Every once in a while, a terrific movie slips through the theatrical cracks (and I mean, CRACKS) and ends up shining on cable and video. "Black and White" is exactly that, a diamond in the rough of the video shelves. Tightly and smartly written, gripping, stylish, and atmospheric, this is a perfect counterpoint (is that the word?) to the generic shlock we're getting accustomed to. The performances by Gina Gershon and Rory Cochrane are first-rate. (A big surprise in case of Gershon, who judging by previous efforts and the current TV "Snoops" is no Meryl Streep -- but here, apparently due to top-notch directing, she glows and penetrates). But the real find here is Cochrane -- a striking young man, who oozes talent, not unlike the young De Niro in, let's say, "Taxi Driver". Clearly, this movie didn't have the budget of, say, "Double Jeopardy". But, scene for scene and pound for pound, it's more surprising, entertaining and riveting than that overrated dud. Kudos all around.
Review of Black and White
