Black, White and Blues is a Southern film about the blues and redemption. The film is directed by Mario Van Peebles and it certainly has a southern feel to it. The environment and landscapes are incredible. And it fits right in with the mood of the film. The film is about addiction (mainly alcoholism) and getting a second chance.
Jefferson Bailey (Morgan Simpson) loves the blues. He loves to play the blues. He loves to sing the blues. The only problem is he cannot do any of these things in front of people. He has stage fright. He spends most of his time living the blues instead of singing about them. He has some financial issues and owes a guy some money, but he doesn’t have it. He does have sex with that guy’s wife though, which should not help his predicament at all.
Bailey meets Augy (Michael Clarke Duncan) who is there to take Bailey back to Alabama because his grandfather, who has passed away, has left him something. Augy has a past that involves drinking and going to prison for it. Alcohol is definitely the theme that brings these characters together. It is what haunts all of them.
Black, White and Blues starts off as a road trip movie, but it becomes more personal as it goes along. At first, Bailey goes with Augy so he can escape the debt he owes. But the two men help each other to find comfort about their past and what they will do in the future. We find out about Bailey’s father and his past with alcohol. And we already know about Augy’s past and him serving time for it. As we start to peel away at the surface, these two characters are troubled and they are using each other to find some kind of happiness and forgiveness.
This film is good and has a great message about changing the path you are on in your life. It is never too late. At times, Black, White and Blues wants to be like Black Snake Moan but it is not. The music is entertaining, but there is some soul missing. There is a mystery in the plot, but it is easy to figure out. It is no huge surprise. But it does make the story more complex and more gripping.
The performances from Morgan Simpson and Michael Clarke Duncan comes across pretty well. Duncan does more with his role, but I do not think it will ever get any better than his performance in The Green Mile. And the acting is not the problem. The film has its issues, but Mario Van Peebles has a grasp on what story he wants to tell and how he is going to tell it. He incorporates a nice meaning with music to tell an inspiring story of how your life can change for the better. If you allow it to.
