Black Men Can't Jump In Hollywood

We review A Haunted House, the 2013 spoof of paranormal activity starring Marlon Wayans and Cedric the Entertainer. We talk about the movie's deeply problematic comedy, making "spoofs", the legacy of similar movies like Scary Movie, and whether or not this film helped the cause. 

We review the 2003 horror-thriller Gothika starring Halle Berry and Robert Downey Jr. We discuss the movie’s supernatural elements, how it deals with sexual assault and violence towards women, what it was like watching it in this political climate, and if it helped the cause. 

We review the new film Night School starring Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish. We discuss the chemistry between Kevin and Tiffany, the standout performance by Romany Malco, our own SAT scores, and if this film helped the cause. Also Kat Williams stops by?!This week's episode is brought to you by SquareSpace!

Special guest Tosin Morohunfola (The Chi, Love Is) joins us to review 2018's The First Purge, the fourth installment of the horror franchise that James III swore he would never see. We discuss the controversial political framing, the rising star of Y'lan Noel, whether or not the film was "deep", the constant use of violence against black bodies in recent films, and if this film helped the cause.

We review the second and only film in the Predator franchise to star a black actor, 1990's Predator 2. We talk about the unlikely action star Danny Glover, the somewhat blatantly racist caricatures of gangs, our own conspiracy theories, and whether or not this film helped the cause.

We conclude our Wesley Snipes mini-series with his biggest box office earner, Blade II, the 2002 superhero sequel. Did this film had something to do with Wesley's decline in leading films? What happened to N'Bushe Wright's character (erasing of black women anyone)? And did this film actually help the cause?

Our Wesley Snipes mini-series continues with the 1992 action film Passenger 57. Was this the film that put Snipes' action star power on the map? Did the writing and directing of this movie hurt the chances for sequels? Is smooth jazz the only way to do a training montage? We answer all these questions and more on the latest episode!

Special guest Gary Richardson (SNL) joins as we begin our Wesley Snipes mini-series by reviewing the "hood classic" New Jack City, directed by Mario Van Peebles. We discuss the incredible versatility of Wesley Snipes, the problematic policing of Ice-T's character, the disrespect Hollywood has shown movies about black gangsters, and whether or not this film helped the cause.

We are celebrating the new film Crazy Rich Asians, directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Constance Wu and Michelle Yeoh, with an Asian takeover of our own. Guests Katharine Lerner (Younger), Ellie Lee (iHeartRadio), and Bowen Yang (Las Culturistas) join Jonathan to discuss the first Hollywood studio, Asian led cast in 25 years. This is a special episode you don't want to miss!

Spike Lee is BACK! We review the new film BlackkKlansmen starring John David Washington and Adam Driver. We discuss everything including the real story of Ron Stallworth, the purposely uncomfortable ending, the debut of J.D. Washington in a starring film role, the state of racial politics in America, and so much more. Strap in cause just like the film, the episode is a DOOZY.

We review the new indie film Blindspotting written by and starring Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal. We unpack everything this film has to offer including police brutality, gentrification, social injustice, gun control, and race relations in America. Did this film help "the cause"? Listen to find out!

We review the new film The Equalizer 2, starring Denzel Washington in his first ever movie sequel. We discuss Denzel's latest "action hero" career chapter, how he constantly saves little white girls, the brilliance of Ashton Sanders, and if this film helped the cause.

Our Whoopi Goldberg mini-series concludes with her most successful and iconic film, Sister Act, that inspired a sequel and a Broadway musical. We discuss the factors that made this movie a hit, the lack of diversity in the cast, Radio Raheem, comparisons to Sister Act 2, and if this film helped the cause.

We review the new indie darling Sorry To Bother You by Boots Riley, that stars Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson and has been making waves in critic circles. We discuss the importance of such a innovative and strange movie helmed by a black filmmaker, the unique charisma of Lakeith Stanfield, the layers of themes and issues this movie tackles and whether or not this film helps the cause.

Guest Ashleigh Hairston (Modern Family) joins as we continue our Whoopi Goldberg mini-series with her second film Jumpin' Jack Flash, a 1986 action comedy that was a moderate success. We try to determine what qualifies as a quintessential "Whoopi movie", how Whoopi became such a bonafide movie star, if Burglar and Jumpin Jack Flash are basically the same movie, and whether or not this film helped the cause.

This week we review the new comedy Uncle Drew starring Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish and slew of basketball veterans, including Kyrie Irving in the titular role. We discuss the challenges of turning a commercial campaign into a movie, the standout performances of Shaq, Chris Webber and Nick Kroll, and contemplate if this film helped the cause! 

This bonus episode features an interview with Charles Stone III, the director of the new film Uncle Drew in theaters now! We discuss the implications of the "diversity" trend in Hollywood, past films Drumline and Paid In Full, working with comedy stars Lil Rel Howrey and Tiffany Haddish, and of course Hancock. 

We begin our Whoopi Goldberg mini-series with the iconic film The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the award-winning novel by Alice Walker. Returning guest Tessa Claire Hersh (The Break w/Michelle Wolf) helps us breakdown all facets of the film including it's record-setting shutout at the Oscars, the debut performances of Whoopi and Oprah, the differences between the book and the film, and if a movie about black women directed by a white man can help the cause.This week's episode is brought to you by Quip!

Did you know they remade the blacksplotation film Superfly and that it came out this weekend? Well, they did! We review this updated classic and discuss the casting choice of Trevor Jackson as the lead, Jason Mitchel's brilliant performance, the stigma of drug dealer movies when it comes to black people but not white people, and try to decide if this film helped the cause.

The final episode of our Cuba Gooding Jr. mini-series provides an in depth look at the 2003 Disney film Radio. We discuss why this movie potentially ended Cuba's run as a leading actor in major Hollywood films, how movies with black leads are still told through a white perspective, whether or not Cuba's portrayal of Radio is problematic, and if this movie helped the cause.