Hoodlum - 3052

Amazon.com A flawed but admirably ambitious gangster movie, Hoodlum aspires to be a kind of Harlem-based equivalent to The Godfather, and while it falls short of that lofty goal it's still got plenty of qualities to make it well worth seeing. It's the first film to tell the story of Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (charismatically played by Laurence Fishburne), an ex-convict who dominated the Harlem numbers racket during the 1930s and '40s. As he rises to power he gains equally powerful enemies, including hotheaded Bronx gangster Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth) and the suave mobster Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia). Determined to defend his Harlem turf against these invaders, Bumpy eclipses the "policy queen" Stephanie St. Clair (Cicely Tyson) and becomes a self-styled Robin Hood figure, attracting the attention of a community servant (Vanessa Williams) who must confront the brutality of Bumpy's business. A must-see for anyone who likes gangster movies, Hoodlum is certainly not a masterpiece, but sharp performances and some powerful scenes make it an interesting look at a little-known chapter in criminal history. --Jeff Shannon Product Description Fishburne heads an all-star ensemble in this epic Godfather-styled tale chronicling the rise of Ellsworth "Bump" Johnson, who became king of the numbers racket in 1930s Harlem.
ASIN: 0792838076
VSKU: GGV.0792838076.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Clarence Williams III|Laurence Fishburne|Chi McBride|Cicely Tyson|Andy Garcia|Richard Bradford|William Atherton|Mike Starr|Queen Latifah|Vanessa Williams|Loretta Devine|Tim Roth|Bill Duke|Chris Brancato
Binding: Dvd