Rick Famuyiwa

  • Brown Sugar (2002)

    Brown Sugar (2002)

    ByChristian Sauvé Movie Review

    (On TV, January 2021) I’m fond of saying that an interesting setting can make even a formula romantic comedy seem far more interesting, and this is exactly what happens in Brown Sugar… at least when it remembers what its setting actually is. Set in Manhattan at the turn of the century, Brown Sugar begins with a succession of cameos from hip-hop stars telling us about the moment they fell in love with the genre. A flurry of genre references firmly establishes the film as being about hip-hop, seen through our lead character’s own love for music. The very likable Sanaa Lathan plays a music magazine editor who ends up falling for her long-time best friend (the equally likable Taye Diggs) at the very moment when he’s getting married and she’s getting into a serious relationship. Blending music with romance, Brown Sugar is at its best when writer-director Rick Famuyiwa focuses on the music—which is admittedly less and less so as the film progresses. Lathan and Diggs are great leads for a romantic comedy, but hip-hop fans may be more impressed by supporting turns from Mos Def and Queen Latifah alongside the dozen artists seen in the opening segment. In terms of story, Brown Sugar doesn’t offer much that’s new, although its willingness to portray its central romantic relationship as adultery (albeit on a partner intent on cheating) does remain unusual. It’s not a bad time, though, even if the deviations from reality get more and more noticeable as it goes on—find me a radio station that operates the way “Hot 97” does and I’ll be very surprised. Still, like the characters themselves say, the music is the most important thing—even more than romance, in Brown Sugar’s case.

  • Dope (2015)

    Dope (2015)

    ByChristian Sauvé Movie Review

    (Video on Demand, December 2015)  Oh, the joys of being married to a cinephile with slightly different tastes!  I’m not sure I would have looked at Dope had my wife not selected it as our Saturday Night Movie, and that would have missing on a happy discovery: A playful blend of comedy, ghetto awareness, geek-chic, hip-hop soundtrack and fizzy directing, Dope features a black nerd protagonist pushed into crime as a path to higher learning.  It’s got substance, style, hilarious moments and heartfelt observations about the American racial divide.  Shameik Moore is immediately likable as the film’s protagonist, but the ensemble cast works just as well with the material.  Still, the real star here is writer/director Rick Famuyiwa, who manages to bring together hood references with a geek sensibility, delivering a lively film that changes stylistic gears every so often (from narration to breaking the fourth wall, to rewinding in time to explain a strange visual) and keeps things interesting throughout.  There’s some good comedy mixed with the heartfelt social concerns but the combination of geek culture with hood circumstances feels unique, and as a computer nerd I couldn’t find much at fault in the film’s use of technological jargon.  The soundtrack couldn’t be better (fittingly enough, it seems to be only available digitally) and it works both as a collection of songs as well as a reinforcement for what’s happening on-screen.  The ending sequence may be a bit too on-the-nose, but it earns its own earnestness through self-aware storytelling that manages to do interesting things with well-worn elements.