Black And White
"It's To Kill A Mockingbird down under." - Jamie Russell, BBC
The controversial case of an Aboriginal man (David Ngoombujarra, Rabbit-Proof Fence) convicted of the rape and murder of a nine-year-old white girl pits a small-town legal aid defender (Robert Carlyle, The Full Monty) and his partner (Kerry Fox, An Angel at my Table) against the Australian legal establishment. Craig Lahiff’s award-winning courtroom drama does full justice to the momentous case that divided South Australia in the 1950s, and exposed the racism and brutality of the judicial system.
Member Reviews
Just Short of Excellent - c4th
Black and White exposes a provocative court case rooted in Australia’s dark history of racial intolerance toward Aboriginals. The piece is a stark reminder that discrimination is cultivated in every colonization by mankind.
Prejudice and injustice are issues I love to see confronted in movies. I tend to be generous in my evaluation of such attempts and frequently rate them at five stars. This one I give four. Ironically I found the writing a little “black and white”. Police and prosecutors are clearly painted to be viewed in a negative light and the stuffiness attributed to high court officials is superlative. The power of the press is blatantly portrayed in the dramatic turnaround in attitudes displayed among socialites. I find myself slightly offended that creators deemed it necessary to bias their presentation. Disappointingly, the facts of the case are never clearly presented. Viewers are not afforded the opportunity or the trust to critically assess the merits of opposing arguments.
Still it is uplifting to experience the frustrating but tenacious battle for civic fairness fought by determined and likable characters. As a bonus, we receive an encouraging example of public opinion bearing positive influence on government. Black and White accomplishes what it set out to do. The limited success of the protagonists is disappointing while still encouraging and motivating. Finely executed performances in a story designed to play on our emotions contribute to a thought provoking movie that is just short of excellent.A Near Miss - Stitch
As one reviewer puts it. Robert Carlisle and some very solid production values within a limited budget almost rescues this ‘black and white’ treatment of a true story of self-serving justice Down Under. Almost is the operable word because while the case did evolve from the class divide married to the self-interest of the prosecutors, along the way we do begin to tire a bit of the blatant attempt to prejudice the viewer. Consider Charles Dance who does his usual superb character interpretation—where the director never allows a hint of humanity to creep in. This pragmatic senior couldn’t buy it and longed to detest a little rounder personality (shades of grey?).
Robert Carlisle turns in one of his subtler performances as the defense attorney. And admire Kerry Fox, a fine actress from New Zealand, who aces a tougher task in bridging the personal dichotomy between pragmatism and sacrifice for a cause. The same can be said for Ben Mendelsohn as a young Rupert Murdock. Newspapers are as venal as the rest of us in following the money but having said this, credit Murdock for financing the fight as long as he did. Also you can appreciate strong cinematography, particularly in capturing the flavor of old Victorian courtrooms and buildings.
Which brings us to a performance that lifts this film from the ordinary. David Ngoombujarra as the defendant Max Stuart richly deserves his ‘Black Actor in a Supporting Role’ award from AFI in 2003. He’s been in film and TV for many years (catch him in Rabbit Proof Fence the previous year) but here he seizes the opportunity to demonstrate his range. The scene where he rejects one more attempt to delay the death penalty is masterful…it effectively solidifies our human compassion. Here we can put away our intellect and identify with the toll of imminent death.
In summary, a worthwhile watch for adult viewers interested in the evolution of English jurisprudence forced to outgrow reluctantly its caste bias.White against black - shorty
This is a good movie. It moves along at a fast pace and the courtroom scenes are interspersed with flashbacks and other action so the rhetoric never becomes dull. The film can make you angry when you see the injustice being done to the black man, it is in 1958 so one can only hope that times have changed a bit. It is well acted, Carlyle is believable as a feisty Irish lawyer, at odds with the snobbery of the Australian and British legal scene.
Member Reviews
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Just Short of Excellent - c4th
Black and White exposes a provocative court case rooted in Australia’s dark history of racial intolerance toward Aboriginals. The piece is a stark reminder that discrimination is cultivated in every colonization by mankind.
Prejudice and injustice ...A Near Miss - Stitch
As one reviewer puts it. Robert Carlisle and some very solid production values within a limited budget almost rescues this ‘black and white’ treatment of a true story of self-serving justice Down Under. Almost is the operable word because while the case ...White against black - shorty
This is a good movie. It moves along at a fast pace and the courtroom scenes are interspersed with flashbacks and other action so the rhetoric never becomes dull. The film can make you angry when you see the injustice being done to the black man, it is in ...