ok represent i guess the history of film dark age literally be so little remember that mos def subtle homage in 16 block just fly over the head of the mostly deaf ( to history ) critic and both professional and amateur . irritating and annoying and and aggravate be the adjective most often use to describe mos def performance a eddie in richard donner late film represent a well paced urban cop thriller which take ordinary action film clichés and raise them to about the pinnacle of their potential ( while still remain clichés ) . a handful of the professional critic note the similarity of def performance to those of the stereotyped cringing menial present by actor such a stepin fetchit in hollywood film of the 1930s . but these critic make this connection almost invariably in a disapproving and condescend tone . no one and it seem and get it ( or perhaps a few i have not read and but many and at least fail to recognize the significance of what def have attempt and i believe successfully to do ) . watch him in the film represent how he walk and how he talk and his irritating voice represent mo def be stepin fetchit . it be a very special kind of homage . in interview over the year and mo def have time and again speak about the african american actor from those long ago and racist year of hollywood early sound era . he be fully aware of the shoulder he stand on and and of the legacy he have inherit ( from fetchit to bill bojangles robinson to hattie mcdaniel and dooley wilson and juano hernandez and leigh whipper and dorothy daindridge and sidney poitier . through to the success story of today lou gosset jr. and whoopi goldberg and cuba gooding jr. and denzel washington and hallie berry and morgan freeman and jamie foxx and and so many more ) . so his eddie in 16 block be play a though stepin fetchit in his prime be somehow transport into the 21st century and give a role commensurate to his talent . look . def seem to be say . see what this guy could have do . it be def subtle homage to the great styepin fetchit ( hollywood first black star for what it be worth at the time ) add hidden depth to 16 block and and it compliment bruce willis affect performance quite impressively . see the other review for more specific detail about the film . but in the end and remember represent mo def irritate and annoy and and aggravate performance be a very special kind of tribute and and it work .