Staff Reports
It’s a joy to see that, nearly seven years after they packed their bags and left the White House, Barack and Michelle Obama are still managing to stir the pot and keep America divided like nobody else. The former first couple has been busy with a production deal on Netflix, dipping their toes into the world of executive production. This includes lending their names to projects such as “Becoming,” a documentary about Michelle, and a rehash of the classic “Schoolhouse Rock” known as “We the People.” The original “Schoolhouse Rock” is beloved by many, but the new version can barely scrape together a 4.3 out of 10 rating on IMDb. It just goes to show that maybe Americans still prefer good old-fashioned ways of learning instead of these newfangled reboots.
New Movie Obamas Helped Make Raises Eyebrows: ‘Don’t Trust White People’ https://t.co/VQcWiJw2d7 pic.twitter.com/43s3CWdDe7
— Gaby (@gabymixH) December 12, 2023
But it’s the Obamas’ foray into fictional filmmaking that has people chattering, or should we say, arguing once again. “Leave the World Behind” is their attempt at a dystopian movie that looks like a cut-rate, knockoff version of something M. Night Shyamalan would come up with. Considering the declining careers of Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, who star in the movie, this might not be a good sign.
The Netflix trailer sets the stage for a tale of a rich white family renting a secluded mansion near New York City, only to have the black family who owns it show up unexpectedly with news of an impending apocalypse. Cyberattacks, chaos, and a lack of trust ensue, with a ham-fisted twist ending attempting to drive home a Very Important Point™.
While critics have praised the film, some viewers on social media are more focused on a scene where two characters, a black father and daughter, discuss trust in the midst of chaos. The daughter advises her father not to trust white people if the world falls apart, sparking controversy and anger among some audience members.
The involvement of the Obamas in this project has raised questions about whether this film is intentionally dividing Americans. Even though neither Obama has a screenwriting credit, the mere association of a former president and first lady with such divisive material has drawn negative attention.
Despite criticisms and controversies, “Leave the World Behind” is currently ranked as the number one movie on Netflix. However, the decision to produce a film with potentially inflammatory content has raised eyebrows and prompted questions about the judgment of the Obamas’ team.
