Am I Racist?

I had high hopes for Am I Racist? After seeing the trailer, and while the film had some genuinely funny moments, it didn't fully meet my expectations. Matt Walsh did let the other side talk, and in many cases, they exposed themselves quite a bit. However, I think the film could have gone even deeper if Walsh had taken a more subtle approach. Many of the questions and comments he made sounded pretty much exactly like what they were: A right-wing person trying trying to pretend to Take on a left wing view of race relations.

Throughout the mockumentary, it was clear that people were suspicious of him-often because his satirical comments were obvious, and this put them more on guard than they probably would have been if he had asked more genuine, open-ended questions that were worded in a manner more in line with how they actually think.

One such moment was when Walsh interviewed Robin DiAngelo. By presenting contradictions in her thinking in a 'confused' and inquisitive tone, he managed to highlight the flaws without being overly confrontational or raising much suspicion. If the film had maintained this kind of subtle questioning throughout, I think it would have been even more effective in exposing the contradictions in modern discussions on race. As it stands, the film feels like it missed an opportunity to dig deeper and reach a wider audience by over-relying on obvious satire. I predict that it will fall short of reaching or affecting people who do not already stand on the same side of the discussion as Matt Walsh.

It's still worth watching if you enjoy political satire, but I think it could have been stronger with a more nuanced approach.

Am I Racist?

The film explores the varied approaches to that question and what it means to be Anti-racist. From talking to Anti-racist experts to patrons from a southern biker bar, many different viewpoints are on display.

Matt Walsh takes his deadpan humor and gets his DEI certification to meet with people like Robyn DeAnglo (White Fragility), and other voices behind the Anti-racist movement.

The film exposes the amount of money Anti-racists get paid from the people trying to become anti-racist. There are a few people on the street/ biker bar that share their thoughts on race and racism in America, that was enjoyable.

There are some really hilarious scenes and some good chuckles through out.

A recommended watch.

This is the first movie in a long time where the arguments being presented are so absurd - so logically cork screwy -that laughter rolled through the cinema. There are horrible racist acts happening in our society - but the conclusion that our society is racist to the core, or that we are all racists, is bunkum. This film sets out to show the DEI industry (and cult) in all its intellectual shoddiness.

The skill of this film is to depict exactly the absurdity of these ideas.

Walsh is a remarkably skilled actor - wins the Borat award for straight faced interviews with people tying themselves up in absurd arguments. There are so many scenes that begin with a grave and seriously proposed premise...that then get taken by the 'white guilt/society is totally racist' workshop and TV show crowd to total farce.

A broader theme - brilliantly presented and established - is the degree to which we, as a society, have become a herd of grazing sheep, digesting whatever the media (of any type or any ideological leaning) present to us as "expert" information. The film is a must see as to how we are all being manipulated unless we keep our critical thinking skills in shape.

So much of what the interviewees are saying is ridiculous and they talk themselves in circles. They make outrageous statements about inherent white supremacy, and draw so many invisible lines it's honestly sad. The fact that people pay to go to seminars to talk about how evil they are is so so sad on its own.

For whatever reason that's not enough for this guy. He's constantly trying to make jokes (that never land) then repeats them over and over. The intent is clearly to make everyone feel uncomfortable But it totally takes away from the impact of what he's trying to prove.

It's sad because this could have been an amazing and impactful mockumentary, but instead ends up boring. My grandmother used to say you have to ears and one mouth for a reason, and this guy needs to learn that lesson.

Definitely worth the watch, though the people who would benefit most from checking it out won't. So this is essentially a "preaching to the choir" situation. Still, it was pretty funny and had relevant points to make. Walsh does a good job of just sitting back and let these people who profit off of manufacturing "racism" everywhere just bury themselves with their own ludicrous words. Will it change their minds? No, because people like this who are hell-bent on keeping "racism" alive (even though, as Thomas Sowell said, it's on life support) stand to lose too much if the problem goes away for the most part. Video review to come shortly.