Here's a copy of a review by a friend of mine:

Bamboozled - Review
by Rashim Cannad

In Spike Lee's latest film, Bamboozled, Damon Wayans plays Pierre Delacroix,
a graduate from Harvard who is now a programming executive at a television
network. He and his assistant, played by Jada Pinkett-Smith, set out to make
a point to the network by pitching an over-the-top minstrel show. The white,
wannabe down, head of the network loves the idea. They hire Manray (Savion
Glover) and Womack (Tommy Davidson) as the stars of the show. The show is a
hit. The black characters go through regrets.

Bamboozled might be a technical breakthrough, being shot digitally. The
premise is shocking and controversial, as is likely expected by most. The
characters are one dimensional (at first glance), as can be expected from a
satire. The performances are good. Mos Def does a job worth an extra note.
He is exceptional as the leader of the pro-black aspiring rap group.

Now that we're done with the technical part ...

In a review of the movie, one white reviewer submitted negative comments
stating his concerns about bringing up past history. He feels that black
face is something that is too hurtful to resurface. This is exactly why
Bamboozled is such an important film.

Some would like to pretend that coon shows and black face, along with the
society that created them, are ancient history. They would like to forget
about the past indiscretion, and more importantly maybe, they would like for
black people to forget. But, these shows are not ancient history, and that
society is only a generation passed from our own. Many of the actors that
wore black face are alive today. The producer, directors and writers of
those shows and movies continue to work in Hollywood. And those who have
passed away have children, taught by them, in the entertainment industry. To
believe that the mentality in Hollywood has gone from black face to color
blind in a generation, or even two, is naïve and dangerous. Because we are
doomed to repeat the history we forget, Bamboozled works, at least as a
reminder to those of us who have become too comfortable to concern ourselves
with the images that Hollywood, just one generation away from black face,
decides to portray.

Spike Lee, using satire as his agency, utilized caricatures and a seemingly
far-out premise to remind us of what it is we must keep from repeating. And,
the more we see the not-so-old clips used throughout the movie; and the more
we recognize, in those clips, people who are still active or spoken of as
industry heroes, we realize that Spike's far-out premise is not that much so.
(Let us not forget The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer, which was not a
generation or even a decade ago. The premise of that show was every bit as
appalling, to me, as is black face.)

There is a level to this movie beyond performance, and beyond technicality.
You may be shocked by the ending, horrified by the idea and tickled by the
parody. These are the obvious reactions. But the deepest feeling I got
during the movie came while watching the actors put on the black face, and
feeling the hurt that many must have felt. At one time I got chills,
realizing that to be taken back to that time, my trip needn't be very far.

Normally I would recommend a movie based on how much I think one would enjoy
it. This film, being what it is, deserves something more. Bamboozled should
be seen by those who will love it because they will love it, and by those who
will hate it ... because they will hate it. It should be seen to initiate
and promote discussion of the entertainment industry, past and present.

As a movie, I give Bamboozled a B. But, I also give it my absolute highest
recommendation. I believe that everyone who has a chance should see this
one.


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