Sugar Hill (1994)

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Better Late Then Never

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

One of the best movies I've ever seen. The jazzy soundtrack , great cinematography, and insightful disposition from the protagonist is extremely rare for a movie centered around drugs and violence. To the untrained eye Romello Scruggs appears to be a perplexed drug dealer. However, if the viewer looks a little closer and has any understanding of drugs in the black community, it becomes evident how smart and tough he really is. Two parents strung out on drugs (mother dies of an overdose in front of him as a child), a brother who is very dependent on him (also sabotaging his plans on leaving the drug game), dealing with the politics and strife that comes with being a successful drug dealer, yet he's well read and has an extensive jazz collection. A man with money and power that understands that those things are not the recipe for happiness. A realistic depiction of a thought provoking and tactful drug dealer; Also the harsh reality of the drug game, power, and greed. It definitely possesses a melancholic feel throughout the movie, but not in a depressing way. The gaudy lifestyle is there from beginning to end, but sugar hill focuses more on the thought process and the struggles of maintaining the lifestyle. As a result it lacks the glorification and extravagance of the classic mob flicks. Though a film like this may not be appealing to everyone I feel that it possesses a deep yet simple message. The cons outweigh the pros in the street lifestyle. Rarely does it ever end well and it should not be glorified as much as it is. Especially in the black community. Classic film with a timeless message.

Wesley Snipes gives a heart felt performance in this movie about two brothers who get involved as young children with the White Mafia. Snipes and Wright truly are opposites in this one, which gives the movie a nice blend pace as you await Wright to snap at any moment. Added in the mix is actress Theresa Randle who does a nice job convincing you there is more to Snipes character than just killing for hire. Interaction between Snipes'character and his father are very well done. Adding a feel of compassion and hate. Wright's character gives this film an extra push in the category of character depth. Best scene: Snipes'character (Romello) tries to have a sit down dinner with his father and brother. Some of the best lines in the film are said in this scene.I recommend this movie it has appeal to a wide audience.

Years after they saw their mother OD and their father shot in the legs over drug dealings, brothers Roemello and Raynathan now run the streets of Harlem. However Roemello begins to tire of the trade and looks to leave, a new girlfriend helping to show him what he is missing out on. However getting out is never easy and is made more complicated by Lolly Jonas moving in on their territory with the beginnings of a gang war.The score to this film is a lazy, rambling blues number that plays consistently at times, like wallpaper. It is this score that I think sums up the weakness of this film - it is too slow, too patient and too lacking in style or energy. That's not to say it's a poor film for it is not, but it could have been better. Much has been done to try and make this quite a serious film that avoids the black gangsta clichés but the plot requires too much talking and exposition. This wouldn't have been as much of an issue if the characters and narrative had been more convincing.However, I never fully bought Roemello and Raynathan as adults having just seen flashbacks of their childhood. I could accept that they would end up selling the poison that ruined their lives, but would Roemello been as balanced and as suave as he was? Likewise, in the drug game - to get on top wouldn't he needed to have been ruthless and violent? He just seems too nice. This lack of convincing characters is an issue as they were really needed to make the rather slow and talky script more involving. Despite this weakness the film is still interesting, it doesn't really do anything different from things you will have seen before, and parts of it hark back to better gangster-epic style films. It doesn't distinguish itself but I must give it credit for trying to be a serious black gangster film in a sea of New Jack type clichés in other films.Snipes has become a better leading man with time and he tries to give a serious role here as a younger man but it never convinced me. I never got a sense of any menace or `dark side' to his character - he played him far too upright and moral to be a convincing character - his battle to go straight would have been more interesting if it didn't look like he was already halfway there! Randle is OK but has little to really do, and I never once understand where her character was coming from. Wright is a more erratic performance and more convincing than Snipes. Support is good from a variety of well known faces including Williams, Hill, Hudson and Bottoms.Overall this is a serious gangster film that had potential but whose delivery is just a little too slow and talky. The characters are more than just clichés but the script can't get them where they need to go - it sets up complex characters with childhood background but then fails to bring that out as adults. Worth a watch but it is quite slow, aiming for the grandeur of better films that it can't quite reach.

Maybe this is what Wesly Snipes should go back to doing... and that is fine acting. He is believeable and he is crisp in his delievery of the script. It is overdone at times, as are most African-American 'gangsta' films but all in all as the Summary says.. .Good Movie