[The Outlaw Johnny Black Download
Christel Malden
Young Johnny Black (Jalyn Hall, he played Emmett Till in \u201CTill\u201D \u2013 this movie must\u2019ve sat on a shelf for a hot minute as Hall looks markedly younger here despite that film coming out almost a year ago) lost his trick-shooting, preacher Pops Bullseye Black (aces character actor Glynn Turman) at the hands of roving outlaw Brett Clayton (Chris Browning). Now grown (and played by White), Johnny himself has become an outlaw and still vows vengeance against Clayton.
On the run from authorities in the form of Bill Basset (Randy Couture), Johnny assumes the identity of his acquaintance Reverend Percy (Byron Minns, who co-wrote alongside White as he did on \u201CBlack Dynamite\u201D) \u2013 whom he thought perished in an \u201CInjun\u201D attack \u2013 and sets up shop in Hope Springs.
It\u2019s here that he connects with Percy\u2019s pen pal and burgeoning romantic interest Bessie Lee (\u201CMad TV\u201D alum Erica Ash) and her educated, strong-willed sister Jessie Lee (Anika Noni Rose). U.S. Marshall Cove (Kevin Chapman) justifiably questions Johnny/Percy\u2019s religious bonafides. Johnny and Jessie Lee, between longing glances, begin butting heads with local land baron Tom Sheally (Barry Bostwick). A frustrated Sheally becomes desperate enough that he\u2019s willing to employ rough riders \u2013 Clayton among them \u2013 to drive the people of Hope Springs from their home.
\u201COutlaw Johnny Black\u201D doesn\u2019t quite hit the heights of \u201CBlack Dynamite\u201D as that flick is leaner and meaner than this one (84 minutes and R-rated as opposed to 135 minutes and PG-13), but this still works and is a good bit of fun as both a Western and a comedy. I understand why White went lengthier with his runtime (he\u2019s attempting to ape the likes of Sergio Leone \u2026 the opening credits make this abundantly clear), but the picture would\u2019ve played better were it 30 minutes shorter.
White wears his influences on his sleeve. He\u2019s very much tipping his cowboy hat to the Blaxploitation Westerns of the 1960s and 1970s starring the late Jim Brown and Fred Williamson (both men cameo during the conclusion). White\u2019s also holding a candle for Mel Brooks\u2019 \u201CBlazing Saddles\u201D (Black\u2019s wanted poster humorously features Cleavon Little\u2019s Bart, a character punches out a horse).
There are a lot of curious elements at play with \u201COutlaw Johnny Black.\u201D It\u2019s both progressive and unapologetically un-PC. It simultaneously spoofs and embraces religion. It\u2019s a wonder how White\u2019s Black athletically spin kicks suckaz whilst wearing tighter than tight black leather pants.
Fans of \u201CBlack Dynamite,\u201D Westerns and White could do a lot worse than the \u201COutlaw Johnny Black\u201D as it\u2019s got plenty of laughs, cool gunfights and a surprising amount of martial arts action (not so surprising I suppose as White holds black belts in seven different disciplines). It\u2019s also a reminder that sometimes less is more.
The "blaxploitation" genre is an especially fascinating one. A product of the 1970s, it came about due to a variety of coalescing factors, from a gradual change in race relations brought about at the time to more readily-available resources for independent creators. Despite the negative connotations the name suggests, blaxploitation films filled a niche in the moviegoer market at the time: they were films made by black filmmakers for predominantly black audiences, featuring black characters overcoming issues the black community faced. It also helped that these films are thoroughly entertaining, displaying a passion for filmmaking that overcomes low budgets and questionable production quality.
It's important to know this for Michael Jai White's upcoming western, The Outlaw Johnny Black. A spiritual sequel to Black Dynamite, White's own hilariously-over-the-top tribute to blaxploitation films, The Outlaw Johnny Black will see him transported to the wild west in an equally-off-the-wall adventure. Seeing as how Black Dynamite is still thoroughly beloved by those who've seen it, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about The Outlaw Johnny Black before it hits theaters on Sept. 15.
The original Black Dynamite was created primarily as a passion project between Michael Jai White and Scott Sanders. Directly inspired by the same kinds of movies White had showcased in viewing parties, Black Dynamite went the extra mile in replicating the blaxploitation experience through how it was made.
Black Dynamite was shot on era-appropriate Super 16 film, giving it a saturated, grainy look ripped straight out of the 1970s. With a purposefully low budget, several production errors common in amateur blaxploitation films, including visible production equipment and flubbed lines, were purposefully included. It not only added to the film's humor but also gave that tiny extra amount of authenticity in replicating how these films were made.
While The Outlaw Johnny Black looks like it'll forego some authenticity in favor of high-definition footage, it'll no doubt retain a similar level of passion compared to Black Dynamite. Plenty of Westerns from the era, including the likes of Thomasine & Bushrod and Buck and the Preacher, do for the Westerns what Dolemite and Petey Wheatstraw did for action films. Outside of telling a story synonymous with the genre, be it one of revenge or romantic heroism, it'll also be an opportunity for White to perform in a genre he hasn't had an opportunity to shine in.
It goes without saying that Michael Jai White had an absolute blast playing his eponymous character in Black Dynamite, meaning that The Outlaw Johnny Black shouldn't be any different. While the film's rating has taken a noticeable bump down from an R to a PG-13 rating, we can still expect a similarly manic, boisterous, and hilarious performance out of our heroic outlaw.
But Black Dynamite was never a one-person show. Our favorite mustachioed Vietnam veteran wouldn't be cracking one-liners and kicking heads without the assistance of a wide supporting cast. Thankfully, some names intimately familiar with Black Dynamite fans are making a comeback for The Outlaw Johnny Black.
Byron Minns, who originally played the brilliant modern-day poet Bullhorn, will return as a writer and the Reverend Percival Fairman. Kim Whitley, who also returned to her role as Honey Bee in the Adult Swim Black Dynamite series, will return as Sister Betty. Lastly, Tommy Davidson will also return from his original role as Cream Corn in Black Dynamite to play the role of Clancy.
On top of returning favorites, newcomers including Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Fantastic Planet), Glynn Turman (Super 8), Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog), and Kevin Chapman (CODA) will also round out the cast.
The Outlaw Johnny Black was originally announced as part of an intriguing experiment, one that White had initially conceived ages ago. In a 2018 interview with Paste Magazine, he revealed that The Outlaw Johnny Black was to be the middle entry in a trilogy of blaxploitation tribute films:
The experiment would also take a meta approach in how each actor plays their characters. You see, it's not Michael Jai White playing Johnny Black or Black Dynamite: it's Michael Jai White playing Ferrante Jones, a boisterous former-athlete, playing Black Dynamite. Imagine Robert Downey Jr.'s character in Tropic Thunder as a similar example.
It's another level of detail that goes to show White's genuine interest in this specific era of filmmaking, one that will hopefully be appreciated by those looking beyond the hilarious jokes and over-the-top action.
While The Outlaw Johnny Black vanished off the face of the Earth for the longest time, the excitement for its eventual release this September is still palpable. Should this film deliver the goods, you can expect memorable quotes to take social media by storm, much like they did when Black Dynamite was released in 2009. If it does well, we can also look forward to Michael Jai White's take on the horror genre in the near future.
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