31 Days of Horror gives way to Turkey Month. For me, that also means we're just a few weeks away from Girl Week. More on that at a later date. In the present, the beginning of November coincides with Thursday Movie Picks hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves. This week's topic is one near and dear to my cinematic heart: gangsters. There are well over 100 films dealing with them in some form or another in my personal movie collection. And if I ever finish The 100 Project, you'll notice that quite a few of them rank among my all-time favorites. That said, I realize that my picks lately have been on the easy side. Therefore, I'm going to try and dig just a little deeper and stay away from the (too) obvious. Let's see how I do.
King of New York
(1990)
When drug kingpin Frank White gets out of prison, he goes right to the streets to reclaim what's his. Epicness ensues. The lead role is manned by none other than Christopher Walken in all the Christopher Walkenness he can muster. He doesn't go it alone, though. His supporting cast is nothing short of amazing: Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Steve Buscemi, Giancarlo Esposito, Victor Argo, Theresa Randle, John Turturro, and most important to today's exercise, Wesley Snipes.Frank's Most Gangsta Quote: "From now on, nothing goes down unless I'm involved. No blackjack no dope deals, no nothing. A nickel bag gets sold in the park, I want in. You guys got fat while everybody starved on the street. Now it's my turn."
New Jack City
(1991)
Small-time, but ambitious drug dealer Nino Brown goes big with the advent of crack. Most famously, in hip hop culture anyway, he and his minions take over an apartment building known as The Carter. Former real-life gangsta and rapper Ice-T appears in his first major role, not as Nino, but as the cop hellbent on putting him behind bars. Judd Nelson plays his partner, and Chris Rock nearly steals the show as Pookie. He doesn't quite manage to do so because of the man playing Nino Brown. Wesley Snipes holds down the role and is just a big ball of charisma.Nino's Most Gangsta Quote: "Yeah, we takin' over the Carter. We gon' bum rush the whole damn thing. Now if the tenants cooperate, oh, it'll be lovely. They'll be loyal customers. If not, fuck it, it'll be like in Beirut. They'll be live-in hostages."
Sugar Hill
(1993)
Alongside his brother Raynathan, Roemello Skuggs has risen to the top of the drug game and has been there for quite some time. He's tired of the life and is trying to get out, but of course, that's not so easy. This is the more mature, and underappreciated, cousin of New Jack City. Like the other films here, it boasts a talented cast. Michael Wright plays the flashier role as Raynathan. Other parts are handled by the likes of Ernie Hudson, Abe Vigoda, Theresa Randle, Leslie Uggams, and Clarence Williams III. The role of Roemello, our gangsta who wants to get out, is handled wonderfully by Wesley Snipes.Roemello's Most Gangsta Quote: "Look Lolly, I think we need to call a truce. You don't hit my men, I won't hit yours. You don't hurt my brother... and I won't take your whole family. We'll work it out so you can get a piece of the action. Ok, chump? I mean champ. My word is bond."
