Watch Black and White

Black and White is a 1999 drama film directed by James Toback. It stars an ensemble cast, including Gina Gershon, Rory Cochrane, Ron Silver, and Ben Stiller. The movie follows a group of affluent teens from New York City's Upper East Side as they delve into the world of hip-hop and street culture. The movie opens with an introduction to Rich (Cochrane) and Sam (Stiller), two affluent white art dealers who find themselves drawn to the world of hip-hop after meeting Cigar (Raekwon), a street-smart rapper. Rich and Sam soon become interested in African-American culture, and they begin to explore the world of hip-hop, attending underground rap battles and hanging out with rappers and their crews.

Meanwhile, a group of teens from the Upper East Side, including Charlie (Bijou Phillips) and her boyfriend, Mark (Eddie Kaye Thomas), are also drawn to hip-hop and street culture. They begin to hang out with Rich and Sam, and the two groups soon become intertwined.

As the movie progresses, the characters grapple with issues of race, identity, and privilege. Rich and Sam struggle to reconcile their newfound interest in hip-hop with their privileged background, while the teens from the Upper East Side are forced to confront their own privilege and prejudices.

One of the central conflicts of the movie is the relationship between Rich and Sam and the group of African-American rappers they become involved with. The rappers are initially suspicious of Rich and Sam, and the two white art dealers struggle to earn their trust. However, as the movie progresses, they begin to see eye-to-eye, and the divide between black and white, hip-hop and art, slowly begins to fade.

The movie also explores the dynamic between the teens from the Upper East Side and the hip-hop community they become embroiled in. Charlie struggles to fit in with her new friends, who are mostly black or Hispanic, while Mark becomes increasingly drawn to the world of hip-hop, eventually turning his back on his privileged upbringing.

Throughout the movie, the characters grapple with issues of race and identity, with each character struggling to find their place in a world that is often defined by inequality and division. Despite its heavy subject matter, the movie is also infused with humor and energy, capturing the vibrant spirit of the New York hip-hop scene in the late 1990s.

Overall, Black and White is a thought-provoking drama that explores issues of race, identity, and privilege with intelligence and insight. With a talented and diverse cast and a compelling storyline, it is a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of hip-hop and mainstream culture.

Black and White is a 1999 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.