WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP
US, 1992, 114 minutes, Colour.
Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez.
Directed by Ron Shelton.
White Men Can't Jump is a very American comedy which may not travel outside the United States so well. However, the basketball setting may give it appeal. The city is Los Angeles, black and white tensions, and American urban conflict. But it is all presented with humour - written by Ron Shelton who directed Bull Durham and Blaze. Here he wants to make points about American society with hustling at basketball as his central image. Wesley Snipes (New Jack City, Jungle Fever) and Woody Harrelson (Cheers, Doc Hollywood) are persuasive but non-American audiences may feel that they are on the outside looking in.
1.American comedy and its style? Urban issues, race issues of the '90s?
2.The Los Angeles setting, the streets, basketball courts? The atmosphere of Los Angeles? The presentation of the basketball, the musical score and the moods? The chorus of the Venice beach boys?
3.The differing worlds of black and white, American presuppositions, the history of racial clashes? Black talking style and humour, swearing, manner? Communications? Comparisons and contrasts with white communication and manner?
4.The title and tone - and used throughout the film?
5.Sidney and his place in Los Angeles, the neighbourhood? Skill at basketball? Tough, his team, his leadership? His capacity for hustling? Black and white relationships? His relationship with Rhonda? Playing, sneering at Billy, being tricked, the competition, his reaction? His joining with Billy, the set-ups and wins? Interest in Billy and his life? The friendship with Gloria? Yet the detachment, suspicions of the whites? The change, betrayal? The women challenging him? Combining with Billy? The growing friendship and admiration? The competition? The change in relationships between black and white?
6.The contrast with Billy, the white man in his baggy shorts, looking awkward? Watching, the hustle, playing Sidney and beating him? Sidney's reaction, Billy's background and his explanations? His relationship with Gloria, the need for paying the loans? The criminals and the pressure for the money? The hoods and the violence? Going into partnership with Sidney, the hustling of the group? In himself, a symbol of the whites? Relationship with Gloria, clashes, macho styles? The hoods and the violence, the chase? Gloria walking out, the championship - and the hope in the ending?
7.Sidney and his black friends and team, lifestyles, playing, values?
8.Gloria, in herself, her relationship with Billy, her life and style, study, managing the money, angry at Billy and his losing the money? Her going on Jeopardy - her preparation and her success? Walking out on Billy? Her friendship with Rhonda?
9.Rhonda, the background, the black family in Los Angeles? Friendship with Billy and Gloria? The bonds? The women and their confronting the men?
10.The tournament, play, loyalties, the Legends?
11.The background of sport, the status of sport in America, especially basketball? The rituals of the game? Players and onlookers? The psychology of the game? Sport as therapy? Bringing races together? The film as a piece of Americana?
