One Writer Dares to Review ‘Am I Racist?’

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One Writer Dares to Review ‘Am I Racist?’

As a seasoned film critic who’s seen his fair share of documentaries and comedies, I found myself drawn to the unconventional path of “Am I Racist?” – a film that seems to have bypassed the mainstream media radar like a well-timed political joke slipping past a censor.

Despite its merit, some movies can slip under the radar within the entertainment industry, and that seems to be the case with the documentary titled “Am I Racist?“. The possibility is that the reason for this oversight lies in the film’s conservative origins, as it is the first theatrical release from Ben Shapiro’s right-leaning media company, The Daily Wire. Interestingly, no major media outlet has reviewed the film, which has held a spot among the top 10 for two weeks now. In an attempt to address this gap in coverage, The Hollywood Reporter asked someone who values honesty over popularity: that person was me.

It’s even more astonishing than the fact that the movie “Am I Racist?” has earned over $9 million and ranks among the top 40 highest-grossing documentaries, that the AMC 16 in Burbank was the 14th highest-earning theater for this film. On Thursday, I decided to find out who in Burbank, a town where 70% of voters picked Joe Biden in 2020, would attend the movie. Since I wanted to catch the latest showing, I went at 2:20 p.m.

I gave an overly enthusiastic grin to the Latinx ticket attendant as I timidly requested a single ticket for the show “Am I a Racist?“. He appeared unaffected, which helped reduce my anxiety when I passed him the ticket. An Asian woman then guided me to theater six, which was vacant except for a lone beer can that had been left behind from the afternoon performance.

Just before the movie began, I spotted a diverse group of cinema-goers across the theater: an elderly Caucasian gentleman, a young Caucasian lady, and a multi-generational Latino family. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if I referred to them as such, but personally, I wouldn’t label them as “Latinx.” Each of them brought their unique energy to the shared experience that was about to unfold on the big screen.

In the year 2024, as a gamer immersed in an alternative reality, I found myself drawn into a hilarious comedy akin to Borat’s antics. This time, it was podcaster Matt Walsh undercover, claiming he was filming an anti-racist documentary while wearing a man-bun wig and skinny jeans. Frankly, I couldn’t help but chuckle at this supposed portrayal of liberal fashion in 2024. I half expected him to carry around a latte and a plate of sushi instead!

Although he managed to elicit a few chuckles from the four spectators, Walsh seems to be lacking some essential qualities of a comedian, such as being genuinely humorous. Instead, he comes across as a calm and self-assured figure, maintaining an even tempo throughout his performance. Occasionally, he delivers some effective jokes, like when he humorously commented on the number of Black friends he has during an anti-racist seminar, stating, “I’ve been complimented on the number of Black friends I have. It’s 17.” However, most of his comedy feels derivative rather than original, much like a poor mafia film that imitates other movies instead of depicting real criminal activities. In essence, the show Am I Racist? seems to be a comedic production created by an alien who has only observed other comedy shows. There’s a hint of irony in the audience’s slow clapping, plates are metaphorically dropped, and he feigns tears.

In Walsh’s justification, it should be noted that Sacha Baron Cohen’s work is quite challenging, given that he’s a seasoned professional actor. More often than not, even Cohen fails to achieve success (as seen in Bruno and The Dictator). His movies may seem effective, but they discard numerous scenes during editing. Walsh appears to be more restrained in his approach to cutting. However, the re-enactment of Jussie Smollet’s staged hate crime didn’t gain traction. Proposing a petition to rename the Washington Monument after George Floyd felt insignificant because getting 20 people to sign any petition is relatively simple. His interview with the woman suing Sesame Place for racial discrimination, where a character failed to high-five her Black kids, was so ineffective it would have likely resulted in his dismissal from The Daily Show.

Nevertheless, Walsh successfully connects with notable diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) influencers whom he anticipated would inadvertently expose themselves. He manages to persuade Robin DiAngelo, the author of “White Fragility,” to hand over $30 from her wallet as a form of reparations to his Black associate. In addition, Walsh works as a server at a Race2Dinner gathering, organized by Regina Jackson and Saira Rao, where affluent white women pay to be criticized – an experience they certainly receive in abundance. When he avoids unnecessary distractions (such as breaking dishes or overfilling glasses) and focuses on his task, these individuals do indeed make self-incriminating statements.

Additionally, he frequently portrays DEI educators as dishonest individuals seeking financial gain. For instance, D’Angelo was paid $15,000 for his involvement in a documentary, the mother from Sesame Place received $50,000, and the Race2Dinner hosts earned $5,000 each. Walsh also manages to convince people to pay for attending his DEI workshop (the Do The Work! Workshop), where the session culminates with him distributing whips, encouraging attendees to punish themselves.

Following the movie, I chatted with fellow filmgoer Lacretia Lyon, a stand-up comedian and podcaster who caught wind of it when Walsh appeared on Adam Carolla’s podcast. Apart from being intrigued by the theme, she attended because she’s part of AMC’s Stubs A-List, allowing her to catch three flicks a week. “I was taken aback by how funny it was,” Lyon shared. Being a fan of ‘Borat’, she appreciated Walsh’s take on undercover segments. “The narcissism was quite a spectacle,” she commented, referring to the numerous DEI trainers boasting about their heightened racial sensitivity. Interestingly, they were all women. This is why Lyon opted not to invite any female friends along. “Most girls aren’t going to be keen on this,” she stated.

As I bid farewell to the family, the youngest member, sporting sunglasses, long tresses, and a bead-adorned necklace, leaned close and confided in me, “Go for the red option.” There was an undercurrent of unease that perhaps our conversation could be overheard or captured by cameras in the lobby. I couldn’t help but feel on edge, suspecting that those pretending to be aware might be lurking around every corner.

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2024-09-23 22:55