The Black List, Vol 1.

"A minimalist film, without narration and with very little on the screen except people talking, The Black List (which had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year) derives its considerable energy and elegance from its subjects," writes Felicia R Lee. "[Elvis] Mitchell, the host of the new TCM interview series Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence and a former film critic for the New York Times, is never on screen. Rather, Mr Mitchell said, he and [photographer Timothy] Greenfield-Sanders played their hands behind the scenes."

Updated through 8/25.

Lee's piece is accompanied by clip featuring Chris Rock and features lots of quotage from Mitchell: "'What you tend not to see are films on black people radiating in the pleasure of their success and telling their stories,' he said. 'You come to the point whenever you see a black person on television, it's either a comedy or some tragic issue being spoken to. You wouldn't think that black people could get through a competently managed day, let alone being successful at it.'"

You can suggest subjects for future volumes: Who's on Your Black List.

Updates, 8/25: "With clarity and elegance, The Black List: Volume One presents portraitures of nearly two-dozen notable African Americans who share their own personal views on how they transcended racism and other hardships to become major successes in their chosen professions," writes Michael Tully at Hammer to Nail. "Taken together, these voices reflect the breadth and scope of the modern African American experience at its richest and most inspiring."

Steven Boone talks with Mitchell and Greenfield-Sanders for Time Out New York.

Posted by dwhudson at August 23, 2008 12:33 PM