Borrowing intelligently from This is Spinal Tap, writer-director-actor Rusty Cundieff has crafted a mock music documentary that is as irreverent, hilarious, and tough-minded as its model.
1 Comment
12/17/07
Fear of a Black Hat (1994)
84
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:19
Fresh:16
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7/10
Runtime: 88 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Filmmaker Nina Blackburn takes her camera and follows popular rap group, NWH (Niggaz with Hats). The band's 3 members explain their philosophy and reminisce about their many experiences -- which... [More]
Starring: Kasi Lemmons, Rusty Cundieff, Larry B. Scott, Mark Christopher-Lawrence
Director: Rusty Cundieff
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Reviews for Fear of a Black Hat
1 - 19 (sorted by comments)
While individual interviews, pop-video parodies and album titles hit the mark, the film as a whole is insufficiently clear-cut in its satire of the bands' dubious antics and attitudes.
01/26/06
There's no plot to speak of, just gag after gag. Rap fans will likely love most of it; all others, flip a coin.
01/01/00
No review available.
06/28/05
Top CriticInspired by This Is Spinal Tap, this mockumentary exposes the trials of a hardcore rap band, N.W.H. (Niggas With Hats) with wild, irreverent humor and exuberant music.
06/30/06
Top CriticThis movie is not tightly-scripted or elegantly produced, but it is (for the most part) highly entertaining. For those who have been waiting for a sequel to Spinal Tap, this may be the best alternative.
01/01/00
Top CriticIf Mr. Cundieff doesn't match the satirical genius of Mr. Reiner's film, he does understand the rules of the game.
05/20/03
Top CriticNo review available.
02/07/05
As it recounts the history of N.W.H., the film also manages to lampoon rap music and its archetypes, as well as poking fun at the venal, self-serving music-business types looking to grab easy money from the scene.
01/01/00
It's sad that this film has been relegated to cult oddity status. If you like rap music, biting satire, or are just looking for something different, check this out.
02/27/01
The best hip-hop film of all.
08/14/07
Top CriticSatire at its finest. Uproarious and endlessly creative.
12/24/02
Fear of a Black Hat is not brilliant, but it's bright enough.
01/01/00
No review available.
07/26/02
Not as fearless and sharp-edged as it could be -- but it provides a lot of laughs, and barbecues a few sacred cows.
01/01/00
Top CriticThe rap scene has always had its share of colourful characters that are already caricatures. Why is there a need to spoof it?
10/25/03
Cundieff is perhaps most adept at skewering rap's self-important politics through Ice Cold's wonderfully improbable explanations of how songs such as 'Booty Juice' actually contain an important social message.
01/01/00
It's like "CB-4" -- only funnier.
07/25/02
1 - 19 (sorted by comments)
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