Barbershop

At first sight for those unfamiliar with them a barbershop is a place to get a haircut and of course the symbolic barber pole. For those familiar with them though, the barbershop is so much more than that. Now, sure you can absolutely get a great haircut and a nice shave, but you can also find community. It's a place to have great conversation, hear news about town ongoings, and to catch up with your barber. That's the beauty of a good barber. They serve equal parts artisan, friend, confidant, and historian and whether you go once a month or once every three months you always feel right at home. Today's subject features those same sentiments and subjects. A movie about the events of one fateful day in and around a neighborhood barbershop.

So if you're like me and you enjoy film and the impact and emotions they convey then grab a glass of your preferred liquid and join me for the next little while. For me that's a glass of chocolate almond milk. So sit back, relax, and let's talk about the love of film. Welcome to Glazed Cinema.

Welcome back to another season of Glazed Cinema as we kick off season five. I'm excited to get back in the swing of things and am happy to have you back as well. I hope you had a nice holiday break and I hope the new hear has treated you well thus far.

Today I wanted to highlight a movie that has a lot of heart, humor, and a sense of community. I find it a fitting subject for the time of year as well since it takes place during the winter and because, well...I need a haircut. So I figured, why not celebrate a movie that has both in common?

Today's movie celebrates the neighborhood barbershop and the art form of cutting hair. This subject has a certain soft spot in my heart as I love barbershops. I've been going to barbershops to get my haircut ever since my dad took me to one when I was eleven years old. We went to an Italian barbershop in town and I immediately gravitated toward the simple and friendly atmosphere that I found. When I was in high school the one we went to closed down and I had to find somewhere else to go. I found a barbershop downtown that had exactly what I was looking for. A welcoming attitude, a quiet and humble atmosphere, simple conversation, and a skillful hand. It's a shop I introduced my dad too as well, returning the favor and one I still frequent when back home to this day. Now I also understand that not every barbershop is created equal and that I am a old-fashioned kind of man. I mention that only to say that while I can't relate to everything in today's subject a lot of it does ring home. Whether you haven't been to a barbershop in some time or have never been to one there's still plenty of meat on the bone here to relate to. Despite the heart and humor it provides it begins in an unlikely way.

Our subject today begins with the theft of an ATM machine, committed by masked men by pulling it out of place via their car. The filled car celebrates the perpetrators drive down an empty street with cash machine trailing behind by a chain, with sparks shooting up every now and again. As we fade into our next scene we find a man played by Ice Cube at a work bench, about to start up some DJ equipment. After just a few moments of the first track though the electricity shorts, which is followed by smoke. This is Calvin, our main character and while he wafts away the smoke and fumes his wife enters the room to see what's going on. When he tells her that he was trying to get the audio equipment up and running for his Platinum Records idea she reminds him of his past ideas that never panned out. Ideas that she calls get rich quick schemes. After a bit of dialogue we see him about to leave for work when she stops him to lovingly build him up. She says, "It's been a whole two years since you took over the shop. I mean look at you, you have hung in there. You have no idea how proud I am of you...you know your father would have been proud of you too".

Shortly after he exits the house and into the cold winter air. Driving down the street his eyes meet a storefront whose front door and window have been obliterated as a giant whole rests where they used to be. Yelling across the way he tells the owner to stay strong before unlocking the gate to his shop. Entering the door and turning on the lights we see the interior of a barbershop. Inside there are framed pictures of people and memories adorning the walls, seven barber chairs, and a large portrait of Calvin's father, the original owner on the wall opposite the door. Calvin has taken over ownership of the shop since his father's death and in the coming scenes we meet the barbers who cut hair under his leadership.

Among the barbers are Ricky, Isaac, Jimmy, Dinka, Terri, and Eddie, each of whom bring something unique to the shop and add to the wonderful blend of personalities.

Jimmy, played by Sean Patrick Thomas is a college-educated young man who is among the newer members of the fold. Jimmy is very smart, but is also snobbish. He tends to look down on his fellow co-workers who aren't as educated as he is, hubrisly undervaluing their wits and experiences, which regularly causes friction. Among those he has friction with, his fellow barber Ricky is at the top of the list. Ricky, played by Michael Ealy is an ex-con who is trying to stay on the right path in life. Due to his history he is also a suspect in the eyes of a local detective for the convenience store robbery across the street. Terri is the only female barber in the shop and is in a bad relationship with a slimy smooth talking man who regularly chests on her. Terri, played by Eve has a hard exterior, but is a very caring and compassionate woman at her core. On her arrival at the shop she's greeted with red roses and a card at her station, which were laid out by her co-worker Dinka. Dinka, played by Leonard Earl Howze is a man from West Africa who has a crush on Terri. Dinka is always smiling and is a warm hearted and good natured man. Then there's Isaac, the newest of the barbers. Isaac, played by Troy Garity is a white guy who can seriously cut hair, but is underestimated by his co-workers and overlooked by the patrons. He has an air of confidence about him and is hungry for the respect of his co-workers. Last, but certainly not least is Eddie. Eddie, played by Cedric the Entertainer is an elder statesman who has cut hair at the shop for years, originally under Calvin's father. Eddie is the life of the shop, cracking jokes to lift spirits and offering feedback to add wise advice when needed. These are the barbers of the shop and who we will spend most of our time with throughout the film.

Then there's the patrons and customers of the shop, who are equally important. Among them are a few older regulars who hang out to commiserate, talk, and play board games. Of those is Checker Fred who enjoys playing checkers with those waiting for a cut. The barbershop is among the town hubs. A place to go and see familiar faces, catch up on what's been going on around town, and of course get cleaned up and looking good. The shop has been a staple for generations as Calvin is a third-generation owner.

For him though, the shop isn't his dream occupation. No, for him, it seems more of a chore. In fact, while he runs the shop he also invests in his dreams on the side, which sounds great on the surface, but at their core, they're nothing short of get rich quick schemes. Early on we come to the understanding that Calvin is under financial pressure, unable to pay his bills, partly because of these schemes. Wanting to invest in his newest venture, a recording studio Calvin succumbs to the pressure of his unpaid bills and in a a moment of short-sightedness decides to sell the shop to a skeevy man named Mr. Wallace, played by Keith David. Upon agreeing to the sale Calvin learns that despite what he was originally told Wallace plans to turn the shop into a gentlemen's club, which infuriates and disappoints Calvin. Mr. Wallace has money and has bought up several store fronts in the neighborhood. He reminds me of Mr. Potter from It's a Wonderful Life, a shrewd and disliked businessman.

As the hours at the shop roll on so to do cuts and conversation, all the while Calvin stews with his decision, while trying to think of a way to get his shop back and from out under the thumb of Wallace.

Barbershop was released back in 2002 and directed by Tim Story in his feature length directorial debut. Behind him were producers George Tillman Jr. and Robert Teittel, both of whom had hands in classic black films including two previous episodes of Glazed Cinema, Friday and Soul Food. In this effort they help mold the same brand of story and humor that made their previous efforts so successful.

The entire plot of The Barbershop takes place in a single day. We enter the shop around seven o'clock in the morning and we leave its doors twelve hours later. Within that timeframe there's a lot that happens in and out of the shop and the pacing of the movie makes the action fly by just like the hours at the shop do. Sprinkled throughout we also follow the two who robbed the ATM earlier on as they move it around town, trying to pry it open. The two are JD, played by Anthony Anderson and played by . The two remind me a bit of Harry and Marve, except their Kevin McCallister is the cash machine.

One of my favorite moments of the movie is when Jimmy and Isaac come close to blows during an argument. They square off when Eddie turns the music on and the volume up as Give it Up by Marvin Gaye baths the shop in its delightful sounds. Terri, in between the two begins to dance and the others in the shop do the same. Soon the whole shop, barbers and customers are all dancing, enjoying the sweet sweet sounds of Marvin Gaye. Shots of other characters outside the shop are also dancing and as we come back around to the shop we see everyone enjoying themselves in dance and joy. It's a great moment and a perfect example of how the sense of community is maintained and upheld within the shop's four walls.

The last moment I'll communicate is my favorite moment in which Eddie shines. I mentioned earlier that Eddie knows when to be serious, when to speak up, and when to mentor. This moment is one of those instances. To this point in the plot Eddie has mainly cracked jokes or spoken about the old days. Here though we see more of not only him, but the respect his younger co-workers have for him.

It begins when Ricky is attempting to shave a man's face and neck with a straight razor. Watching from afar, Eddie sees him making short, quick movements instead of the long smooth strokes he should be making. Speaking up, Eddie meanders over to show him how to do it, while also calling the others to learn as well. Opening up a small wooden chest we see two pearlescent folded straight razors with the initials EB adorned on the side incased in red velvet. Taking one out of the case he makes his way over to the chair to begin the shave as the others stand around to watch and learn.

Eddie states, "You see in my day a barber was more than just somebody who would sit around in a fubu shirt with his drawers hanging all out. In my day, a barber was a counselor, he was a fashion expert, a styled coach, pimp, just general all around hustler. But the problem with y'all cats today...is that...you got no skill, no sense of history...and then with a straight face got the nerve to want to be somebody...want somebody to respect you. But is takes respect to get respect. Understand? See, I'm old. But lord willing I'll be spared the sight of seeing everything that we worked for flushed down the drain by someone who don't know no better or care.

When this film was released it quickly became a commercial success, garnering a seventy-seven million dollar box office while also receiving great reviews. The success of the picture also eventually led to Barbershop Two just two years later and an eventual third installment in 2016.

The Barbershop is a film, like its title subject that offers a sense of humor and community on top of a good experience to its patrons. If you're looking for some warm hearted fun, then press play on our subject today.

If you'd like to watch Barbershop for yourself you can find it on a variety of streaming services. At the time if this recording you can find it on Max. Max is a streaming service from HBO with a diverse catalog of offerings with pricing options of $9.99 per month with ads and $15.99 per month ad-free, and $19.99 per month ultimate ad-free.

Apart from Max you can also find it on YouTube, Hulu, and Prime Video with your subscription if you have the Max add-on.

Lastly, you can find it on Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, and Google Play for $3.99 to rent.

If you like this podcast tell your friends and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Each week there will be new content including hints about episodes before they air. If you'd like to learn more about the podcast visit our website at glazedcinema.com. There you'll find more info about the show and a place to submit ideas for future episodes. For film fans who are hearing impaired the blog page on our website features each episode in written form as well. As always thanks for listening and I hope to see you next time with another beverage and for another fine film on Glazed Cinema.