Review of Chi-Raq (2015) by Steve F — 20 Feb 2016

The only shining performances in this movie are Angela Bassett and Samuel L Jackson. Each are good in parts that they seem to play often. John Cusack, taking a step out of his comfort zone, seemed unbelievable as a priest.

The message of this movie would have been better presented as a drama, not a collage of scenes better suited for movies of less importance. How can spike lee even speak of an attack on a race and then make a movie showing women in skimpy clothes gyrating to music? I feel like I want to respect him, but he wants to get my attention using the typical parlor tricks of Hollywood.

Comic relief once touted, "When you shine a light on a subject, people see it. When you shine that light to bright, you blind people from seeing it." This is the biggest problem of this movie.

The people who dont care wont watch it. With such a great cast, I was expecting more. Wesley Snipes was so much more convincing as a gang leader in New Jack City. (what happened?). Nick Cannon came out of the gate so believable.

I have to say that I was impressed with his part. The sex scenes notwithstanding, this movie had great potential. It is just too bad that Spike Lee's usual good work didnt come out in this movie. Thought provoking until all the gyrating and and booty shorts turned it into Boondock's version of BET.