New Jack City Is A Crime Classic That Deserves More Respect

 

Hard to believe today is the 35th Anniversary of New Jack City. The early 90's crime drama starred Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Chris Rock, Allen Payne, Judd Nelson, Michael Michele, Christopher Williams, and Mario Van Pebbles who also directed. Along with a soundtrack that matched the vibe of the era making it a "fresh" crime film. It was the perfect blend of film, music, and the culture.

Within the Black community it is a well revered film, reaching legendary status. However its not often included in the conversation with other classic crime dramas, which in itself is a crime.

When the top crime dramas of all time are bought up, of course you'll get The Godfather films minus the third one, Scarface, Heat, Usual Suspects, Pulp Fiction, Goodfellas, and Chinatown to name a few. All damn good iconic crime films. New Jack City absolutely deserves to be in the conversation on a CONSISTENT basis. Here are some reasons why.

First alot of people don't realize since it was distributed by Warner Bros, but it actually was an independent film. Mario Van Peebles directoral debut, was self financed before someone had a finished product and convinced Warner to pick up the tab. A true behind the scenes story of the American Dream.

Speaking of the American dream, it has the classic tale of people achieving their version of the dream. Albeit in a very unlawful and cruel way but they achieved it. The rise of the Cash Money Bros and then their downfall precipitated by ego and betrayal is displayed in the film.

Nino Brown as far as drug kingpin characters is right up there with Tony Montana. Street smart with some business acumen, egotistical, selfish, and ruthless. Wesley Snipes portrayal of Nino sparked several copycat characters throughout film and TV since 1991.

There's the corresponding storyline of a cop played by Ice-T tired of the politics, budget and red tape, bending the rules to get after Nino. While also trying to help a former addict played by Chris Rock turn his life around. All major components of life during that time and crime in general.

The film touched on all the ways the drug epidemic destroys lives and even had a message at the end. You don't see that in movies anymore. It had for sure two well shot action scenes, the famous wedding shootout and the warehouse shootout between the cops and CMB.

Throw in some all time classic lines, I mean everyone knows "Sit Yo Five Dollar ass down!" and where it came from. There are other dialogue gems in the film, but that one takes the cake. 

35 Years later its time the film is truly recognized across the board, for the crime masterpiece it is and its legacy be shown the proper respect it deserves.

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The Wire's 2nd Season Is Criminally Underrated

 

The HBO classic series The Wire recently turned 22 earlier this month. I rewatched the series a few months ago with my wife who had never watched the show. For five seasons The Wire introduced institutions in Baltimore which truthfully represented all American cities, and how these institutions were letting common folks down. Without a doubt season 4 is the best overall season, season 5 while still a good season, did not meet the standards fans had come to expect from the series, Season 1 and 3 are honestly neck and neck, it's really a matter of personal preference on which one is the "better" season.

Then there is season 2, which upon it's debut caught a lot of flack for kind of straying from the story that season 1 laid down. The Wire is revered for its realism, and season 2 was very real. Looking back that season is a very underrated season, because it included a component of crime and the war on drugs that weren't exactly covered at that time. The organizations at times very sophisticated and connected criminal organizations that arrange for drugs and other contraband to come into the country. As well as it showed the struggles the every man goes through just to make ends meets with the port of Baltimore dock workers representing the everyman.

Just like Walter White in Breaking Bad, dock workers like Frank Sabotka and his crew made some tough, morally wrong decisions to simply make it in this rough ass world. As a teenager when I first watched the show I didn't get it. Now as an adult, in this rough economy where everything is sky high but compensation, and the increasing divide between the haves and the haves not. And the shrinking middle class, which really propels this country you understand they dilemma they had. 20 plus years later, the unfortunate collapse of the Key bridge in Baltimore earlier this year, which severely affected work at the ports for many working families. Highlighted just how important the port is to the city of Baltimore, and the dock workers. Which the series creators of course had no idea would happen, but makes the season and the story of these men told even more relevant.

Along with the dock workers, the story used the criminal organization led by the mysterious Greek to connect the dots on the partnership between these big players bringing the drugs in, and the players on the street level selling them. While alluding to on a global scale how small the drug organizations are in the big picture. The Greek's would also come into play in later seasons which made that whole idea of all the pieces fitting the puzzle matter even more.

I will admit when season 2 debuted in 2003, I was very on the fence about it downright debating about not watching the season. As it progressed and everything came together I understood the purpose of the season, especially as later seasons followed it. Now, I downright appreciate it and the story it was telling in the grand scheme of things. Still to this day it is the most underrated season of The Wire and deserves more credit. 

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