Excellent movie (by aricica) |
I would highly recommend the movie. I am not a big fan of gangster movies but this one it's much larger than that. I was browsing through my cable channels, stumbled on it and got hooked right away. The performances are awesome, the directing excellent, the costumes & sets perfect. And the story, well...true. That's what makes the movie even more attractive. The reason I am posting this comment - I've never done it before - is because I got irritated by critics' opinion about it. I am no movie expert, but to trash this one it's just plain or deliberate oversight. <more> |
"Get ready for your final thrill" (by Newsense) |
Bill Duke has made some great movies like Sister Act 2, Deep Cover, A Rage In Harlem etc and I'd like to see more movies from him. But I also understand that before that happens you will see more films from Uwe Boll and Quentin Tarantino the most overrated director in the world! . This movie might not have won any awards or gotten praise by these high brow snobs and the trend-following puppets that run amok on IMDb but its still an excellent piece of work directed by Bill Duke who stared in Commando, Predator, Exit Wounds, National Security and Busta Rhymes' Dangerous video with <more> |
The best of all Hollywood gangster films (by winner55) |
This became one of my favorite gangster films when I first saw it, and watching it yet again after viewing very dissimilar projects like the Martin Landau Joe Bonnano biography or the "Valachi Papers", the "Godfather" or "Scarface" both versions , "The Untouchables" either version or "Public Enemy", I've become pretty well convinced that this is the 'ultimate' gangster film, perhaps the only film that can compete with Scorsese's "Goodfellas" for the claim to be the best and most representative film of the <more> |
I Had Forgotten How Good This Movie Actually Is!!!! (by RaiderJack) |
I had this movie on homemade VHS for a while and just received the DVD.Mesmerizing!!! Beautifully Filmed! Hats off to Bill Duke - another very distinguished African-American director!! Once you get past the fact that the movie is FILLED with phenomenal performances from the likes of Laurence Fishburne, Andy Garcia, Tim Roth, Vanessa Williams. Queen Latifah, Loretta Devine, Clarence Williams III, and of course, Miss Cicely Tyson you also discover a gem of a movie.It follows the exploits of a 30s Harlem gangster Bumpy Johnson. Fishburne reminds you of why he is such a charismatic actor. His <more> |
Underrated Gangster Film ! (by icsisrain) |
I think that Hoodlum is a great gangster film and is extremely underrated. I think that this movie can definitely hang up there with all the other movies that get praise for being good crime dramas. What I like about the film is the way it really portrays the actual characters in real life. Lawrence Fishburne and Tim Roth give great performances that really bring this movie alive. Also, Andy Garcia does a good job portraying Lucky Luciano. I think that this movie had all the elements of a good movie but it just got shafted a little. I'm not saying it's Goodfellas, but if you like that <more> |
Hoodlum is an excellent portrayal of 1930s Harlem (by Brunokid) |
Larry Fishburne continues to astound me in another role that seems to suit only him. His rugged and street smart Bumby Johnson is a masterpiece. andy Garcia, thought it is only a small part, plays famed gangster Lucky Luciano very well. Growing up in a neighborhood where he once ruled, ZGarcias portrayal is very accurate. The movies plot is good, not to brilliant. There are some pretty gross parts to the movie, but it only adds to the gritty feeling you get from Hoodlum. |
A great film, victim to negative people (by dynamicresolve) |
It seems to me like in today's film world, critics, whether it be Ebert or the viewers, are quick to down a film if it has a large budget. I think Hoodlum fell victim to this epidemic. With a bankroll of wonderful actors and actresses, and some of the best historical recreation of the locations, the movie delivers. The plot was simple, but it doesn't need to be complicated in a gangster flick like this. It was based on real people, so the creators of the film cannot go ballistic on changing the story. Maybe the 'critics' would like it better if it had a little green man who <more> |
Good film; sadly distorted history (by coop-16) |
This is , on the whole a very good, if mostly unoriginal period gangster film.The performances are solid, if unspectacular, the direction is assured and sometimes innovative, with some clever original touches and one or two nice "hommages" to Scorsese, Coppola, and the the thirties classics of Wellman et.al. The biggest problem with the film is the utterly ludicrous portrayal of Tom Dewey. Dewey was arrogant, cold, and self-righteous; he was not corrupt.Indeed, he was the second best district attorney in America during the thirties Earl Warren, in Oakland, California was the best <more> |
Might feel unrealistic but is big on entertainment (by shadowman123) |
Hoodlum is the story black a black underclass gangster who stands toe-to-toe with the Italian and Jewish Mafia in Harlem during 1930's in the great depression era. I checked out the story from watching the movie on Sunday and what I can say that yes there were several factual occurrences that took place during that time, however Hoodlum ends up turning its-self into some sort action flick rather than a factual account of what really happened, having said that it is still a very entertaining movie to watch and has some good performances as well as well made action scenes. Laurence <more> |