HUSTLE AND FLOW REACTIONS

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GAFF --- I am going to see the film tomorrow so I am not reacting to your review, but to two of your comments:
1.) "This film will be labeled as a black film, so that will cut the gate."
So many ( a large majority) white people think that black people can't
tell them anything "New." They know everything we know ( except, maybe
when it comes to dancing or music). Even when it comes to sports, they think our ability to analyze (i.e., coach) is secondary to theirs. Black people only know black material. - I remember when Dr. King came out against the Vietnam War, he was criticized because people thought it would hurt the Civil Rights movement. There are even other blacks who believe that we should only be concerned with racial issues, as if we are not members of the human race, the nation or our work forces. Others may look at me first,
and foremost, and see a black man. But I know, that I am all that that encompasses and MORE!
2) I do not sympathize with those who are unable to get past the depravity, the language and nastiness in order to watch a great film. There is a hint of intolerance in that concept. "If I don't like the way someone dresses, or speaks, I'm not going to listen to his message." Chief, don't make excuses
for people like that. How far away is that from not listening because of one's race, speech accent, posture.
Sometimes, the larger society tries to impose "standards that are
discriminatory in nature" and have nothing to do with the task at hand.
*** If I am applying for job, I need to dress and act a certain way.
***If I am presenting a lifestyle in a literary piece or a film, I have license to express that lifestyle as I see fit.
If Hustle and Flow had nice, pleasant language, it might have lost some of its realism, and lost some its "gate" anyway.
I remember a teacher at IS 271 in BROOKLYN, who was praised because his contained special education class of 6 unruly boys always sat quietly in class and read their books. 6 months later, when they found out that he had given them paperback pornography to read, he was transferred (equivalent to being fired in NYC). The fact that all his kids made drastic improvements in their reading scores was not mentioned. So you see, bad words can lead to good things.
RJ
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RJ -
ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU -- BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE FAITH THAT TERRENCE HOWARD AND JOHN SINGLETON ( IN HIS ROLE AS A PRODUCER, HE DIDN'T DIRECT ) ARE NOT IN THIS BUSINESS TO DEGRADE AND DEMEAN THEIR OWN HERITAGE; YOU COULD WRONGLY ASSUME THAT THIS FILM HAS NO HIGHER PURPOSE IN MIND AND YOU COULD SEE IT AS A NEEDLESS EXPLOITATION OF THE MOST UNEDUCATED / POVERTY STRICKEN MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE FOUL LANGUAGE AND RAW SITUATIONS, ARE THERE ONLY TO DEGRADE THE CHARACTERS, WITH NO MOVEMENT TOWARD INTELLECTUAL GROWTH AND SOCIAL AWARENESS -- LIKE A SCENE IN WHICH A 2 YEAR OLD CHILD IS TOSSED INTO THE STREETS AT 3 AM, WITH NO REGARD FOR THEIR SAFETY OR WELL BEING - THAT IS MORE THAN JUST A DISLIKE FOR CRUDE LANGUAGE. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ANY RATIONAL PERSON, OR ANY LEVEL OF THE SOCIAL PECKING ORDER. I FELT A NEED TO WARN PEOPLE NOT TO JUMP THE GUN - AND AFTER A SCENE LIKE THIS, IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE THAT SOME MIGHT BE INCLINED TO JUMP SHIP.
YOUR STATEMENTS MADE ME THINK OF:
1. THE BASEBALL / SPORTS CONCEPT OF THE CLEAN SHAVEN ATHLETE ---- A RULE THAT MANY TEAMS HAD UNTIL A STAR PLAYER SHOWED UP WITH A BEARD OR LONG HAIR , DREADLOCKS, OR BRAIDS. THEN THE RULE WAS SEEN AS UNNECESSARY AND IRRELEVANT.
2. THE INFAMOUS ALVIN DARK STATEMENT, ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR, LACKING THE NECESSITIES TO MANAGE A TEAM.
3. I WAS BLESSED AND IT WAS A BLESSING, TO HAVE SEEN THE BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF DAVID MAMET'S, GLEN GARY, GLEN ROSS. THE PLAY OPENS WITH TWO REAL ESTATE SALESMEN, SITTING IN BOOTH AT A CHINESE RESTAURANT AND CURSING FOR THE FIRST FOUR MINUTES OF THE PLAY -- THERE IS NO CLUE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE CURSING AT OR ABOUT -- IT IS NOT EACH OTHER, BUT A JOINTLY HELD GREIVANCE THEY ARE EXPRESSING. AFTER ABOUT TWO MINUTES OF THIS ANGRY TALK, YOU START TO REALIZE THAT
1. THIS IS BROADWAY - 2. THIS IS DAVID MAMET - 3. THIS IS AN AWARD WINNING PLAY -
4. THIS IS A FIRST RATE CAST --- 5. THEY HAVE MY $50 DOLLARS -- 6. I BETTER SIT TIGHT AND SEE WHERE ALL THIS HOSTILITY IS GOING. THAT IS WHAT FOLKS NEED TO DO WITH THIS FILM - GIVE IT THE SAME CHANCE I GAVE THE PLAY.
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GAFF-
You get my point. We are on the same page.
Am I slipping...or are you really getting brighter!!!
R.J.
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R.J.
I HAVE STARTED SMOKING CRACK RECENTLY, SOMETHING I PICKED UP FROM WATCHING BOBBY
AND WHITNEY 16 HOURS A DAY.
SO, THAT MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR MY THINKING ALIGNING ITSELF WITH YOUR VIEWS ------ -
THAT WOULD EXPLAIN US BEING ON THE SAME PAGE.
AN AREA OF DISAGREEMENT - IF YOU ARE AT ROCK BOTTOM -- THERE IS NO PLACE TO
SLIP FURTHER DOWN - THUS, YOU ARE NOT SLIPPING--------
WHILE I AM APPARENTLY IN AN INTELLECTUAL FREE FALL.