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Features: DVD, Pan and Scan (TV Format), Widescreen, French, Spanish, Subtitled, Dolby Digital (5.1) Surround Sound, Trailers, Trivia
In 1930s New York, Bumpy Johnson rules the Harlem numbers racket with a rare combination of honor, dignity and strength. But when savage gangster, Dutch Schultz, threatens his reign with a series of bloody attacks, Bumpy knows that the only way to win is to play Dutchs deadly game. As a vicious war spins madly out of control, so does Bumpys personal life, and soon the mobster realizes that his only way out is to instigate a dangerous plan involving one of the most feared and powerful gangsters in history...mob chieftain Lucky Luciano.Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth, Vanessa Williams, and Andy GarciaDirector: Bill DukeProduced by Frank Mancuso, Jr.; written by Chris Brancato; running time of 130 minutes; Closed Captioned. Copyright: 1997, MGMSystem Requirements:Trivia and Production Notes Original Theatrical Trailer Scene Access Dolby Digital English: 5.1 SurroundFormat: DVD MOVIE
Editor's Note
HOODLUM stars Laurence Fishburne in a powerful performance as Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, the notorious Harlem gangster of the 1930s. Director Bill Duke mixes a sumptuous visual style with a message of black empowerment. Bumpy gets out of prison and goes to work for the Harlem numbers powerhouse known as Madam Queen (Cicely Tyson), bringing him into conflict with the psychopathic Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth), who is trying to take over the numbers racket in Harlem. As the blood flows through Harlem streets, those around Bumpy begin to question his methods-- and his morals.
Plot Summary
Bill Duke's HOODLUM, with its rich visuals, brutal violence, and moral probing, pays homage to THE GODFATHER and other classic gangster films while exploring the nature of black empowerment as it relates to criminality. The film is Duke's second collaboration with Laurence Fishburne, and as with DEEP COVER, Fishburne delivers a compelling performance. He plays Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, the legendary Harlem gangster of the 1930s who fought Dutch Schultz for control of the numbers racket. Tim Roth is hilariously grotesque as Schultz, a villain whose foul mouth sets a new cinematic standard. Duke gets strong performances from Andy Garcia as Lucky Luciano and Chi McBride as Bumpy's right-hand man, Illinois. Vanessa Williams plays Francine, a social activist who loves Bumpy but can't understand the violent path he's chosen. Bumpy, a surprisingly civic-minded criminal, goes to war with Schultz to protect Harlem from the interloper, but as the body count mounts in the community he's trying to protect, he ends up losing the support of those closest to him. The film's uneasy mix of mayhem and humor makes for compelling viewing, and the moral questions it raises about black empowerment and criminality only add to the intrigue.
| Features | DVD Features: | | Region 1 Encoding; | | Trivia & Production Notes; | | Original Theatrical Trailer. |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
|  | Studio: MGM |
| Release Date: 5/1/2001 |
| Running Time: 130 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1997 | | Catalog ID: 906995 | | UPC: 00027616699527 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, French Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | USA Today
"...Charging the action is an electric three-prong attack: Laurence Fishburne as magnetic Johnson, Tim Roth as a wonderfully no-class Schultz and Andy Garcia as a cool and cocky Luciano..." -- 3 out of 4 stars 08/27/1997 p.2DNew York Times
"...Mr. Fishburne is as coolly ruthless as Al Pacino's Michael Corleone in THE GODFATHER....Ms. Tyson is also memorable..." 08/27/1997 p.C16 Entertainment Weekly
"...This is Duke's most accomplished job of direction yet. He gets a juicy performance out of Tim Roth..." 09/05/1997 p.51 Chicago Sun-Times
"...Duke has made a historical drama as much as a thriller..." 08/27/1997 p.51 |
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