X
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 1 h 44 m
- 2024
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 1 h 44 m
Summary A young man, Aren (Justice Smith), is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.
Directed By: Kobi Libii
Written By: Kobi Libii
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 1 h 44 m
- 2024
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 1 h 44 m
The American Society of Magical Negroes
51
0.7
Where to Watch
Summary A young man, Aren (Justice Smith), is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.
Directed By: Kobi Libii
Written By: Kobi Libii
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 21 Critic Reviews
51
24% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
67% Mixed
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
10% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 21 Critic Reviews
51
24% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
67% Mixed
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
10% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Beneath the layers of magical realism and dot-com satire, American Society feels personal and raw, capturing the real depth and range of emotions that a person of color is made to feel, living in a country where racism remains ever-present, especially now.
The ending is simultaneously satisfying and slyly subversive, allowing an unravelling of ideas that should lead audiences to think about what they have watched.
User Score
Overwhelming Dislike
Based on 80 User Ratings
0.7
4% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
4% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
93% Negative
74 Ratings
74 Ratings
User Score
Overwhelming Dislike
Based on 80 User Ratings
0.7
4% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
4% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
93% Negative
74 Ratings
74 Ratings
Justice Smith plays an artist who's introduced to the titular organization, which is secret group of Black people who are assigned a troubled white person to help them deal with their issues, thus making life safer for Blacks. The film's theme starts promisingly, but pretty rapidly ends up a hybrid of office politics and frustrated romance. The "magical" part almost fades away as the tedious dialogue takes over. Any promise for comedy never appears. Smith and the rest of the cast is fine but even the effortlessly-funny Nicole Byer is constrained. While the concept held plenty of satirical promise, the outcome was disappointing. FYI, Spike Lee actually coined the phrase "magical negro."
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It's so disrespectful when the director who also wrote this is mixed black and white and was raised by his a single mother who is white and this is how you show respect also he's married to a white women (wha) same thing with the lead actor Justice smith who is mixed black/white who his white mother brought him into this world and this is the chose to be in both of them are disrespectful sons.
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[An] unevenly written but good-looking directorial debut that gradually runs out of steam.
Built atop a provocative-sounding title and premise, The American Society of Magical Negroes starts and ends quite well. Almost everything in between, alas, proves uneven and inert in a way that dilutes its satirical punch, making this an interesting introduction for first-time writer-director Kobi Libii but a less than satisfying one.
American Society can’t decide whether to go full biting satire or charming rom-com, and as a result, it fails to do either genre justice.
Whatever the intent, the execution isn’t all the way there, and that’s the biggest disappointment of all.
There are versions of this premise relevant to a modern world, but the film’s point of view on the state of race relations feels stuck somewhere around 1954.
What a slog of a film. I use the word film loosely. The movie was boring and very painful to get through
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The American Society of Magical Negroes (TASOMN) is a film that fails to deliver on all fronts. One of the primary issues with TASOMN is its lackluster storyline. The plot is riddled with clichés and predictable twists, making it difficult for viewers to stay engaged. The film attempts to tackle 'sensitive' themes but it does so in a superficial and often clumsy manner. The lack of depth in exploring these themes leaves much to be desired and results in a film that feels more like a missed opportunity than a meaningful commentary. The performances in the film are another area where it falls short. While the cast may have had potential and if they did their talents are not utilized effectively. The characters are one-dimensional and lack the complexity needed to make them relatable or memorable. This is particularly disappointing given the film's attempt to address significant social issues. The lackluster performances fail to evoke any response making it challenging to connect with the characters or their struggles. Furthermore, the film's pacing is inconsistent, with some scenes dragging on unnecessarily while others feel rushed. This uneven pacing disrupts the flow of the narrative and further detracts from the viewing experience. The dialogue often feels forced and unnatural, which, combined with the subpar performances, makes the interactions between characters unconvincing. In terms of technical aspects, TASOMN does not fare much better. The cinematography is uninspired. The film's score is forgettable, failing to enhance the mood or add any emotional depth to the scenes. TASOMN is a film that fails to deliver anything of value. Its attempt to address 'social issues' is undermined by a weak storyline, poor performances, and lackluster execution.
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If we were as racist a society as so many blacks seems to suggest, this movie would not have been made.
But it was, and if whites tried to make it, their lives would effectively end.
...you know, maybe we do live in a racist society then, just in the opposite way BLM imagines.
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Production Company
Offscreen,
Sight Unseen Pictures
Release Date Mar 15, 2024
Duration 1 h 44 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline Comfort Is an Illusion.
Awards
Palm Springs International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
