“Certainly an important and major issue, never easy, but it was good to bring to wider audience of filmgoers. The actors were always actors, not real people and the script was always a script, not real words. Sarah Jessica Parker is showing her ability to be a serious actress.”
“I felt this was a poor cinematic experience, preachy, clichéd, heavy handed and not very well shot or put together. Its purpose was exclusively its ‘talking points’ and everything about the movie was assembled around that agenda, like one of the college forums, but on the big screen. In the realm of talking points, there was only a short bulleted list of good ones: Maya Angelou’s quote at the beginning. The reporter’s reaction to Sarah Jessica Parker’s description of her evolution to racism. Not enough!”
“White racism, most important topic. Stereotypical characterizations. I read a book a few years ago in which the protagonist was a woman, also in school with same narrative…but no credit for the book or storyline.”
“Subject was excellent and important. Screenplay was sophomoric and trite.”
“Certain to stir discussion. A film that will force thinking people to confront their inner stereotype feelings, some people will feel very uncomfortable while viewing it. I wonder how a minority audience would react to this (our audience is mostly older white people). Look what happens when you scratch the surface. I thought the dialogue was very play-like. The film also shows how everyone has an agenda. The characters were stereotype. The college President, Dean, but that’s what I think the playwright intended.”
“Great teaching tool. Should be shown in all High Schools. Too bad it has an R rating. What is the difference between racism vs. prejudice?”
“A stereotyped film on the same subject.”
“Too many white stereotypes of teachers and faculty. It was also preachy.”
“This film maybe a good way to help us look inside ourselves. Secretly are we racist? Should dormitories be segregated? The surprise ending left no outlet for the actual anger and hatred brewing on campus. Too bad that wasn’t explored.”
“An interesting film on a compelling subject, but it could have been better. Somehow making the victim the perpetrator seemed to me to be a cop out allowing the film to end with the beginnings of a dialogue between white and black students that seemed to be a neat, abrupt solution to what was presented as an ugly, ugly and getting uglier by the minute falling apart of, as Aaron said, ‘White Christmas Vermont liberal college.' Everyone’s racism was coming out and then sort of just dropped. The best performance I ever saw from Sarah Jessica Parker. It’s good to see her without impossible pounds of hair, short tight dresses and very expensive shoes.”
“Made one review our own feelings.”
“Good opening exploration of race. Lacked discussion of white ethnic issues.”
“I wasn’t buying anything about this. Shallowly and stereotypical conceived film and story, it was a simplistic facile plot. Well intentioned into a mess. It’s like listening to a dumb, self righteous person lecturing you.”
“Very confusing and very disturbing!”
“This story is best as a play. Does not lend itself to a large screen.”
“It said what has to be said the way it should be said. It won’t change anything. Those who rise above will assimilate. Those who don’t will always be categorized.”
“Ms. Parker was excellent in this part. Very contrived and this may be a tough sell.”
“The film meant well, but finally seemed like a clichéd, predictable, feel-good white version of what it means to talk about race.”
“Very disjointed. It seemed to be missing substance in the story. It seemed like a Lifetime movie.”
“Like watching a soap opera, poor acting, poor dialogue.”
“I was surprised about the ending. I learned that this was a very successful play. Simon made every situation of kindness evil.”
“Everyone holds stereotypes about others. Why are we discussing this as a good jumping off point?”
“The subject is tackled head on, bravo! But it’s not a well crafted film, which makes me worry that the message will get lost.”
“As I was watching and after I had finished watching this film I was asking what is it about and why was it produced? The most favorable answer does it pose questions about race that need to be addressed. So there in a nutshell I guess is its value. But as a film it was not that good. It was 89 minutes of filler except for the 3-5 minutes of dialogue between Sarah and Aaron when she explains her racial views and he ran down the list of black/white stereotypes. The rest of the film was mostly an inconclusive, meandering waste. But if we are able to walk away and find topics to discuss, I guess that’s not too bad.”
“Prejudice has its basis in fear and as long as we live in ghettos (rich or poor ones) and segregate ourselves, its ugly head will rear! We must get to know one another!”
“I saw the play, but the message is much more accessible in the film.”
“Can there be a college faculty like that?”
“Preachy and unsubtle with too many stereotypical characters. Interesting story twist, subject is important, but the development was not dramatic in impact.”
“Preachy but gets the point across. The way to combat racism is to talk genuinely to other races.”