Review of Clockers (1995) by Simon W — 16 Dec 2010

What? What? What?

I feel like I must have missed something fundemental at the core of this movie, because I just don't get it. First off I'm not a fan of its stylings. The artistic flair that Spike Lee uses - the wierd colour timing, the jumping from scene to scene and mood to mood, the scenes being drowned out by songs. All very Spike Lee - Who I think is at his best when he's outside of his comfort zone (Summer of Sam & 25 Hour). But most of that is by the by, because despite it all I was still enjoying the movie well enough - a little too melodramatic for my tastes, especially after the raw knife's edge that is The Wire - but it was still an intriguing enough mystery and I really enjoyed Mekhi Phifer's performance.

Come the ending though things fall right the fuck apart so far as I can tell. First off the drama of it all is told in these broad strokes and suddenly feels like an overblown stage play. Then there's the reveal.

(SPOILERS) Suddenly it turns out that the older brother, who we've been led to believe was covering for his kid brother, did in fact kill the guy. What? Why? Because his brother suggested something off colour about him before? Because he's crazy? Because he's black and they're all just that way inclined anyway? What the fuck is this movie trying to say?

And then, after it's been established that he did in fact kill this guy, the next scene is him leaving the jail house all happy with his family. So, what? Did Harvey Keitel's character just feel sorry for him and decide to believe his bullshit self defence story. He had just let the young boy off for his killing of the crack head hit man because he felt for him. Was that the precedent being set? What about the poor guy who the brother killed? Sure he seemed like a bit of an asshole but it didn't seem like he deserved to get murdered?

Again I say, I feel like I'm missing something - so if somebody wants to set me straight I'd be glad to hear it. Hell, even existential reasonings and explanations would be welcome.

Anyway, whatever the reasonings or explanation, it felt like the movie sacrificed its meaning/message in favour of big twist ending to tie up it's over-blown mystery.