Black and White (2002 film)

Black and White is a 2002 crime drama film directed by James Toback, starring Robert Downey Jr., Gaby Hoffmann, Allan Houston, Jared Leto, Scott Caan, and Brooke Shields. The film explores themes of race, class, and cultural appropriation in the context of hip-hop culture.

The plot revolves around two white middle-class teenagers, Sam (Power Boothe) and Billie (Bijou Phillips), who become fascinated with hip-hop culture and immerse themselves in the predominantly Black world of rappers, drug dealers, and street life. Their involvement attracts the attention of Mark Clear (Robert Downey Jr.), a documentary filmmaker, who sees their story as potential subject matter. The film also follows the investigation of two detectives, Lieutenant Leif Neary (Ben Stiller) and Detective Bruno Brown (Mike Tyson), into a murder involving a drug dealer named Rich Bower (Allan Houston), a professional basketball player.

Black and White uses a semi-documentary style, incorporating improvised dialogue and blurring the lines between fiction and reality. The film features cameos from numerous figures in the hip-hop world. Its release was met with controversy, particularly regarding its depiction of Black characters and the perceived exploitation of hip-hop culture. Reviews were mixed, with critics divided on the film's merits as a social commentary and its overall execution.