BLACK IS OUT NOW ON UK DVD AND BLU-RAY

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BLACK, a new French crime movie with a killer soundtrack, has been compared to Blaxploitation movies but for people who are expected checked flares and pimp hats, this quote from the CINEMATICAL REVIEW will help clarify matters. Follow the link after the quote for the full review…

“You can definitely see those influences, intentional or not, in the great “wah wah” funky soundtrack, the occasional, wildly exaggerated reaction shots, the rogue’s gallery of tough guys and dangerous girls, the gleeful, nearly continuous action, and the outlandishly moody, yet completely effective, wind-up.” – CINEMATICAL


The movie also mixes in some pretty far out ideas for a bank job movie, something that the reviewer at FLICKERING MYTH picked up on…

“In combining elements of blaxploitation and spiritual/fantastical themes with the modern heist movie, Black is able to tread and, quite often, cross the boundaries of believability” – FLICKERING MYTH

When I watched the movie, I noticed the clear influence of early 70s black cinema but as the movie progressed the country hopping, international flavour and the introduction of some larger than life villians started to bring back memories of the kind of Bond influenced ensemble action movies made in the 70s that used to appear in our local video store, movies like Jaguar Lives. CHRIS AND PHIL’S review evoked this as well and they give the movie a thumbs up…

“This is a smart film, with great action, fighting, chase scenes and more. Make sure you check it out as you won’t be disappointed.” – CHRIS AND PHIL PRESENT

All this and BLACK has one of the strongest retro soundtracks since KILL BILL. A fantastic mix of 70s Funk, Spacey Prog Rock, Afrobeat and Hip Hop. As a massive music geek, it makes the movie for me. I wrote about my favourite artists featured on the soundtrack last week so check out the post HERE.

Finally, check out the PRESS RELEASE to see the trailer and for more on the DVD and Blu-Ray.

BLACK AND FRENCH HIP-HOP

The music connection doesn’t just extend to the soundtrack. Black stars one of the most popular rappers in France, MC Jean Gab’1. Check out this video to see him in action. It’s a great clip, kind of like Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2 U video, only without the tears and regret…

MC JEAN GAB'1

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BLACK

FROM THE CESAR AND BAFTA AWARD WINNING PRODUCER OF ‘A PROPHET’.

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The spirit of Blaxploitation classics such as ‘Super Fly’, ‘Shaft’ and ‘Truck Turner’ is given a modern day makeover in the action-thriller, Black, the directorial debut feature from Pierre Laffargue.

Produced by Marco Cherqui (A Prophet) and starring French hip-hop artist MC Jean Gab’1 (the District 13 movies), Carole Karemera (Sometimes In April), Francois Levantal (A Very Long Engagement; D’Artagnan’s Daughter) and Anton Yakovlev (The Beat That My Heart Skipped), Black is “a slick, fun, French heist flick” (Eye Weekly) with a supernatural sting in the tail that sees its eponymous protagonist and anti-hero travelling from Paris to West Africa and the Senegalese capital of Dakar in order to pull off the biggest score of his criminal career.

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When an armed raid on a security van in Paris goes horribly wrong, one of the gunmen, Black (MC Jean Gab’1), decides to lie low until the dust settles. That is until he receives a call from his cousin in Senegal supplying information about a stash of uncut diamonds being stored in a poorly guarded bank in Dakar. Eyeing the opportunity to make one final score that would set him up for life, Black travels to Africa and hooks up with a small group of fellow thieves who can help him pull off the heist.


Unfortunately, news of the diamonds and their insecure location travels fast and Black and his crew aren’t the only ones with their eyes on the prize. Also looking to get their hands on the jewels are a crazed, mercenary Russian general (Yakovlev), a ruthless, reptilian arms dealer (Levantal) and his African voodoo sorceress mistress (Mata Gabin), and a corrupt, female Interpol agent called Pamela (Karemera). As his team rapidly begins to fall apart in the ensuing melee to claim the diamonds first, Black once again finds himself alone, running and fighting for his life against seemingly unbeatable odds.

Described by Eye For Film as a “popcorn movie with oodles of French cool”, Black is a affectionate and worthy tribute to the Blaxploitation genre right down to its energetic soundtrack of funk, jazz and soul by artists such as the film’s star MC Jean Gab’1, Eumir Deodato, Fela Kuti, Brass Construction, Don Cherry and Roy Ayers.

Black (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (£15.99) and Blu-ray (£19.99) by Anchor Bay Entertainment on 14th February 2011.

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