DVD Review: A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy

I just finished watching A Good Day to be Black and Sexy, which is now out on DVD for those that missed it in the theaters, and I have to say WOW. No wonder it did so well at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

I didn’t just watch the film; I watched the extras the DVD provided, auditions, deleted scenes, behind the scenes and more. Because the film captured me. And I’m trying to find a way to explain how.

The film is not your generic action, drama or so on film. This is more of an art house film. But don’t let that put you off on seeing this film. There is humor, and sensuality, moments of fear and disappointment, and a consistent display of daily life in all its forms.

The film is broken into several vignettes. Each is separate of each other, with the exception of Tonite (parts 1 & 2) though they are only connected by the character Tamala (played by Mylika Davis). And each expressed something very different about love, sensuality, sex and the pursuit thereof.

What will really blow the mind of some viewers is the fact that all the characters except Jasmine - Emily Liu - and her family are Black. This may not sound like a big deal. But once the film starts, it takes mere moments for your mind to wake up to the fact that you haven’t seen this before. It just doesn’t get conveyed in Hollywood. Except in the most superficial and more often than not violent manner.

I should also mention right off the bat that this is not a film for kids. This is R-rated and it deserves that rating. This is mature content. But it is also thought provoking.

For me the 3 best vignettes of the film have to be Her Man, Reprise, and American Boyfriend. Not that the other parts are not good, just that they evoked the most emotional reaction from me. Though I admit feeling the fear for the safety of Tamala in Tonite part 1, and anger at Julian - played by Jerome Anthony Hawkins - in Tonite part 2.

I can tell you that there was not one part of this film that did not evoke some emotional response from me. Whether it was a sense of unease, humor, a desire to punch one of the male characters in the mouth, or triumph, each part had me moving with it. And considering that the overall pace of the film is slow, taking it’s time to do what it needed to, its hard to have an audience follow so closely for so long. Yet Director Dennis Dortch succeeds.

Director/Writer Dortch hits a nerve in this film. He makes you want to know more about these characters. He gives you a glimpse and you want the extras as soon as you can get them.

And the cast of actors is a great find. If several of these actors and actresses don’t get more attention from Hollywood it proves the whole thing is rigged. Because the talent is just so apparent.

This is especially true with the character of Helena, played by Chonte Harris. Helena is bitter, unsatisfied, spiteful, loving, and quite possibly in love all at once. Her lines are short and simple, yet convey a huge depth of conversation. And her movements give the impression of a spring coiled and ready to explode.

For the male actors Alphonso Johnson, portraying Jesse, is the stand out. While he may not have a lot of screen time in which to work, he moves you. His desire to understand, his frustration at being ignored, his anger at being minimized all play thru. And his ultimate act of wordless defiance, and expression of love just rocket you with joy.

And there is chemistry among all the couples. Perhaps best personified by Nana Hill’s Candi and Kareem Grimes’ Russell. You can feel the trust, playfulness and wild abandon waiting for its chance.

I have to mention that I seriously think that Nana Hill will be seen a lot more. It’s no surprise that her image is the cover of the DVD, and her acting equally conveys that sensuality and something extra you just can’t describe.

And I strongly suggest watching the alternate ending to Tonite part 2. Which I felt needed to be seen, and if there must be a negative mentioned it has to be that this was not in the feature film. Or at least I wanted it to be as I was so angry with Julian.

Director/Writer Dennis Dortch has done a great job with this first film. In many ways I can imagine this leading to a career much like Spike Lee’s. Controversial yet in a gratifyingly different manner. And not afraid to place the viewer in a position they may not have expected to be in, while still making the experience worthwhile.

If I sound positive and excited about this film, I am. Far too few films these days give you an experience. Most of the time you can watch something and forget everything you saw in the last 2 hours 2 minutes after it’s over. When a film leaves you with something tangible it needs to be lauded.

I have many questions I’d like to ask Dennis Dortch, and I hope to have the chance to ask him sometime soon. But I can and do say that I recommend owning a copy of this film.