Source: Focus Features
Social media is buzzing over The American Society Of Magical Negroes which premiered at Sundance to mixed reviews as one of the buzziest upcoming films at the famed film festival.
While some reviews praised the film, others confirmed the initial social media concerns that erupted online in response to the questionable trailer.
Check it out below:
A secret group of magical Black folk whose sole existence is to comfort white people? Yes, we understand that it’s satire but that’s a tough sell to a Black audience without the necessary context provided by the film.
In a scathing review that shook up Twitter X, RogerEbert.com’s Robert Daniels described the film as “hollow,” “wretched,” and “utterly confused.” (You can read the whole review here.)
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES is hollow, wretched, and utterly confused. My #Sundance2024 review via @ebertvoices
— Robert Daniels (@812filmreviews) January 20, 2024
Other critics echoed some of his sentiments, leaving the film’s “fresh rating” at a disappointing 50% on RottenTomatoes.com.
The new satire film, which sparked controversy ahead of the Sundance Film Festival, isn’t as smart or funny as it thinks—or, frankly, needs to be in order to work, writes Nick Schager.
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) January 20, 2024
Directed by Kobi Libii, the film stars Justice Smith and David Alan Grier who, uh, didn’t do the film any favors based on the reactions to their comments at Sundance’s Variety Studio.
“There were Black people who were triggered by seeing something that they weren’t ready to admit in themselves,” said Smith about the focus group reactions to the film. “Like, ‘I’ve never made space for white people in this way.’
But then there are Black people who are like, ‘This is me, this is what I’ve had to do to survive.’ This shows that we’re not a monolith. This art is controversial because it expands what Black art can be and speaks about such a specific side of Blackness and survival that we haven’t really seen before…this micro-aggressive corporate racism.”
i hate when ppl don’t grasp that we GET the point and the message of the movie…and still think it’s corny and unappealing bc we want a black movie that is just fun and doesn’t need to reflect or center real world dynamics with white ppl for the umpteenth time
— joanna’s struggle tweets (@dumbdotcomm) January 21, 2024
At this point, it’s probably best that they do less talking ahead of the film’s release.
Will you be seated for The American Society Of Magical Negroes (opening in theaters March 22, 2024)?Tell us down below and peep some Twitter hysteria over its Sundance premiere on the flip.
