One Spoon of Chocolate

by Mike McGranaghan

Wu-Tang Clan member The RZA’s fourth film, One Spoon of Chocolate, is a politically-charged thriller that doubles as a cinematic scream of rage. It will rub some people the wrong way, which is exactly why it deserves to be seen and discussed. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the picture isn’t entertaining, though. RZA’s love of martial arts movies and hardcore action factor in prominently.

Shameik Moore stars as Randy “Unique” Joneson, a war veteran who spent time in prison after serving. Now on parole, he heads to Ohio to stay with his cousin Ramsee (RJ Cyler). Aside from beginning a romance with Ramsee’s friend Darla (Paris Jackson), he quickly runs afoul of the small town’s racist gang, led by Jimmy (Harry Goodwins), son of the also racist Sheriff McLeoud (Michael Harney). Being bigots is only a part of what makes them despicable; they also kill Black people to harvest their organs. An all-out war erupts between the two sides.

The RZA doesn’t hold back. He’s infuriated about the rise of white supremacy in the United States over the past few years. In one scene, Unique enters a room with a wall painted like the American flag. He kills one of the racists, then wipes the guy’s blood off that wall. The message is clear: people of color aren’t going to just sit there and take it because this is their country, too. The final twenty or so minutes consist of Unique cathartically beating those racists, who have taunted him with slurs and unearned hatred.

Clearly, Blaxploitation pictures of the 1970s, where Black heroes triumphed over white foes, were an influence. More specifically, One Spoon of Chocolate has a sense of anger reminiscent of Melvin Van Peeble’s classic Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Both films present a fierce “sick and tired” attitude toward prejudice, with heroes who have zero you-know-whats to give settling the score. Just as the Van Peebles film was intensely relevant in 1971, The RZA’s speaks meaningfully to the 2020s. Here’s a case of two Black creators channeling their frustrations into their art, forcing audiences to confront uncomfortable truths in the process.

Moore, who starred in Dope and provides the voice of Miles Morales in the Spider-Verse series, brings likeability to the role of Unique. That’s important since the character engages in brutal violence. The actor ensures we never lose sight of this guy’s soul. He also forges a nice chemistry with the impressively sincere Paris Jackson. You may have heard of her father, Michael.

One Spoon of Chocolate derives its title from a piece of wisdom imparted to Unique early on: “One spoon of chocolate is enough to change a whole glass of milk.” Again, the symbolism is unmistakable. A couple parts of the movie drag ever so slightly, and the whole thing is maybe 15 minutes longer than it needs to be. The RZA nevertheless has a clear, compelling voice, and his cry for a more unified America hits with real force.