Sep 30, 2025I hate when people feel that a movie has to be All Things to Everyone
Sep 30, 2025
JonboiYeah, but that's not really the issue, the issue is more centered around what we expect from the conventions of a story. It can feel sort of unsatisfying if you see your protagonist running around for three hours while having no real impact on the plot. It makes the story seem pointless. But then I'm reminded of movies from the 70s like Two-Lane Blacktop that just get by off of the vibe and the experience.
I had no issue with it lol Bob was still entertaining af to follow (though I do wish we had spent more time with some of the other characters like Regina's and the nuns)
Sep 30, 2025·1 reply
TheFaderAs a big big big fan of Nolan, one of my GOATs, Dunkirk is probably bottom 2 of his for me too. I feel like what Nolan is good at just doesn’t really shine through in a war film
Such a bad take i wanna throw my phone after reading it
Sep 30, 2025Saint SeiyaA tricky thing I’ve had with this movie is that it’s a movie about blackness and black women written unashamedly from a white mans perspective. I appreciate he doesn’t shy away or cop out of the ugliness of racism and also doesn’t luxuriate in it like Tarantino. But there is a trickiness there. I’m not sure if there were aspects written with others to massage his lack of cultural awareness but I have to say there is specificity to the Sensei Sergio set piece at the Latino Harriet Tubman spot that we know was conceived with Benecio. I feel there is nothing of that level granted to Black folx in the film to the point it feels like Anderson « understands ».
This isn’t a huge criticism but something I keep ping ponging on. I really think we are one meaningful Regina hall scene away from being an all-timer. Also sad Barksdale wasn’t in the movie long.
An a***ogous film is Putney Swope which is a GREAT film but also tricky
Sep 30, 2025·1 replymentalcase420I completely get ppl saying that Bob didn't do anything of significance to save Willa in the film HOWEVER...he was the one who raised her and even though he was stoned through a lot of it he seemed to teach her good survival skills that she thought was silly initially but eventually found them handy (the scene at the end before she shoots the bad guy when she's asking him for the code or whatever)
Ultimately she did save herself but probably with skills him (and her sensai) taught her over the years
Nobody is saying he’s a failure of a dad, I mean him simply forcing her to take the little secret tracker thing saved her life. We just find it funny/unique that action wise in the story he didn’t do anything. Which is cool cus it goes against the white savior trope
- Sep 30, 2025·1 replySaint Seiya
A tricky thing I’ve had with this movie is that it’s a movie about blackness and black women written unashamedly from a white mans perspective. I appreciate he doesn’t shy away or cop out of the ugliness of racism and also doesn’t luxuriate in it like Tarantino. But there is a trickiness there. I’m not sure if there were aspects written with others to massage his lack of cultural awareness but I have to say there is specificity to the Sensei Sergio set piece at the Latino Harriet Tubman spot that we know was conceived with Benecio. I feel there is nothing of that level granted to Black folx in the film to the point it feels like Anderson « understands ».
This isn’t a huge criticism but something I keep ping ponging on. I really think we are one meaningful Regina hall scene away from being an all-timer. Also sad Barksdale wasn’t in the movie long.
Idk he said a lot of his inspiration came from the fact he lives in a house full of black women
Sep 30, 2025·1 replySaint SeiyaA tricky thing I’ve had with this movie is that it’s a movie about blackness and black women written unashamedly from a white mans perspective. I appreciate he doesn’t shy away or cop out of the ugliness of racism and also doesn’t luxuriate in it like Tarantino. But there is a trickiness there. I’m not sure if there were aspects written with others to massage his lack of cultural awareness but I have to say there is specificity to the Sensei Sergio set piece at the Latino Harriet Tubman spot that we know was conceived with Benecio. I feel there is nothing of that level granted to Black folx in the film to the point it feels like Anderson « understands ».
This isn’t a huge criticism but something I keep ping ponging on. I really think we are one meaningful Regina hall scene away from being an all-timer. Also sad Barksdale wasn’t in the movie long.
I think people are doing a disservice to the actual black women actors in the movie with a lot of their takes
Saw a different thinkpiece that suggested PTA was evoking racial slurs when naming a black woman Junglepussy for the movie. Seems like they’re stripping them of their agency.
- Sep 30, 2025·2 repliesSaint Seiya
A tricky thing I’ve had with this movie is that it’s a movie about blackness and black women written unashamedly from a white mans perspective. I appreciate he doesn’t shy away or cop out of the ugliness of racism and also doesn’t luxuriate in it like Tarantino. But there is a trickiness there. I’m not sure if there were aspects written with others to massage his lack of cultural awareness but I have to say there is specificity to the Sensei Sergio set piece at the Latino Harriet Tubman spot that we know was conceived with Benecio. I feel there is nothing of that level granted to Black folx in the film to the point it feels like Anderson « understands ».
This isn’t a huge criticism but something I keep ping ponging on. I really think we are one meaningful Regina hall scene away from being an all-timer. Also sad Barksdale wasn’t in the movie long.
Also where did he say he cooked up that sequence with Benecio? Would be interested in reading that, that was my favorite sequence of the movie
Sep 30, 2025·1 replySaint SeiyaA tricky thing I’ve had with this movie is that it’s a movie about blackness and black women written unashamedly from a white mans perspective. I appreciate he doesn’t shy away or cop out of the ugliness of racism and also doesn’t luxuriate in it like Tarantino. But there is a trickiness there. I’m not sure if there were aspects written with others to massage his lack of cultural awareness but I have to say there is specificity to the Sensei Sergio set piece at the Latino Harriet Tubman spot that we know was conceived with Benecio. I feel there is nothing of that level granted to Black folx in the film to the point it feels like Anderson « understands ».
This isn’t a huge criticism but something I keep ping ponging on. I really think we are one meaningful Regina hall scene away from being an all-timer. Also sad Barksdale wasn’t in the movie long.
man shut the f*** up, what do you guys actually want?
- Sep 30, 2025·2 repliesJonboi
Yeah, but that's not really the issue, the issue is more centered around what we expect from the conventions of a story. It can feel sort of unsatisfying if you see your protagonist running around for three hours while having no real impact on the plot. It makes the story seem pointless. But then I'm reminded of movies from the 70s like Two-Lane Blacktop that just get by off of the vibe and the experience.
That’s cus Bob isn’t the protagonist…
I think people get fooled by the big name and him being billed first. But story wise none of it is driven through his character.
Damn near 95% of what we see is connected to Lockjaw.
- Sep 30, 2025·3 replies
"black people should be written this way by that person or else its tricky"
- Sep 30, 2025Freight
I think people are doing a disservice to the actual black women actors in the movie with a lot of their takes
Saw a different thinkpiece that suggested PTA was evoking racial slurs when naming a black woman Junglepussy for the movie. Seems like they’re stripping them of their agency.
It’s because people want to believe they are smarter than what they are with their thinkpieces.
No part of their brain thinks “maybe, just maybe Teyanna came up with the name and had some creative input”
I hate when a movie is made that 100s of talented black folks approve of and advocate for but then you have those niggas on the sidelines who has literally zero idea on how the film was made, with the most to say.
- Sep 30, 2025backshot basquiat
"black people should be written this way by that person or else its tricky"
I definitely hate when white filmmakers are terrible at writing black dialogue and just use played out lingos, that’s lazy.
I don’t see any issues with this film. PTA is a strong writer and has black people all around him giving they inputs.
ghosting 🔫Sep 30, 2025·2 repliesOscar WinnerAlso where did he say he cooked up that sequence with Benecio? Would be interested in reading that, that was my favorite sequence of the movie
they saying Benecio added that whole s*** after they already started filming
- Sep 30, 2025Oscar Winner
Nobody is saying he’s a failure of a dad, I mean him simply forcing her to take the little secret tracker thing saved her life. We just find it funny/unique that action wise in the story he didn’t do anything. Which is cool cus it goes against the white savior trope
Oh I agree and do think it's intentional lol I just think the film was also trying to say in its own way that even though he wasn't a perfect dad he was still there and present and taught her things that helped her in the long run
Definitely think it was awesome that she ended up saving herself
- Sep 30, 2025·1 replyOscar Winner
Also where did he say he cooked up that sequence with Benecio? Would be interested in reading that, that was my favorite sequence of the movie
Yea I remember a podcast where I think Paul says benecio had such a clear picture of Sergio they wrote that scene over dinner maybe big picture
Sep 30, 2025Oscar WinnerIdk he said a lot of his inspiration came from the fact he lives in a house full of black women
QT's ma dated the blacks too
- Sep 30, 2025backshot basquiat
man shut the f*** up, what do you guys actually want?
Hmm I love the movie and love talking about movies, I don’t get the anger
- Sep 30, 2025
The thinkpieces around this film are already insufferable and I love it
- Sep 30, 2025·1 replybackshot basquiat
"black people should be written this way by that person or else its tricky"
Why is this a bad thing tho or not worthy of discussion
- Sep 30, 2025·2 repliesCRACKASTEPPAVEGAN
Why is this a bad thing tho or not worthy of discussion
because it literally consolidates billions of people to only be perceived one way. i’d argue the black community has been represented on a much wider spectrum than someone like asians or arabs in hollywood.
if pta wrote teyana taylor a certain way then cool, she’s an adult, she read the script, got paid for it and killed it, move on.
- Sep 30, 2025·1 replyghosting
they saying Benecio added that whole s*** after they already started filming
Deadass? That’s amazing
- Sep 30, 2025·1 replySaint Seiya
Yea I remember a podcast where I think Paul says benecio had such a clear picture of Sergio they wrote that scene over dinner maybe big picture
Ahhh ima go check thank you
- Sep 30, 2025backshot basquiat
because it literally consolidates billions of people to only be perceived one way. i’d argue the black community has been represented on a much wider spectrum than someone like asians or arabs in hollywood.
if pta wrote teyana taylor a certain way then cool, she’s an adult, she read the script, got paid for it and killed it, move on.
Fair, I get certain aspects of what you're saying. There's still nothing regressive about pointing out harmful tropes like the madonna/whore complex, and in this case, the Jezebel trope (depending on how you interpret the film).
And as for Teyana knowing the script and signing up, yeah, she's an actor. You'd be surprised how a problematic script doesn't stop them and again, that depends on how you see the script. Lemme give you a wild example: this s*** here came out in 2015:
It is as wild as you can imagine, stars a black actor saying that the main white character is a better black woman than black women (yes, the actor was paid to say it), and yeah, it's a vanity project that you think would be a bad memory from the 90's, but you'd be surprised how some harmful tropes linger still, and shutting down these discussions will benefit no minority.
- Sep 30, 2025·1 replyOscar Winner
Ahhh ima go check thank you
I’ve been consuming so much content around this so I may be wrong but yeah check out their review and interview from Wednesday I will try to make sure too