Here's a fun new segment that I'm going to start up, simply to give the podium to some of my favorite movies, new and old, who might not get a mention otherwise. There's no real rhyme or reason to the ordering or choosing of these films, but hopefully they'll help you find a new film which you haven't seen before.
The first film that's making it on this list is Black Dynamite. This blaxploitation parody was released on DVD last week, and it's undoubtedly the funniest movie of 2009. Starring Michael Jai White (Spawn) and directed by Scott Sanders, the movie is a gut-busting parody of films like Shaft and Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song, in which a spurned black protagonist takes down "the Man," usually a white official, while maintaining a steady rapport with the ladies.
Black Dynamite is all of this and more. The character's name is actually Black Dynamite, and he is almost exclusively referred to by both his names. He's "super-cool" (he speaks in rhymes and wears 1970's fashion) and he knows kung-fu (he has personal trainers in his home, who serve no other purpose than for him to beat them up). White is wonderful in the role, and he manages to keep his cool, collected personality whether or not he's romancing the ladies or fighting fiendish kung-fu masters.
But the great thing about Black Dynamite isn't White, though he's good. It's the writing of the story (which was done by White, Sanders, and Byron Minns). The plot is intentionally fast-moving and nonsensical, and it always stays interesting, even when it has you scratching your head wondering Why?
One such scene, the epitome of nonsense, involves Black Dynamite and his friends trying to solve a mystery. An offhand (and unrelated comment) about waffles leads to a chain of consciousness involving zodiological signs, area codes, Little Richard, and bad malt liquor. It makes no sense, and isn't supposed to, but you love it anyway because the actors are so straight faced when they're listing off the Greek equivalent of the god Mars.
However, the best scene of the movie only features Black Dynamite briefly. It takes place at a pimp conference, where the two discuss the bad status of "the game," prostitution. Arsenio Hall leads the group as a pimp named Tasty Freeze (that's the most normal name of all the pimps involved). It's easily one of the most riotous and easily quotable scenes I've seen in a long time.
All in all, Black Dynamite is one of the few screwball comedies that are actually funny. Go ahead and give it a watch or two.
I'll be back next week with another Pick of the Week.
