This weekend, two movies will be released featuring IR BW/WM couples. The first is Lakeview Terrace. A IR couple moves next door to a black cop, who doesn't like the idea of their relationship and makes their lives hell, as he doesn't want them to be his neighbor. The other movie, The Family Who Preys, is about two families and how they are affected by a relationship between two married people.
I am not going to say much on either movie, as I have not seen them, but I feel I don't want to see them. These movies seem to have the same theme. A IR relationship between a BW and WM can only be doomed. It is doomed because a black man will make their lives hell, or it will be a dirty little secret and will cause harm to your family.
When are we going to have an IR movie that doesn't make everything seem doom and gloom. God forbid the relationship is between a white man and black woman. Hell might freeze over.
46 comments:
I know I don't want to see the one with Sam Jackson because I know that alot of black men act so ignorant about bw/wm relationships. Although some of those same ones are involved with white women. I actually had a white girlfriend when I first started college who's boyfriend was black. He actually told me to my face and in front of my friend that he hated the idea of bw with wm. I was just standing there looking at his ass. He said he knew it wasn't fair but he could not help it. So going to see that one is out of the question.It would make me way too upset.
Now the other movie is one I do want to see. Mostly because I really like Sanaa Lathan and Kathy Bates. I hope that the writing is good. I like Tyler but sometimes I think his stuff is simplistic.
I thought Something New was very positive, and it ended with marriage. However, the positive ones do seem to be few and far between.
I don't buy the Lakeview Terrace situation. Chance are more white cops would care about that then black ones.
I still look at Something New whenever it comes on. I don't know why I have not bought it yet. I remember when Oprah had the cast on her show. I love love love that movie.
I actually had a white girlfriend when I first started college who's boyfriend was black. He actually told me to my face and in front of my friend that he hated the idea of bw with wm. I was just standing there looking at his ass.
I had a "Come To Jesus" conversation with two black guy friends of mine, in regards to me dating my now husband. They were not fans, even though I never once saw these black men date a black woman. I saw white, hispanic, and asian, but never black women on their arms. Needless to say I am happy I didn't listen to them.
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I thought Something New was very positive, and it ended with marriage. However, the positive ones do seem to be few and far between.
Something new was nice, but the movies of that sort don't seem to do well in the theaters.
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I don't buy the Lakeview Terrace situation. Chance are more white cops would care about that then black ones.
At one time I thought that, but my husband has had to buck up to some black men who take offense to our relationship. I remember going to an area of Dallas called Wynnewood Village, to go to the "black owned" bookstore. A man nearly went crazy, and started yelling at us because we were holding hands. He kept asking me did I have no shame, and got in my husband's face calling him the enemy. Needless to say my husband isn't violent, but he got really mad, and was ready to throw down. I was ready to run inside the store, so I dragged him in. So I used to think it couldn't be realistic, but I think it is plausible. I guess men tend to think of the women in their race as their property, even if they don't even date or have any type of relationship with those women. They take it personal when they see a woman date outside their race, and sometimes they can get very verbal and even at times physical.
I loathe Tyler Perry and wouldn't see one of his movies if paid to do so. Normally I love SLJ, but this movie? Not so much.
I guess men tend to think of the women in their race as their property, even if they don't even date or have any type of relationship with those women. They take it personal when they see a woman date outside their race, and sometimes they can get very verbal and even at times physical.
I THINK IF I WAS WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND SOME BROTHER GOT UP IN HIS FACE TRYING TO GET VIOLENT. I WOULD TRY AND CALL THE COPS OR GET MY MAN TO IGNORE THE GUY. I CANNOT PROMISE I WOULD NOT TRY AND BUST A HEAD. I AM VERY PROTECTIVE.
Lakeview Terrace is loosely based on an incident between a retired black cop and the IR couple living next door. The cop eventually threw pepper spray in the husband's face:
http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/?id=4220&IssueNum=55
i don't know that the movies would be all doom and gloom, because probably through until the end the couple stays together--so that's what's important.
i think the movies are simply depicting the issues and drama bw/wm couples go through, and it wouldn't be untrue.
but because i haven't seen the movies, i can't say 100% what's truly the motives of the movies either way.
To be honest i don't think you should complain much about it cause movies are suppose to be doom and gloom ! Dramatic etc...
If anything i want a movie like Bridget Jones but with a Black woman ! Or a series like Sex and the City but instead of a group of white friends, make it a group of friends from different places. I mean it's New York ! ERGH ! I wrote about this on my blog, how most of my friends are "white". Actually just that the majority if not black.
I would like to see BLACK-ASIAN(south and east) couples. That would be refreshing and nice. I see a lot of Black and White couples on TV and on the train...okay not a lot but much more than asian/black.
Lakeview Terrace scares the crap outta me and i just saw the familyprey trailer an i think i'll wait till it comes out on DVD.
I haven't ever enjoyed the depiction of IR couples in mainstream media. It would be nice to see a love story,action, drama-whatever-where the couple just happens to be IR, rather than highlighting the obstacles or differences at the crux of the storyline. In nearly 20 years of marriage no one has thrown a wig across a room or fainted at the thought of me (BW) and my husband's (WM) relationship-atleast not at a holiday gathering.*winks* Now, I have experienced some Spike Lee movie-esque "sell-out" rants while we lived in NYC, but only a handful.
I've added your blog to my list of reads, thanks for sharing.
t.
ITA, I have absolutely no intention of seeing either of these movies. I don't see many movies anyway, but I especially won't waste my time with this negative trash.
I looked up the plot for the Family that Prey's and Sanaa Lathan is cheating on her husband with evil white guy Cole Hauser. I looked at the trailer here:
http://www.pajiba.com/tyler-perrys-the-family-that-preys-trailer.htm
Gawd there is acutally this line of dialogue, " It's sisters like you that give us a bad name." Of course the whole scene isn't there to give a context, but gag. No thanks.
I'm going to see Lakeview Terrace only because I have a girl crush on Kerry Washington.
I watched Failure To Launch over the weekend. There was an implied IR relationship. Shocked the hell out of me.
"Something New" and "Guess Who" were good. I am going to purchase both at some point--especially Something New.
I would like to go see "The Family that Preys" because it looks different from most of Tyler Perry's movies. From my experience, White cops would pull my ex-BF and I over all the time and we wouldn't be doing anything wrong. I guess for the fact of seeing a BW and WM together in the car they would be curious. It would happen more times than not and it did not feel like a coincidence. So, Lakeview Terrace does not seem realistic to me.
I'm sure the star of snakes ona Plane will do this subject justice.
LOL @
I'm sure the star of snakes ona Plane will do this subject justice.
Hey don't hate, you know he can play a crack head like no other.
"I swear on God and four other white people!!!!!"
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I loathe Tyler Perry and wouldn't see one of his movies if paid to do so. Normally I love SLJ, but this movie? Not so much.
Yeah I got to protest Tyler Perry and his Madea stuff. Why does a black man in drag=box office gold. The only black drag queen I could stand was Noxema Jackson from To Wong Foo, and that was primarily for the name alone.
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I THINK IF I WAS WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND SOME BROTHER GOT UP IN HIS FACE TRYING TO GET VIOLENT. I WOULD TRY AND CALL THE COPS OR GET MY MAN TO IGNORE THE GUY. I CANNOT PROMISE I WOULD NOT TRY AND BUST A HEAD. I AM VERY PROTECTIVE.
Old boy was hard to ignore, I just tried dragging my sweetie into the bookstore. Calling cops is a waste of time in the area we were in. We were in Oak Cliff.
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Shirley,
I had no idea it was loosely based on a true incident. Wow.
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If anything i want a movie like Bridget Jones but with a Black woman ! Or a series like Sex and the City but instead of a group of white friends, make it a group of friends from different places. I mean it's New York ! ERGH ! I wrote about this on my blog, how most of my friends are "white". Actually just that the majority if not black.
Nah, I can't stand Sex & The City or the Bridget Jones movies in general. Those should be banished to Lifetime permanently.
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Welcome to the blog, t.allen-mercado . I hope you enjoy.
It would be nice to see a love story,action, drama-whatever-where the couple just happens to be IR, rather than highlighting the obstacles or differences at the crux of the storyline. In nearly 20 years of marriage no one has thrown a wig across a room or fainted at the thought of me (BW) and my husband's (WM) relationship-atleast not at a holiday gathering.*winks* Now, I have experienced some Spike Lee movie-esque "sell-out" rants while we lived in NYC, but only a handful.
What!!!! No one in the 20 years of marriage didn't swivel their heads or snap their fingers and say "Lord Have Mercy!" then faint at the site of your blackness and his whiteness? Wow. It hasn't happened to me either in 9 years :) I've gotten the sell out comments as well, but mostly from strangers.
But you are on to something, I want to see a movie where there is an IR couple, but the focus isn't on the fact the couple is IR.
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Gawd there is acutally this line of dialogue, " It's sisters like you that give us a bad name." Of course the whole scene isn't there to give a context, but gag. No thanks.
Isn't that line in every Tyler Perry movie? In his movies the men are all hard working and if not educated faithful and dedicated to their families, while the women have some attitude problems, or want way too much from these brothers. That or they are getting beat down by trifling black men. Either or they are always extremes, never a combination of both, as that would be too much like real life and too complex of a script for him to write.
Hey Siddity,
I love your Blog. Now back to the issue at hand. My friend and I have discussed this issue at length. If you are a frequent watcher of british movies, which I am, you would notice BW/WM couples all the time and the movie isn't about their relationship as a BW/WM couple. In America, the movie has to be about the hardships of the relationship or someone in the movie or show has to be either a drug addict, prostitute, or prison thug. For example, the Show Heroes, Jungle Fever, the two new movies, Something New, Freeway, the list goes on and on. If they really wanted to make a change in society they would produce movies and TV commercials, and shows that depicted normal, regular people who have everyday mundane problems like money issues or job issues. They keep focusing on the relationship kind scaring off people who would normally try to do something not dictated by society but chose not to because look what would happen, your neighbor cop will go off on you. Do all of yourselves a favor by watching overseas movies or get into the movie industry and change what they produce or we going to see a lot more of this nonsense. Sometimes America really makes me sick.
Noxema: Maybe she just found out Menudo broke up.
Kills me every time.
Noxeema Jackson: Little latin boy in drag, why are you crying?
I suspect the Tyler Perry movie is much less of an offender. It actually looks interesting by the previews. The thing I respect about him is that his underlying purpose is always positive.
A man nearly went crazy, and started yelling at us because we were holding hands. He kept asking me did I have no shame"
wow, that's a crazy story !
where do people get the nerve ?
guess men tend to think of the women in their race as their property, even if they don't even date or have any type of relationship with those women.
this is true.
speaking of "Something New", did you see this... hilarious !
(keep in mind this site is satire)
http://www.fiyastarter.com/fs-pages/fs-ent-somethingnew.html
LOL!!
I gotta watch that movie again! Hell, I should just buy it.
It's not only men that get possesive over women that they believe belong to them, women do it too...and wtf is up with people not believing that a black cop couldn't possibly have a problem with an interracial couple while in the same breath commenting on how black men are always calling them out about being in an ir couple. I think that assuming that it would be more "believable" if the cop was white is playing into old racist notions. You know that whole "white people are more racist than blacks" or that black people simply can't be racist.
I've noticed that people make a lot of assumptions on these blogs. Not only about race but about gender as well. I guess it's just a symptom of our society.
"When are we going to have an IR movie that doesn't make everything seem doom and gloom. God forbid the relationship is between a white man and black woman. Hell might freeze over."
I'm so glad you brought this up cause I was just blogging about it like 10 minutes ago. I hate that Something New is the only movie that actually has a good ending. All other movies involving bw/ wm always have those same ugly speed bumps in the road or the two are low key about liking each other. I understand that some of those elements are needed to make a good story, but at heart it should simply be like every other romance movie. A story about finding that person you want to be with.
Oh and could you please check out my blog.I'd like to know what you think of it.Thnx
What about the movie 'Run Fatboy Run'? I thought that film was a love story between a WM/BF where the emphasis was not on the interracial relationship?
This is a push. The Family That Preys might win assuming: A. no one breaks in to religious song in the middle of the film and B. there aren't any motherfucking snakes in motherfucking Lakeview Terrace. On the other hand, Tyler Perry makes his living playing up most of the negative stereotypes about black women and I'd hate to put more money in his pocket.
Both movies have a certain freakshow factor/50's PSA quality to them: lookit what those dern BW/WM relationships'll get you!
In a way, as far as Hollywood is concerned, this may be a necessary evil. There is a particular target audience for movies that revolve mostly around the romantic involvements/lives of the main characters. Relationships have to be shown a certain way if their makeup doesn't directly reflect said audience or their life experiences.
At best, a BW/WM relationship on film that seems too "normal" or happy is suspicious because there's no obvious fetish involved (to "explain" why they're together) or it's written off as a sign that this is a "black" movie (because the number of films showing positive or healthy relationships involving a black woman are few and far between) and most people will stay away from it.
In short, Hollywood protects its bottom line by introducing sensational plot devices to draw people in.
Lakeview Terrace: They're happy together but there's the angry black man bent on keeping hope alive! The boogie man comes for you when you swirl something other than soft-serve!
The Family That Preys: Behold what happens when you step outside of race and class to feed the flames of passion! Be glad the one married to a blue-collar man of similar stature and sticking to her color has her head on her shoulders!
I don't think I can devote any more brain power to it. The more I think about how we're portrayed in the media or completely erased from it, the sadder it makes me.
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Fiya Starter was spot on. My mom and I watched that movie together. I didn't understand what she thought was so fantabulous about the Perfect White Man (PWM) painting homegirl's toes until the not-so-Perfect WM boyfriend did it to me. It wasn't that he was a white guy painting my toes that did it for me. I felt special because I realized he'd been talking to me while I was doing my feet so he could learn what to do before he asked permission to do it for me.
-moviegirl, Your comments on European movie depictions of BW/WM relationships as being positive and just normal are spot on. American film makers need to evolve and learn to stop portraying BW/WM romance and relationships in an abnormal, derogatory manner. If BM IRR's can be mainstreamed in the film world(as they obviously are now) it is clearly racist for American film makers to continue portraying BW/WM in a negative light. DBR BM need to learn that BW are NOT their property and stop promoting negative stereotypes of us in the media (eg, Tyler Perry and other BM film makers, thug rappers, some BM comediennes, etc.). BW have the RIGHT to love, date, and marry whoever we please and it is NO ONE ELSE's business.
-pinkpopprincess, Your blog is excellent!
Where have I been? I haven't heard anything about Lakeview Terrace. I need to come back to the world....
And as far as TP's movie, I dunno... I don't think the point of the movie is that their relationship is interacial. One family just happens to be white and the other black. Perhaps it makes the movie more, um, well... hmm...interesting? And the fact that the families are different races shouldn't be such a shock factor. But sadly it still is.
I think the main storyline is about the betrayal, secrets, and lies that are going on. Not their race. But hey, I could be wrong. Guess I'll have to watch it to find out.
I JUST REMEMBERED THAT THE HIT TV SHOW HEROES HAS AN IRR IN IT and it is not about the relationship, it's about magical powers and stuff they have...infact i forgot there were an IR couple when watching the show...because it wasnt the focus !
Suesue:I JUST REMEMBERED THAT THE HIT TV SHOW HEROES HAS AN IRR IN IT and it is not about the relationship, it's about magical powers and stuff they have...infact i forgot there were an IR couple when watching the show...because it wasnt the focus !
-Seems like TV is way further ahead than movies are in this arena. There's a bunch of TV shows that have shown strong, beautiful black women in relationships with white men and they don't even ever really bring it up and you kinda forget they're an IR couple. I loved the one on Heroes but they went and killed her off!
There was a love interest for the character Dean on the show Supernatural that was the first one he'd had (and the only sex scene he's had in the show's 3 seasons) who was black. Then there's Salli Richardson-Whitfield's character on SciFi's Eureka. Nia Long was with Michael Vartan on the now canceled Big Shots. And I don't watch but I'm told there's a couple on Lost, as well.
So it really does look like TV is much further along in recognizing IR relationships.
To Suesue and Nikki,
Have you two forgotten the first season of Heroes. The IR couple is completely flawed. The woman, was a stripper that had her own online video show and the man was in jail. He eventually used his powers to breakout of prison. Their child basically had to raise himself. This is not the type of relationship for which you should be rooting.
I would really like to see a Hollywood movie or TV show that features an IR couple who are not tragically flawed. Is that too much to ask???
As an aside, I just saw Tyra giving an interview for GMA/Today show regarding her new season of the Tyra Banks Show. God please save us from Tyra. Her first show is about this crazy black woman who puts bleaching cream on her sons everyday to lighten their skin. Tyra admitted that she did not get through to this woman in the end. So what does that mean for us? Now the whole population knows that blacks, south east asian, etc are nuts & that we would expose ourselves to skin cancer just to be a bit lighter???
If Tyra thinks that there are not enough dark skin role models for black women specifically and America in general, then highlight lots of them looking glamorous/fabulous and happy with who there are.
People, surround yourselves with positivity. If your black girlfriends refer to their hair as nappy or bad, get rid off them or show them the light--if you can't, get rid of them. If your boyfriend says that latinas are on the top of the beauty totem pole and black second, as my former beau did, get rid of him, PRONTO! If you hang out with men and women who use the term "Dark Butt," kick them to the curb. Trust me ladies, you do not want people like this in your inner circle and around your kids. You'll feel better in the end, Trust Me!
I think they were talking about Peter and his 1st girlfriend who was killed off, not Niki and D.L. I am so wrong that I know that. I am a geek, I watch this and Lost on the regular.
i can't argue if the movies are going look like wm/bw relationships are doomed. they did the same with IR films w/ bm/ww. either it could open people's mind. Jungle fever didn't stop bm from dating ww. and neither will either these films stop bw dating wm. i say support film so that more bw can take leads in the film reguardless the color of the front man.
When I saw the preview to Lakeview Terrace I immediately wondered what you would think of it. Same goes for The Family That Preys. I do watch TP film's and like them for the most part, and notice the theme that he wants BW to stick with BM, but this movie just seems hateful. It is kind of sad to see that there aren't more movies portraying BW/WM in a more positive light, but they tend to be set aside and have support actors involved in IRR.
@PinkPopPrincess
Good looking blog, I've got it bookmarked and will check it out.
moviegirl...yeah, what Sid said. I was referring to Peter and Simone from first season Heroes and not Niki & DL. That one was messed up. But Peter and Simone were not, though they were not given time to develop.
Sid, nah, you're not a geek. Remember, I'm the girl who outed herself with watching Hereoes, Supernatural and Eureka, so um, yeah.
Quick note about Heroes that I heard. Niki's character was supposed to be a black woman but Ali Larter then got cast. And Simone was supposed to be a white woman but they say the actress (totally forgot what her name is) and changed that path, too.
moviegirl there are 2 IR couples in Heroes. One with a black man who was wrongfully jailed and a white stripper who has a genius biracial child.
One with a black woman who had her father died and fell in love with a hot painter and hot nurse. I love Heroes :-)
A british movie futuring an IR couple between a BW and WM : I have not seen it but the main focus is not on the IR aspect of the reltionship. It has Simon Pegg in it, he's really funny.
SEE LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcTNIAWetRI
Would the US audience ever watch a movie like this?
You know what? I REALLY love Siddity's profile picture !!! ...i think it's really sexy. And i want to be in that womans position.
Going off on a tangent:
I went out to dinner with my cousin two days ago and i saw two IR couples between BW ans WM and the sat on either side of us. The couple on the left were obviously on like their first date. Yes, I was eavesdropping. Their conversation was soo funny and they were both really awkward and english ! They wre both talking really fast and laughing too much. The couple on my right were either married or in a very long-standing relationship because they were so comfortable with eachother and the ate noodles out of the same bowl...isn't that so cute???
To Siddity: Evan ???? Wha...????
Oh yeah now I remember, the girl who was killed off so early I couldn't even remember she was on the show. They couldn't have the main character (Peter) in love with a black girl, come on now ya'll. Where do you think we are, Canada?
IMO, the writers strike killed most network shows for me, including Heroes. I'm all about Mad Men, now.
I saw the tyler perry movie today and I'm pissed off at the ending. I knew it wouldn't end well, but actually seeing it made me mad. I know alot of BM are going to use this movie against BW and WM relationships. I went on the imdb.com discussion board for it and it is already happening. But, it was nice looking at he main character. He was cute and his ears are sey. Too bad he's married. Darn!
Superjv that review on Something New was funny. I liked when he said "the man played in dirt for a living", I died. Siditty, I love To Wong Foo. That was my movie. I used to have the biggest crush on John Leg-whatever. Wesley Snipes was the ugliest woman I'd ever seen and had the nerve to wear a blonde wig, lol.
I meant THE main character.
I meant his ears are SEXY.
Damn, I can't spell.
I had a "Come To Jesus" conversation with two black guy friends of mine, in regards to me dating my now husband.
Jesus is not like that, then is why there is a variety of peoples of all different nationatilies, God looks at the heart not the outer appearances. My pastor is an African and his wife is White/English and they have been married for 10 years, together for 13 and they have a little girl. Many of these people who are so willing to quote Jesus, if you take a look at their lives, people should run a mile, far far away from them. You marry the person who suits you and who you are comfortable with, you make your own choices and don't let anyone influence to do other. Many of these films are a waste of time and they are out to make money, of course, negativity is more money making than watching the positivity. People have to get on with their own lives.
Felicity,
"Come To Jesus" is a southern american saying. It just means they pulled me aside to have a private chat about their concerns.
Thanks for schooling us on the Perry movie. Not that I would ever openly support a Perry movie, but now I think I'll wait until Channel 11. We call my grandmother Madear and she in no way resembles that man in a dress. There are some black women out there that do not believe in beatings, FYI.
Thanks for schooling me on the Come to Jesus phrase. While I am black and american and my family is from the south, I too had never heard that phrase. It must have something to do with me being an Agnostic, my sister being an Atheist and my mother being a baptist, who is a trekie. Thos two things usually don't go hand in hand.
One new movie with an IR is the new movie Towelhead which features a 1/2 Lebanese-1/2 white girl who, among other things, falls for an African American boy in Texas. Needless to say, her lebanese father was not happy about it and cites "the way of the world" for his discomfort. I can't wait to see it.
I didn't see lakeview terrace. I say the family that preys. It was good. There were legitimate reasona for why the interracial couple was doomed in the tyler perry movie but I don't want to give away the plot. TFTP was good and highly recommended.
There were legitimate reasons for why the interracial couple was doomed in the tyler perry movie
Reason #1: It was a Tyler Perry movie.
I don't expect Tyler Perry to write a positive bw/wm romance. Of course, there's no reason he has to. And considering what I think of his writing skills maybe it's a good thing he doesn't even try.
But who knows? Maybe "Medea Gets Her Swirl On" will be coming soon to a theatre near you. ;)
I agree with t.allen-mercado that there should be mainstream movies where the main characters just happen to be IR. However, including an interacial aspect could open up a lot of creative possibilities in genres such as romantic comedies involving mistaken identity or fish-out-of-water storylines. There could be twists on classic romantic pairings. Instead of the familiar Romeo and Juliet scenario, why not something more like Benedict and Beatrice.
The potential is there, but it will probably take some sort of IR sleeper hit at the box office before Hollywood takes notice.
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