons and features all my favourites. Rotating wall. Check. Haunted suit of armour. Check. Floating food. Check!
Sherman Hemsley and Luis Avalos are fun stumbling around together getting spooked and I'd say this is a fun one to add to a Halloween playlist this year.
First watch: 3 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Us (2019)
Adelaide and her family are on vacation when they're invited to Santa Cruz by some friends, which would be fine, only this is also where Adelaide had a traumatic experience as a child, and one that will soon come back to haunt her.
I knew almost nothing about this going in, a deliberate move, the trailers somewhat ruined Jordan Peele's last movie (Get Out). It was certainly the way to go, not knowing the way it was heading made the ride all the more exciting. A terrifying tale with a few belly laughs thrown in for good measure.
First watch: 4.5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Creed II (2018)
A familiar Russian and a brand new Russian turn up in Philadelphia to turn things upside down for Rocky and new world champion Adonis Creed.
I don't know how Stallone keeps doing it but this is another total k.o of a movie with eyes of a tiger, heart of a whale and the punch of a..boxing kangaroo!
This makes me excited to see if Tommy Gun gets his own poignant return in Creed III!
First watch: 4.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Dr Black, Mr Hyde a.k.a. The Watts Monster (1976)
Bernie Casey plays a hotshot doc working on a serum which will cure liver damage, when he eventually tests it on himself there are some extreme side effects.
This was pretty dull, bar the last twenty minutes, and unlike William Craine's other blaxploitation horror movie, Blacula, it lacks a killer soundtrack, and any interesting or likeable characters.
First watch: 2 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Candyman (1992)
An investigative journalist falls down a rabbit hole of urban myths and terror when she starts digging deeper into the stories of the man in the mirror. Candyman.
This for me was one of the sweetest, atmospheric horrors of the nineties, which could have been an art film if it wasn't for all the disembowelings! It's well directed, beautifully scored and Tony Todd is terrifying as the gravelly hook handed horror. This seemed the perfect movie to transition into this coming month's creep show....
Rewatch: 4 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Blade II (2002)
Blade teams up with a group vampire mercenaries to take down an even bigger threat, a new breed of monster that feeds on humans and vamps alike.
On paper Blade II is the better movie, it's directed by a then future-great, it's stylish, boasts a kick-ass soundtrack, and the effects are massively improved...but I think I actually prefer the first movie.
On the flipside I now know where I'd seen Norman Reedus before.
Rewatch: 4 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Roxanne Roxanne (2017)
The true life tale of Roxanne Shanté a poor girl from the Projects who was renowned as the queen of the rap battle, making her first record when she was only fourteen.
This was interesting in the fact I'd not heard of Shanté before, and therefore knew nothing about her story, but her story is largely depressing.
First watch: 3 Doughnuts
Have you witnessed any of the movies we've investigated? What's the verdict? Let us know in the comments below.