For most readers, every “best of” list has a few near misses and at least one curious “WTF?” item that suggests the reviewer was either high or phoning the piece in from a café in Istanbul – or both. I was neither. This list, which covers nearly a decade of black films, is a result of screening, researching, and discussing films with a monthly community film club that I’ve hosted over the years.
When is comes to our films, a lot has changed since 2000. For example, according an NAACP-compiled list of black films spanning the last century, there were approximately 50 more black films made during the last decade than were made in the previous decade. There have also been more black actors nominated and awarded Academy Awards during the last decade than in years past. And if our ability to get a film green-lighted that ultimately is a critical flop is a sign of progress or a true leveling of the playing field, than movies like “Pluto Nash,” “She Hate Me,” and “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” (although props to Tyler for his box office skills) all screamed, “We’re moving on up!”
Of course, some homework and rule setting is required for any list making. I basically had three criteria to form the list: (1) Overall influence or ability to shift perceptions, reveal truths; (2) Originality and excellence in filmmaking (i.e. acting, story-telling, directing); (3) Shelf-life or ability to remain timeless.
One other point we can’t forget: What makes a film a “black film?” For me, the director, writer, or lead actors had to be of African descent to make it onto the Top Ten List. Also, unlike most lists that only rate films produced by major studios, I considered independent and documentary films in my list.