Amazon.com: Hoodlum : Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth, Vanessa Williams, Andy Garcia, Cicely Tyson, Chi McBride, Clarence Williams III, Richard Bradford, William Atherton, Loretta Devine, Queen Latifah, Mike Starr, Bill Duke, Chris Brancato: Movies & TV (original) (raw)
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Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2018
This movie purports to be the story of Bumpy Johnson, a Harlem gangster, who faced down the mob in a dispute for control of the Harlem numbers racket. Some of the "facts" in the movie are in dispute especially its portrayal of DA Thomas Dewey as a crook in league with the mob. Dewey has always been known as a scrupulously honest man so this aspect of the movie attracted a lot of criticism as well as a law suit. That being said, the performances in the movie are terrific, particularly those of the supporting players. The stars of the film Lawrence, Fishburne, Vanessa Williams, Andy Garcia, and Tim Roth are very good but the revelation is the performances from ancillary cast members such as Chi McBride and Paul Benjamin as two of Bumpy's henchmen and Mike Star and Richard Bradford as evil doers for the mob. The entire cast is just wonderful including those with very limited screen time. If you enjoy gangster movies you will very likely enjoy this movie and may well be moved ( as I was) to read more about the events and characters depicted in the film.
13 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016
Hoodlum is an excellent period piece on Bumpy Johnson, the black counter part to the famous immigrant gangsters of the thirties. As a addendum, remember that Clarence Williams III who is in this movie played Bumpy in the beginning of the film American Gangster with Denzel Washington. A cultured man who resigned himself to the the role that he played in Harlem, where jobs were few and most lives were victimized by the people who lived outside of city. Fishburne's understated portrayal of Johnson is a wonderful diversion to his usual scenery chewing roles.
One of the things that the film reminds is the social strata in the 1930's where racial stereotypes and fear of immigration meant, as always, that police and criminals were equally against them at every turn. However, this is an action film at its core, not a civil liberties tome and as a crime thriller it is excellent. One of Lawrence Fishburne's first turn as the star is an excellent backdrop for his skills as an actor, with Tim Roth in an riveting supporting role as Dutch Schultz. The very accomplished hand of director and consummate character actor, Bill Duke needs to be noted as well.
12 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2016
Hoodlum is the kind of movie that I'd be willing to bet even Spike Lee could come up with (except there's too many white people in it). Loaded with a Who's Who of Hollywood's best, Lawrence Fishburne stars as Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, the numbers running king of Harlem.
Keep in mind, this is neither a biography nor historically accurate movie. This film mixes and matches actual characters from a variety of locales and times to make this an interesting movie. Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth), Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia), "The Queen," Stephanie St. Clair (Cicely Tyson) as well as Queen Latifah in a supporting role make up this star and historical character studded cast.
This is a very well made movie. The character study is deep, the acting first rate. This is a movie worth watching a few times.
10 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2006
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 distingushed 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 performance here is one you can watch over and over again. Of course the movie may have been exaggerated but what movie isn't?! It is a very stylized presentation and the obvious attention to detail to create the look and the feel of the period help intensify the viewing experience.
I am quite proud of the production and highly recommend it become part of your movie collection. It is a worthy project with a treasures trove of performances that warrant attention.
7 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2023
Amazing movie I can watch this over and over again
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2016
Well done creative adaption of the life of Bumpy Johnson. Vanessa Williams is stunning, Queen Latifah is well cast (and attractive), Tim Roth as Dutch Shultz is exceptional, Andy Garcia mimcs Lucky Luciano, including his physical defects perfectly. It's the story of an aging Harlem rackets boss played by Cicly Tyson and the ultimate takeover, expansion and cooperation with the Italian controlled NYC mob, led by Bumpy Johnson. Well done and well worth the time to watch.
4 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2013
Larry (or Lawrence, as he refers to himself now) Fishburne produced a masterpiece, in my opinion. I liked everything about this movie; the plot, the set design, the music, costumes, etc., it was all very good. I read somewhere a reviewer compared this movie to the Godfather saying that this was Lawrence's attempt at making a Godfather clone; duh? This movie never made me think of that movie not one time. The movie has it's on identity, it's own story to tell, and the subject of the story was a real person that really existed. Check it out for yourself, you'll see what I mean. The actors were incredible, and director Bill Duke did a wonderful job. I give this one an A+.
One person found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2016
I saw this movie in the theater when it came out. I enjoy the plot, even though it is fictional. The premise is what gangster movies are made of.
A Harlem gang is being forced out by an Irsh gangster, and the leader of the Harlem gang is being set up, and off to jail. The Harlem gang, led by Laurence Fishburn's character, decides to go down fighting.
Again, a fictional story, yet it well written and tells a good story. I recommend this movie, and say What ya reading this, get the movie !
5 people found this helpful
Top reviews from other countries
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars 欲しかったDVD
Reviewed in Japan on February 27, 2014
以前より欲しかったDVDだったので手に入りよかったです。
商品も良い状態で満足です。
4.0 out of 5 stars Hoodlum
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2024
Good quality delivered on date given.
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant movie!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2023
Brilliant movie from all the casts! I definitely recommend 👌
1.0 out of 5 stars poor picture and sound quality
Reviewed in Canada on April 10, 2015
Again, poor picture and sound quality, I regret the purchase.