Review of Hoodlum (1997) by David A — 21 Apr 2010

(from The Watermark, 08/30/97).

This is one of those films that leaves you wondering: How did so many good actors get caught up in such a bad film? The story is a fictionalized account of the true story of three powerful criminals (Fishburne, Roth, and Garcia) vying for control of Harlem's illegal gambling business in the 1930's. Fishburne's character goes a little crazy and almost loses everything as a result of his excessive ambition. The script allows him no opportunity to externally show his character getting as out of control as he seems to become. Roth overplays his Brooklyn accent, while Garcia underplays and mumbles most of his dialogue. The other actors all do what they can, but the whole thing is undermined by a weak script, poorly drawn characters, an ill sense of pacing in the direction, unflattering lighting, and uneven sound. It should be a crime to make pictures like this! QUEER QUOTIENT: Even Williams, looking her absolute diva best in every scene, cannot breathe life into her one-dimensional character. She kind of sticks out in the picture - partly because she's just too beautiful to be with all of these nasty criminals, and party because of her overdone drag queen makeup.