HUB Movie Review: Dear White People
In recent years, there have been more and more films being released to appeal to African-American audiences. From the abundance of critically hated but financially successful Tyler Perry films to others like The Best Man Holiday, About Last Night, and Ride Along. Yet, other than slight references used for jokes, few look into the stereotypes and prejudice that those audiences face routinely. Other than Selma and Dope, both released earlier this year, no mainstream films look at the racism that some believe still exists in American culture.
Yet, the independent circuit of films always has a trick up its sleeve, and since movies dealing with racism are rarely placed as a top billing marque blockbuster, Writer/Director/Producer Justin Simien released his film, Dear White People, to low end box office results despite an awards season push. But luckily for myself and a crowd of around 50 others on Monday night, his film was being shown for any who were interested in the Hub. And, while I may not speak for everyone who attended, I’m very happy with how I spent my two hours.
At Winchester University, an Ivy League like institution, racial tensions arise after a popular fraternity decides to throw a “blackface” party for their annual Halloween party, creating a tipping point on a campus that is already dealing with racial issues thanks to a strong mouthed student (Tessa Thompson) who hosts the radio show “Dear White People”.
While a movie like this could be very cut and dry, only showing one side to this very precarious situation, Simien finds a way to incorporate most opinions and angles when it comes to race on the campus of Winchester. That combined with brilliant writing, strong performances, and a dry sense of humor touching on so many of today’s cultural expectations of whites and blacks, and Dear White People becomes an entertaining, and very insightful, experience.
Simien walks a very thin rope when talking about serious racial issues in a predominantly white college, yet he achieves the impossible by creating both sympathetic characters while also making you question the beliefs and statements made by them, no matter the side they are on. The film touches on a variety of issues plaguing black culture, from on those same Tyler Perry movies mentioned prior to Fox News and the Republican Party to campus housing all the way to rap music and reality television. The film also uses the party in questions to raise questions about what is free speech and what is blatantly racist. Simien doesn’t just touch on racial elements, as he includes views of homosexuality and classism around the college. Most of this blends perfectly and adds an element of realism that many people need in order to see issues that still exist in a world where they shouldn’t.
Yet all of this would be for naught if Simien didn’t have the perfect cast to pull off a wide range of comedy, drama, and even harshness. But all actors assembled do their jobs perfectly, particularly in a star making performance by Tessa Thompson. Thompson brings a stubborn yet strong presence to her character of Sam White, who helps spark a racial revolution among her fellow black students. Another standout is Tyler James Williams as Lionel, a black, gay newspaper writer assigned with a profile on the residence house usually assigned to black students. Williams brings humor and sincerity to his character, who was constantly picked on in high school. The rest of the cast do a fantastic job creating characters that are both likable and despicable, and everyone brings their fair share of humor to the table. The humor is all attributed to Simien’s writing. The dialogue Simien comes up with is fast, intelligent, and most of all funny.
When it comes to flaws, there are only a few, but they all deal with the narrative. The film has plenty of great characters, but at times there seems to be too many characters being stuffed into the film, leading to a sense of a crowded narrative at some points. There are a few plotlines, including a rivalry between the Dean of Students and President of the university that really could’ve been left out and a love interest for Sam that’s out of the blue. And while Williams is great as Lionel, his place in the story by the end of the film seems forced, like a way for him to be relevant in the story involving Sam.
But in the end those issues become nitpicks because Dear White People overcomes its narrative shortcomings with a fast paced, funny, and clever look at what racism has evolved to in the digital age. It’s an important film in today’s age that should be seen by those who are blind to the racism that still exists in our society today.
Hunter Eitel is a freshman majoring in print journalism. To reach him, contact him at hbe5018@psu.edu.
