In the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, the Mafia steps in when a drug dealer quits his partner brother to lead a straight life with his girlfriend.
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Reviews
Memorable, crazy movie
This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.
Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.
The movie has a very dark yet thoughtful feel to it. Wesley Snipes plays his role with a warm compassion for those around him. Michael Wright does overact quite a bit but he probably had a few years to go to become a good actor. Clarence Williams III was superb as the father. Theresa Randle is very good as the girlfriend. I almost fell in love with her myself. She seemed like the perfect woman. The rest of the movie is straight gangster done by a black cast except for Abe Vigoda who played his part excellently.I love the setting of the movie as well as the cinematography. Director Leon Ichaso has an eye for things and you can see that as you watch this movie. Its a shame that the movie didn't do well and the director never did another movie again. Snipes is at his best as he is trying to leave his troubled past but each time gets pulled back by the ghosts that haunt him. The atmosphere is pure noir, and though it is clearly set in the present, it has the magical sheen of a 1940's film. Recommended viewing for all lovers of film, despite the occasional preachiness.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.
Saw this on the MoMax movie network. The sound and Hi-Def video were excellent, as was the moody trumpet sounds of Terrence Blanchard.Wesley Snipes is Roemello Skuggs. He grew up in Harlem and as a youngster started making runs for the local drug dealer. Over time he got to the point where he himself, along with his brother, became one of the major dealers.But as always happens, either sooner or later, this type of living catches up with you. Friction and killings escalated when another dealer began competing for territory.Meanwhile Roemello for the first time in his life finds a woman he wants to be with. Until then the women always asked him for attention, and he could leave them alone with no problem. But this time was different, he found himself caring to be with her, and thinking about getting out of the drug business, and leaving Harlem for the Carolinas and a picket fence life.None of that came easy, and many close to him died. The film has many unflattering images and language of the underbelly of New York, but I suppose that was the point. Overall a good movie to see, although many times it moved very slowly as certain characters got into long conversations.
I thought this movie was the equivalent of any Greek tragedy. The acting was superior. The plot was compelling and a grand feat in storytelling. I was deeply moved by the performances of all the actors. Wesley Snipes, Michael Wright, Clarence Williams III, and all were extremely effective in delivering the emotionally charged performances. This movie is a classic. It ranks with the Godfather in the story and acting categories. Although the scope and scale was a lot smaller and intimate the movie was still capable of delivering the emotional impact as a film like the Godfather.I quickly added this to my collection after the first viewing. This is a movie makers movie. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to see a urban drama played out as Greek tragedy. I was especially touched by the acting.
Bumped into this movie on Sky Cinema the other night, when it was halfway through. At first I assumed it was a hitherto-shelved Spike Lee film, especially when Wes popped up. I was riveted from then on by its uncompromising bleakness: a black Godfather III? Certainly left a similar impression, of the tragic futility of hard drugs and street gangs, of the sometime impossible difficulties inherent in changing one's life. IL' Wes has never convinced as an untarnished hero; here he is as convincingly uncertain, as shakily cocky, as he was in Jungle Fever and One Night Stand: a vastly underrated actor who really ought to get back in the saddle with Spike as soon as he possibly can. Never heard of the director, though.