Black on Black Cinema | Black Movie Reviews

Black on Black Cinema breaks down Love, Brooklyn (2025), Rachael Abigail Holder's directorial debut that premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Starring André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, and Roy Wood Jr., this indie romantic drama follows writer Roger as he navigates complicated relationships with his ex Casey (an art gallery owner) and current lover Nicole (a newly-single mother) against Brooklyn's rapidly changing landscape.

Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, Love, Brooklyn delivers intelligent Black characters working through love, loss, career, and friendship without falling into stereotypes—no one raps, dies, or gets incarcerated. Director Holder created a story with "no vil...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "Love, Brooklyn." The film follows three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss, and friendship against the rapidly changing landscape of their beloved city. The movie stars Andre Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, and Roy Wood Jr. The random topic this week is an overarching conversation of rape and violence culture in regards to the CNN investigative report on a secret network on men drugging their wives and sexually abusing them and the former Lt. Governor of Virginia who murdered his wife and...

Black on Black Cinema examines Black Belt Jones (1974), the groundbreaking Blaxploitation martial arts film that solidified Jim Kelly as an action star following his breakout role in Enter the Dragon. Directed by Oscar Williams and produced by Warner Bros during the height of the Blaxploitation era, the film stars Kelly as a martial arts instructor who battles the mob to protect his community's karate school from a crooked land deal. Co-starring Gloria Hendry as Sydney, Scatman Crothers as Pop Byrd, and featuring incredible fight choreography that showcased Kelly's karate championship skills, Black Belt Jones became a cult classic that merged...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Black Belt Jones." The 1974 blaxploitation classic starring Jim Kelly, which follows the Mafia buy out of Papa Byrd's karate school downtown that ends in his death. Byrd's daughter, Sydney, refuses to sell, and wants revenge. Byrd's students call the Black Belt Jones for help. Jones reluctantly teams with Sydney in many battles. The random topic this week is about the discovery that the wife of the Mayor of New York City, Rama Duwaji, said the N-word in a tweet back when she was 15. We have...

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995): Denzel Washington's most underrated performance. Directed by Carl Franklin, based on Walter Mosley's novel. Easy Rawlins, a Black WWII veteran in 1948 Los Angeles, takes a job finding a missing white woman. Simple task becomes a labyrinth of violence, corruption, and impossible choices. This week on Black on Black Cinema, we look back on one of Denzel's lesser known classics.

This should have launched a franchise. Walter Mosley wrote 14 Easy Rawlins books. Denzel was perfect in the role. Don Cheadle's Mouse was a scene stealer. Carl Franklin's direction was a excellent visual take on...

Next week on Black on Black Cinema, we're reviewing Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), starring Denzel Washington in one of his most underrated performances. This Carl Franklin neo-noir follows Easy Rawlins navigating 1940s Los Angeles—a Black veteran trying to survive in a world designed to destroy him.

But first, we need to talk about something: watching the Iran war unfold from inside the United States feels surreal. We're living through what might be the moral collapse of American foreign policy in real time, and the cognitive dissonance is overwhelming. How do you review films about justice and su...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to review Soul Men (2008) which was released just two months after Bernie Mac's death, making it a bittersweet farewell to one of comedy's greatest talents. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee and starring Samuel L. Jackson alongside Mac, this road trip musical comedy follows two estranged backup singers reuniting for a tribute concert after their lead singer dies.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black ho...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to introduce the next film to the reviewed, "Soul Men." The 2008 film follows two estranged soul-singing legends who agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader. The movie stars Samuel L. Jackson and the late great Bernie Mac. Available to stream for free on Tubi.
The random topic this week we tackle the complex and difficult incident that unfolded at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards when John Davidson, a Tourette's syndrome activist and subject of the nominated film "I Swear,"...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2025 psychological thriller, "The Dutchman." Based on Amiri Baraka's groundbreaking 1964 Obie Award-winning one-act play, the film follows Clay (André Holland), a successful but troubled Black businessman navigating a crumbling marriage with his wife Kaya (Zazie Beetz). After a therapy session with the enigmatic Dr. Amiri (Stephen McKinley Henderson), Clay encounters Lula (Kate Mara), a seductive and sinister white woman on a New York subway, who draws him into a dangerous psychological game of cat and mouse that forces him to confront his identity, his marriage, and the concept o...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, 2025's "The Dutchman." The film follows a successful black businessman, haunted by his crumbling marriage and identity crisis, who is drawn into a sexualized game of cat and mouse with a mysterious white woman on a subway that leads to a violent conclusion. Starring Andre Holland, Kate Mara, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Zazie Beats. The random topic this week is on our thoughts of the battle for the Super Bowl halftime shows: Bad Bunny vs cadre of washed up white conservative musicians in their Turning...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to review Spike Lee's 1986 directorial debut "She's Gotta Have It." The film follows Nola Darling, a woman who openly dates three men who are aware of one another and possess three wildy different personalities.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and mo...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, we preview our upcoming review of Spike Lee’s groundbreaking 1986 film "She’s Gotta Have It;" a bold, black-and-white exploration of love, agency, and identity. Our full review drops next week.

We also dive into this week’s random topic: Kanye West’s public apology to fans following his past embrace of white supremacist ideology, and Nicki Minaj’s sudden alignment with the Donald Trump MAGA movement. We break down why these moves feel like a betrayal to their Black and LGBTQ fan bases—and what it says about celebrity, power, and politics...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew is back to discuss the 2025 action thriller film, "Shadow Force." The film stars Omar Sy, Kerry Washington, Mark Strong, Method Man, Jahleel Kamara, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. The movie follows an estranged couple with a bounty on their heads who must go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer, a unit of shadow ops that has been sent to kill them.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to preview the next film, "Shadow Force." The film follows an estranged couple (Kerry Washington and Omar Sy) with a bounty on their heads who must go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer, a unit of shadow ops that has been sent to kill them. The random topic is about the unjust murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis at the hand of an ICE agent. The crew discuss what the larger implications of her death will be on the entirety of what's happening in the...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2024 dark comedy drama, "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl." The film follows Shula, who on an empty road in the middle of the night, stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sc...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl." The film starts on an empty road in the middle of the night, where Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family. The random topic of the week is all about Juelz Santana's comments on kids not needing to know how to read in the modern era and that it is somehow more important to know...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2024 film, 40 Acres. The film follows a Black and First Nation family in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by famine. Their routine has kept the fed and safe for many years. The household is headed by Hailey (Danielle Deadwyler) who's connection to her family is put in peril when their farm is attacked by cannibals.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror an...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to introduce the next film, "40 Acres." The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic world with food scarcity, as a Black family of Canadian farmers, descended from American Civil War migrants, they defend their homestead against cannibals trying to seize their resources. The random topic this week is all about the November 4th special elections that happened around the country. While it certain was a positive night, we discuss this but also what the real fight ahead looks like and why people like Charlemagne tha god's advice to Democrats is not...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2025 horror film, Him. The story follows a young college athlete who descends into a world of terror when he's invited to train with a legendary champion whose charisma curdles into something darker. The film stars Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Sp...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to preview their next film review: Him (2025) — a chilling psychological horror story about a promising young athlete whose invitation to train with a legendary champion quickly descends into manipulation, control, and terror. This gripping thriller explores the dark side of mentorship, power, and identity.

In this week’s discussion segment, we deliver a 10-month check-in on the Trump administration’s catastrophic return to power. From devastating ICE raids in major cities, to soaring food prices, and farmer bankruptcies triggered by renewed tariffs, we break down how everyday Americans are pa...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2024 film, Blink Twice. This directorial debut of actress Zoe Kravitz follows a waitress named Frida (Naomi Ackie) who is invited to the private island of celebrity billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) and his friends. Things start to get odd, and Frida starts to question her situation.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, an...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, Zoe Kravitz directorial debut, "Blink Twice." The film follows tech billionaire Slater King who meets a cocktail waitress Frida at his fundraising gala, he invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. As strange things start to happen, and Frida questions her reality. The random topic this week is about a conversation between NY Times writer/podcaster Ezra Klein and Ta-Nehisi Coates who go back and forth about statements Klein and others made in...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss director Spike Lee's latest film "Highest 2 Lowest" starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and A$AP Rocky. The film follows a music mogul, David King, who's life gets flipped upside down when his son is kidnapped and held for ransom.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jo...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, Spike Lee's "Highest 2 Lowest" starring Denzel Washington, and Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and A$AP Rocky. The film follows a titan music mogul who is targeted with a ransom plot, causing him to be jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. The random topic this week is about the recent public killing of rightwing hatemonger Charlie Kirk in front of thousands of college students in Utah. At the time of this recording, the suspected shooter (Tyler Robinson, 22, white male) had not be...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew return to discuss the 2022 film, "Brother." An adaptation of David Chariandy's award-winning novel of the same name, the film centres on the relationship between Francis and Michael, two Black Canadian brothers growing up in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario in the early 1990s. The film stars Aaron Pierre as Francis and Lamar Johnson as Michael, with supporting cast members including Kiana Madeira, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Lovell Adams-Gray, Maurice Dean Wint, and Dwain Murphy.






Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth...

We apologize for the audio quality on this episode as Jay was not in his studio

This week on Black on Black Cinema, we return from our hiatus to announce the next film, "Brother." The film follows sons of Caribbean immigrants, Francis and Michael as they face questions of masculinity, identity and family amid the pulsing beat of Toronto's early hip-hop scene. The movie stars Lamar Johnson, Aaron Pierre, and Marsha Stephanie Blake.






Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2020 film, All Day and A Night. The film follows a young man who committed a homicide and now has to deal with the repercussions of his action. The film stars Ashton Sanders, Jeffrey Wright, and Isaiah Jon, Kelly Jenrette, and Shakira Ja'nai Paye. Written and Directed by Joe Robert Cole.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "All Day and a Night." The film follows a young man who has committed a homicide and deals with the repercussions of his action. The movie stars Ashton Sanders, Jeffrey Wright, and Isaiah John. The random topic this week is discussing an article that lists out what are some Black directors and Black actors favorite movies of all time. We go through the list and give our takes on the films we've seen, why those films may have influenced those particular people, and more.
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This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the Mike Leigh's 2024 Comedy-Drama film, "Hard Truths." The story follows the plight of a depressed and nay-saying woman (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) and the relationship with her jovial sister Chantelle (Michele Austin). Conversations on family trauma, generational impacts, and mental health are at the crux of this film, and our discussions around it.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "Hard Truths." Set in London, the 2024 film follows the plight of a depressed and nay-saying woman (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) and the relationship with her jovial sister Chantelle (Michele Austin). The random topic of the week is all about June, not only is it Pride Month, but its also Men's Mental Health Month. The guys discuss why dealing with aspect of men's mental health needs to far exceed just the sort of buzzword friendly way mental health is handled especially when it comes to...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss Ryan Coogler's latest film, Sinners, starring Michael B Jordan, Miles Caton, Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, and Jack O'Connell. The film follows twin brothers who return to their hometown to start a juke joint but run up against an unlikely problem. The film is deeply layered but one aspect we discuss thoroughly throughout is the idea of assimilation into what is perceived as a dominant or better culture/way of life from ones already a part of it versus the ability to be truly free and make your own...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Sinners." The film follows twin brothers trying to leave their troubled lives behind, but return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. The random topic this week is all about (RG3) Robert Griffin III's comments about Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark's rivalry in the WNBA and the blowback he received from Ryan Clark. The back and forth between the two commentators also spilled into issues of race that RG3 seems to not...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2020 film, "Really Love." Set in contemporary Washington D.C., a rising black painter strives to break into the competitive art world, while balancing a bittersweet romance he never expected. The film is directed by Angel Kristi Williams and starring Kofi Siriboe, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, and Uzo Aduba. The conversation centers on not just romantic love but why timing and maturity are needed for a relationship to sustain long term.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to introduce the next film, (ON NETFLIX) "Really Love." Set in contemporary Washington D.C., a rising black painter strives to break into the competitive art world, while balancing a bittersweet romance he never expected. The film stars Kofi Siriboe and Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing. The random topic of the week is about a white woman (Shiloh Hendrix) who was caught on camera calling an autistic 5 year old Black boy the N-word. She then decided to instead of apologize, she'd rather lean into her racism and began raising over $700,000 on a Christian...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2023 film, "Magazine Dreams" starring Jonathan Majors. The film follows a young man who is obsessed with becoming a top tier bodybuilder and is willing to push him body and his mental state to the brink to achieve his goals.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Le...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Magazine Dreams," starring Jonathan Majors. The film follows an amateur bodybuilder who battles both the limits of his physical body and his own inner demons to gain recognition. The random topic this week is all about the fallout of sexual assault allegations that have been dropped on Shannon Sharpe from a former fling who was approximately 19 years old Onlyfans "model" at the time while Sharpe was 53.






Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the film "Black and Blue." The film follows a rookie cop in New Orleans as she tries to navigate being a Black woman and being a cop. Her life becomes at risk with this balance is truly challenged as she witnesses a group of corrupt police officers commit a heinous crime unjustifiably. The film stars Naomi Harris, Tyrese Gibson, and Frank Grillo.






Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, the 2019 film, "Black and Blue" starring Naomi Harris, Tyrese Gibson, and Frank Grillo. The movie follows a rookie New Orleans police officer who is forced to balance her identity as a black woman after she witnesses two corrupt cops committing murder. The random topic this week is why Black people have largely sat out the major national protests that are happening in response to Donald Trump's disastrous first few months in office trying to implement his MAGA agenda. From financial upheaval to...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss "Tyler Perry's Duplicity." The film follows a high-powered attorney Marley who faces her most personal case yet when she is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the shooting of her best friend Fela's husband. The crew discuss the implications of how and why this story is being handled by Tyler Perry, potential ramifications of the film of the larger narrative of police violence against Black people, and more.

Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter...

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the next film is announced, "Tyler Perry's Duplicity." The film follows a high-powered attorney named Marley who faces her most personal case yet when she is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the shooting of her best friend Fela's husband. The random topic this week is about some rather odd takes on Blackness from Malik Yoba's while sarcastic commentary on how Black people should refer to themselves in the wake of rising hatred toward us to Robert Griffin III's very serious statements on Black prominent figures' political importance that are seemingly so devoid...