THE GREAT WHITE HYPE

US, 1996, 91 minutes, Colour.
Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans, Peter Berg, Corbin Bernsen, John Lovitz, Cheech Marin, John Rhys- Davies, Salli Richardson, Jamie Foxx, Albert Hall.
Directed by Reginald Hudlin.

1.The popularity of boxing films? The serious boxing films? The race issues in the classic, The Great White Hope? This film as a spoof – management, individual sportsmen, agents? The media?

2.The title and the parody of The Great White Hope?

3.The world of boxing promotion, agents, television, boxers bought and sold? The expose – tongue-in-cheek? The African American perspective?

4.The champion, Damon Wayans and his comic style? The bouts, his skill? The cars, the Reverend Sultan buying him more cars? As a Brother? Used? Place in the team? The TV attention? The press? The hype for his fights? His relationship with Sultan? The choice of Terry Conklin as his opponent? Knowing that he could beat him – and his eating, getting fat – and the build-up to the fight?

5.Samuel L. Jackson as Sultan, his appearance, clothes? His screen presence, tone of voice? The hustling, the deals? The pseudo Reverend? The girls, the photos? His dealing with his champ? Knowing that he would always win? The marketability? His deciding on Terry Conklin? Building up the fight? Conklin as the Great White Hype? His dealing with Mitchell Kane, his opposition? Television exposes? His use of money, bringing him on board? The other members of his team – but the firing of Sol? His dealings with the people around the sport of boxing? Bambi and her presence? Hassan El Ruk’n and his management of his fighter? The fight itself – and some comeuppance?

6.Mitchell Kane, the TV expose, the crusader? Getting information? The interview? His meeting with Sultan, his being bought by Sultan? The reactions?

7.The picture of Terry Conklin, boxer, not so bright, his ability to fight? His being chosen by Sultan? The build-up, the training, the fight itself?

8.The managers of the other boxers, Hassan El Ruk’n? The various other characters on the periphery of the sport? Bambi and her role?

9.The boxing sequences, serious, comic?

10.The parody of the world of sport, of boxing films, of television coverage, of agents and promoters? How effective a spoof?