REVIEW: Goodbye Uncle Tom

Yes, your balls;
Simply put, directors Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi's unflinchingly foul 1971 faux documentary Goodbye Uncle Tom makes Roots look like a very special episode of Diff'rent Strokes. This salty high-concept exploitation flick chronicles the hideous world of the American slave trade through the eyes of two time traveling journalists who seek to expose the true nature of this truly embarrassing era in United States history. How these unfortunate souls -- be it man, woman, or child -- were bought, sold, whipped, raped, and brutalized is shown in such graphic detail that yours truly was forced to consume this 120-minute endurance test over the course of two days; documented real life misery, it would seem, does not agree with me. Of course, the film does have its share of problems, namely its uncomfortably off-beat sense of humor and its incredibly tacky screwball comedy score. I'm assuming these supposedly mirthful moments were meant to lighten the neverending onslaught of tragedy and despair, but these questionable scenes seem grossly inappropriate when seated next to wanton human depravity. Regardless of these questionable storytelling techniques, Goodbye Uncle Tom is a fascinating film from start to finish, and it's probably closer to the truth than any of us are willing to admit. If you're not affected, you're heartless.

Recipe For Success: The Committment Of Hundreds Of African-American Extras + Great Production Values + White People Are Evil

The Worst Part: One randy journalist's one night stand with a 13 year-old sex slave.

It's like a doody stain on your upper lip.
http://www.minefields.com/
http://www.thefilmfiend.com/2008/10/goodbye-uncle-tom.html