Clockers
When there's murder on the streets, everyone is a suspect.
A "clocker" is a 24-hour drug dealer, and Strike is the hardest-working one on the streets. But for Strike, time is running out. When the local drug kingpin tips Strike off about an opportunity for advancement, a rival dealer ends up dead, and Strike suddenly finds himself caught between two homicide detectives. One is Mazilli, who's only looking for an easy bust. The other is Rocco, who's looking for something much harder to find--the truth--and when Strike's law-abiding brother confesses to the murder, Rocco vows not to rest until he's sure the real shooter is behind bars.
Member Reviews
Spike Lee at his best - screengem
I rushed out and bought the soundtrack after watching this movie - it alone is worth the price of admission! Spike drive's home his point right from the opening, in an attempt to debunk the movie aura we have all developed watching our world's drug problem unfold at the cinema. The real police photo's describe as no words could the damage being done on the streets of North America daily.
In addition to a haunting soundtrack, simultaneously full of hope and despair, the cinematography further sets the scenes, with lighting that seemed to depict an angelic feeling in many of the scenes.
I was left despairing for Strike who was caught up by his own ambitions, but left short by his imagination, unable to see beyond the ghetto that claimed his life.
Harvey Keitel plays the role of his career - his humanity peaking through the terrible facade that they all wore to maintain their sanity - in the form of an unwillingness to let the case go, even though it was just another dead Clocker.3.8 stars - a very moving and thoughtful film - Moir
This film - I may have to go back and give it four stars - is very painful yet it is brilliant. And it surely is about a very very painful and terrible situation. Yet I think it seems to transcend the painfulness due to the force of the insight and compassion below the surface (hidden though it might seem beneath gritty and distressing details).
I do not think of it as great theatre (in the sense of a great film) perhaps due to the nature of the realism which can be overwhelmingly distressing. But perhaps it is a great film to the extent that it helps bring home the deforming conditions in which so many people have to live. It nearly breaks one's heart but I am glad to have seen it, grateful to the producers and the director.Glockcockers - MalcolmTen
I'm sorry if ricepudding's review turned anyone off. Spike is very aware of everything he put into this movie. The intro with all the real police photos was to set the scene for the story. Clockers goes behind the headlines and into the humanity of not only the victims of shootings, but the shooters themselves.
That's what really hooked me about this movies. Spike makes everyone more real...by "badding up" the good guys (cops) and "gooding up" the bad guys (drug dealers). Spike does a good job of showing us the humanity of the drug dealer, the character who has become the archetype of the modern Bad Guy. Mekhi Phifer does an *excellent* job of keeping that character real. "Strike" (the main character) doesn't always know what to say. He's not a "smooth criminal". He is what he is: a young man who got caught up. He isn't always smart. He often gets caught. He's a disappointment to his mother. He's got all the material things, but he's lonely as hell. He is a human being.
From an acting point of view, I love how Spike keeps the audience off-balance by using status changes. Just when we're comfortable with whose on top in the characters' relationships, they get switched. Strike vs. his crew. Strike vs. Tyrone. Strike vs. his boss. Strike's boss vs. his right-hand man. Strike vs. Harvey Keitel's detective.
Member Reviews
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Spike Lee at his best - screengem
I rushed out and bought the soundtrack after watching this movie - it alone is worth the price of admission! Spike drive's home his point right from the opening, in an attempt to debunk the movie aura we have all developed watching our world's drug problem ...3.8 stars - a very moving and thoughtful film - Moir
This film - I may have to go back and give it four stars - is very painful yet it is brilliant. And it surely is about a very very painful and terrible situation. Yet I think it seems to transcend the painfulness due to the force of the insight and compassion ...Glockcockers - MalcolmTen
I'm sorry if ricepudding's review turned anyone off. Spike is very aware of everything he put into this movie. The intro with all the real police photos was to set the scene for the story. Clockers goes behind the headlines and into the humanity of not only ...