Search - Black and White on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Substance Abuse Movie Release: 1999 DVD Release: 09/26/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 40 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Total Copies: 1 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Crime Drama, Urban Drama, Ensemble Film

The inner workings of the New York hip-hop scene, and the fascination of white observers with rap music and hip-hop culture, set the stage for this drama written and directed by James Toback. Rich Bower (Power) is a mover and shaker in the world of rap music (he's involved with a number of other licit and illicit business ventures as well), and his apartment is a favored meeting place for musicians, hangers-on, and hipsters who want to seem cool, including a clique of white kids who want to be on the inside of whey they consider the coolest scene of the day. Sam (Brooke Shields), a filmmaker, is making a documentary about Rich and his circle, with the help of her husband Terry (Robert Downey Jr.), a closeted homosexual who doesn't feel at home in this milieu. Dean (Allan Houston) is a talented college basketball player and Rich's friend since childhood who is offered a deal by a bookmaker, Mark (Ben Stiller) to throw a few games for a price. Dean takes the money against his better judgment, and he soon realizes how much of a mistake he made when Mark turns out to be a cop hoping to dig up dirt on Rich. Rich in turn discovers that Dean might be forced to tell what he knows to stay out of jail, and he decides that Dean has to be killed; however, rather than murder his friend himself, Rich asks one of the white kids who hangs out with him, who seems especially eager to prove himself, to do it for him. The kid, however, is actually the son of the District Attorney. Also contributing to Black and White's supporting cast are controversial boxing legend Mike Tyson, musician Bijou Phillips, Wu Tang Clan rapper Raekwon, model Claudia Schiffer, and Donald Trump's former spouse Marla Maples. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Scott Caan - Scotty
Robert Downey, Jr. - Terry
Stacy Edwards - Sheila King
Allan Houston - Dean
Gaby Hoffmann - Raven
Brooke Shields - Sam
Ben Stiller - Mark Clear
Elijah Wood - Wren
Ron Silver
Gina Gershon
Rory Cochrane

James Toback's gritty urban drama about hip-hop culture and identity crises comes to DVD with a solid 2.35:1 widescreen anamorphic transfer. English soundtracks are rendered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Surround. Both soundtracks are closed-captioned, and English subtitles are also accessible. Bonus features include a commentary track by the director, as well as a featurette consisting of a video diary kept by Toback. Music videos, theatrical trailers, and a series of deleted scenes and outtakes complete this fine package from Columbia/TriStar. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide