Starring:
Ossie Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Andre Braugher, Richard Belzer,
Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Harry Lennix, Isaiah Washington, Roger
Guenveur Smith Directed by: Spike Lee Written by: Reggie Rock
Blythewood Rated R Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes
Racism
is wrong. No question about it. But I also believe it's wrong
to perch oneself atop the shoulders of bigots for purely self-serving
reasons. That's why racism doesn't necessarily make a good
"talk show" topic - too often, it is broken down into simpler
terms; a "bigot" versus "non-bigots". There is much more to
it than that. When a wide variety of races, cultures, religions,
and so forth are brought together to form a society, there
will naturally be questions, concerns, stereotypes, and misconceptions
regarding those we consider "different" from ourselves. That
doesn't mean we hate those who are different, but we most
certainly notice the differences. But what I think escapes
some of us (myself included) is the realization that differences
originate with the individual person, rather than a certain
"group" or "race". Spike Lee's latest film, "Get On the Bus",
demonstrates so brilliantly those very differences within
a small group of men headed for Washington D.C., to participate
in the Million Man March.
Learning
experiences are similar to chasing goals or dreams - the most
profound moments happen to us while we are unable to fully
comprehend the impact they are having. "Get On the Bus" is
not about the Million Man March, but rather about what these
men will learn from each other and learn about themselves
on their way there. This bus will transport a group of men
from different walks of life; who think differently, talk
differently, relate to others differently, and who will each
have something to teach and learn during the course of their
voyage.
"Get
On the Bus" is a very verbal movie - there is a great deal
of dialogue and not much action. When in the hands of the
right screenwriter, director, and cast, these kinds of films
are my favorite. It took a matter of seconds for the film
to reel me in; I was caught up in it immediately. I didn't
detect a false note in any of the performances, many of which
were delivered by relatively unknown actors. Standout performances
include Ossie Davis (a Spike Lee favorite) as the aging Jeremiah;
in one scene, he tells another passenger why he so desperately
wants to participate in this march, and why he wasn't able
to be a part of the last march, in a speech so sad and truthful
it's heartbreaking. Also good is Charles S. ("Alien 3", "Rudy")
Dutton as the coordinator of the trip; he delivers a speech
to his fellow passengers near the end of the film which may
be perceived as being preachy, but is such an honest observation
that it really doesn't matter - there is a lesson to be learned,
and he spells it out perfectly. And Andre (T.V.'s "Homicide:
Life on the Street") Braugher, as the arrogant, homophobic
actor named Flip, has some of the movie's funniest lines.
(When he learns that another passenger is gay and supports
conservatism, he declares: "A gay, black republican? Well,
now I know I've seen everything!") The rest of the cast is
truly brilliant as well, adding to the film's authenticity.
The story is held together by a thoughtful script from Reggie
Rock Blythewood, and the sure-handed direction of Spike Lee.
What
I found to be most interesting was that by the story's end,
the characters didn't "set aside" their differences, but rather
acknowledged them, learned something from them, and respected
those who possessed opposing views. I wonder sometimes, in
this age of political correctness, if we are unwilling to
acknowledge differences for fear of offending those of another
race, religion, etc. Acknowledging something isn't the same
thing as condemning it. In one scene, the white bus driver
tells one of the passengers: "I like to think of myself as
colorblind," in an attempt to say that there is really no
difference between black people and white people. Statements
like that have good intentions, yet at the same time, there
is something condescending about a statement like that. I
can't really put my finger on why that is. Maybe instead of
trying to convince ourselves that we really don't notice the
differences at all, we should try to understand those differences
for exactly what they are; and perhaps step back, take a look
at our society with all of it's different races, cultures,
and beliefs, and realize that the world we live in is indeed
a work of art.
Copyright
2001 Michael Brendan McLarney Critically
Ill
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