A Rage in Harlem

Fun Entertainment, not for Kids
This is a nice period film in the "Cotton comes to Harlem" style. It's a kind of 50's gangster action comedy, with a southern twist. The film has high quality production values, and Danny Glover, Robin Givens, Forrest Whitaker, and Gregory Hines all turn in great performances. As an added bonus,when you see Robin Givens in that Red Dress (They had to sew it on her for the movie), you'll finally understand Mike Tysons' infatuation with her. So for some good entertainment rent this film. P.S. Watch out for the line "Pop goes the Weasel."

Freshen up your Mothergoose, or you'll fall with Humpddy
I was already familar with the movie, and loved it so much had hunted for 15 years for it. As soon as I saw it on Amazon I said "Pop goes the Weezel. The charactors were as refreshing as I remembered. Who doesn't want to get away free with a trunk full of gold. Robin Givens, as Amabelle was excellent, surely they had to paint her in those skin-tight outfits. My granddaughter who wants to be a designer was in heaven with each new outfit she worn. Her character was more fitting as Jackson's girl(Forrest Whitaker)than as the girlfriend of the gangster, the nursey rhyme spitting thug. I think he had some Mommy issues. Maybe he was molesterd as a child when his mama left him in daycare. Jackson is the nerd in everybody's family, with those large nerdy glasses. He is the lovable uncle figure that you don't mind leaving your kids with. His brother Sherman with that sexy side part in his hair(Gregory Hines) is another story, he played his part so well, I couldn't leave my child with...

Gritty, witty, brillian!
Brilliant! This is one of the very few instances where I enjoyed the film as much as the book. And not because the film is very true to the book (which, in any case, it is), but because the film manages to find its own personality.

The setting is simply gorgeous. The rendering of Fifties Harlem is sumptuous, very warm in some places, very hard in others (the emotional use of colour is superbly done), with all a crew of characters that even appearing very shortly, gives a strong impression of the place and the time.

The story revolves around a chest of gold. People find it and lose it, people kill and die for it. Deceit is the currency for everyone. Well, for everyone but Jackson, whose candid innocence and unwavering faith in his love and his Imabelle brings some light in what's basically a very dark tale. And this is true even with all the humor and the wit which is indeed in the story. There's violence here, there's bad things happening, but there's tenderness...

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