Black Men Can't Jump In Hollywood

LIVE from NYU Gallatin, BMCJ breaks down 12 Years a Slave, the Academy's Best Picture winner of 2014 starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (CHEW-i-tel EJ-i-oh-for). With the help of the audience, the boys discuss the merit of slave movies, why this was the last movie where actors of color were recognized by the Academy, and if this movie helps or hurts the cause.

Special guest Kevin Avery (writer for Last Week Tonight w/ John Oliver) helps us breakdown the 2004 film Collateral starring Tom Cruise and Jaime Foxx in an Academy-Award nominee performance. We unpack why Jamie Foxx is a star, why Foxx was nominated for Best Supporting instead of Best Actor, why James III won't share lotion, and whether or not this film helps the cause.This week's episode was brought to you by Tidal and Squarespace.

We take a trip down memory lane with Good Burger, starring former Nickelodeon stars Keenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell at the height of their fame. Jon, James, & Jerah discuss the merits of kids movies with black leads, speculate on why Kel never became a leading actor, and, of course, whether this movie helped the cause.

OscarsSoWhite examination continues with a review of Netflix's first original film Beasts of No Nation starring Abraham Attah and Idris Elba. We discuss the merits of the film, whether the movie is about "the black struggle", and try to figure out why it was not nominated for any Oscars.This weeks episode is sponsored by Squarespace.

#OscarsSoWhite are upon us, so in appropriate fashion we break down the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton, starring Jason Mitchell, O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Corey Hawkins. Up for discussion: whether the film was truly snubbed, the value and/or problems of "gangster rap", the film's treatment of women, and if this story really helped the cause.

Special Guest: Aaron Covington (Co-Writer of Creed) helps us discuss Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained starring Academy-Award Winner Jamie Foxx. We talk Tarantino's fascination with the N-Word, whether Jamie Foxx is actually the lead, and reexamine how movies truly help "The Cause".

Special Guest: Dylan Marron of the "Every Single Word Spoken by a Person of Color" series stops by to discuss the 1995 cult comedy classic To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar starring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze & John Leguizamo. Listen as we talk about the intersectionality of actors of color and the LGBTQ community, whether "the good justifies the means" in representation, and if the film helped The Cause!

On this special New Year's episode, the boys discuss how 2015 lived up to "The Cause" of more people of color in leading roles in Hollywood films. Listen as we talk actors, movies, TV, Swirls, Will Smith...and of course, rate 2015 as a whole for helping or hurting The Cause!

This week we get into the spirit with Malcom D. Lee's The Best Man Holiday (2013). A tightly constructed romantic comedy with Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Morris Chestnut, Terrence Howard. Oh you haven't heard of it? Why is that!? Instead of Love Actually for the 10th time, give this a look!

SPOILER FREE - Well, for the first 20 minutes at least and then we go into full detail about the newest Star Wars film with leads John Boyega and Daisy Ridley. This is momentous for Hollywood and people of color and the boys are psyched...BUT did it help the cause!?

SPECIAL GUESTS Jake & Amir (If I Were You, College Humor) drop by the podcast to discuss White Man Can't Jump starring Wesley Snipes & Woody Harrelson. We discuss "reverse racism", whether Wesley or Woody was the true lead, and how the film helped or hurt The Cause!

This week the boys review the new film, Creed (unofficially Rocky 7) starring Michael B. Jordan. We take a look at what it means for a black actor to take on a "white hero franchise", why the previews before a movie matters and James III redefines what a "black film" is.

This week Special Guest Andrew Law (Late Night w/ Seth Meyers) teams up with the Black Men Can't Jump crew to talk Rush Hour starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Listen as we discuss the link between the black community and Kung-Fu films, why Jackie and Chris made such a good duo, and of course, did this movie help the cause!

Black Men Can't Jump had it's first LIVE episode, with SPECIAL GUEST Ramy Youssef (Nick at Nite), where they discuss the infamous Hancock starring Will Smith. Listen as they tackle this original superhero story, Will Smith's legacy, and of course whether or not Hancock helped the cause!

Remember Sinbad!?! The boys of Black Men Can't Jump certainly do. Join us as we take on 1995's Houseguest with Phil Hartman and Sinbad in his first leading role. We discuss why the comedian who dominated in the 90's fell off and if this family-friendly film helped "The Cause".This week's episode is brought to you by Squarespace.

This week SPECIAL GUEST Arturo Castro (Broad City, Alternatino) stops by the podcast to discuss Once Upon a Time In Mexico starring Antonio Banderas. The crew discusses the differences between Latin America vs. Spain, the history of Mexican portrayal in movies, how Johnny Depp stole the show and why it is that Latinos also can't jump in Hollywood!Remember to snag tickets to the live show Monday, Nov. 9th 8pm at The People's Improv Theater!

Jonathan Braylock, Jerah Milligan and James III review George A. Romero's cult classic that set the standard for all things zombie for decades to come and he did with a black lead (Duane Jones)! Listen as the crew contemplates why there are so few black leads in Horror films and whether or not Night of the Living Dead truly helped the cause.This episode is brought to you by Dollar Shave Club.

This week Jonathan, James III, and Jerah discuss the 1997 film "Spawn" and get deep into some antihero opinions. There's also a lot of talk about the lack of talking from Spawn. But really, guns, superpowers, demons... and it's all rated PG-13, who knew? Jerah gets notably passionate about this discussion, just listen and you'll understand.This week's episode is brought to you by Squarespace and Blue Apron.

Jonathan Braylock is busy booking roles left and right. This week James and Jerah to break down House Party. But don't fret, they've brought the incomparable Cipha Sounds to take on the 1990 New Line Cinema comedy House Party with hip hop duo Kid n Play. In an alternative history Kid and Play chose to be in Fresh Prince of Bel Air instead of Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff. This fun time party flick is filled with messages. It also gives the crew to take on one of the recurring questions this podcast runs into: What does it mean to be a rapper turned actor? Cipha is exactly the voice we need to get to the bottom of this. In case you were worried, Jerah is armed with not one, but two Swirls. Next week we review: SPAWN!

What's wilder than "Wild Wild West?" The fact that James III quite literally had to phone it in for this episode. Aside from that, the boys break down the implications of a black cowboy. Also, there's just a lot of feelings about Will Smith, like, a lot. Including the fact that Will Smith got robbed of some potential Swirl moments in this film.This week's episode is brought to you by Squarespace and Blue Apron.