Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
... View MoreThis is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.
... View MoreIt's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.
... View MoreThrough painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
... View MoreStraight Out of Brooklyn is a drama that emphasizes the feelings and emotions of many children, teens, and young adults in this world who go through some the similar situations the main character goes though in having to live in broken homes of constant alcohol abuse & domestic violence witnessed from those responsible of taking care of them. The ending message gives all who watches this film an important lesson that the viewer itself is the most powerful force who can choose make a positive solution to break the tradition (or cycle) of abuse handed down, from generation to another. I definitely recommend this film to anyone who wants to take action by helping those who are victims of abuse & admitted abusers themselves who want to change themselves before it is too late. Therefore, my rating is an absolute 10.
... View MoreThe memorable debut feature by Matty Rich begins by asking the question: what do you know about being black? The answer is a familiar but powerful display of rage and desperation, set in the same, miserable Red Hook housing project where Rich himself grew up. It's a simple, straightforward film, surprisingly polished given the inexperience behind the camera (the entire cast and crew were hired through newspaper want ads), and remarkable because writer/director/producer Rich was only 19 years old when the film was released. His basic plot, about an angry teenager's reckless plan to escape the cycle of poverty by robbing a local drug lord, is direct and unambiguous, and the outline hasn't been embellished by any visual style. But the understated script and a talented cast transform what could have been a hopeless melodrama into a gripping, heartfelt tragedy (but not entirely grim: a measure of humor is provided by some inspired comic banter).Postcript: at the time I thought the film might have trouble surviving the rush of 1991 summer blockbusters, but Matty Rich was a name to remember: he already showed more confidence and depth of feeling than many veteran directors. Sadly, that potential was never fulfilled: Rich would direct only one more feature before disappearing into undeserved obscurity.
... View MoreStraight Out of Brooklyn (1991) was a great debut film for Matty Rich (who also co-stars as well). This low budget movie is about the poverty and desperate situation that people live in around the Redhook housing district. One person is a young man named Dennis, he's tired of seeing the effects of racism, drugs and poverty that plague his family and those around him. He decides to make some money fast so he could improve his family's current condition. His family is sadly affected as well. Pop's is under the strong influence of alcohol and his mother is the victim of his violent out bursts. The mother refuses to seek help or stand up to his physical and verbal abuse. When he's not tying one on, Pop's is a great guy. Can Dennis escape the depressing life of Redhook or will he become just another statistic?Matty Rich made a strong showing with his hard hitting debut but suffered from the dreaded sophomore jinx. His next film The Inkwell wasn't bad but it couldn't stand up to his first. Maybe he'll come back into the mix and make another movie that'll be as great as Straight Out of Brooklyn. Don't give up Mr. Rich.Highly recommended.
... View MoreThis film boasts credible performances by the cast, including some powerful moments. The pacing is uneven at times, almost, but not convincingly, giving it a cinema verite feel. The makeup for the battered wife is obvious to distraction. It is certainly worth viewing, but one has to do so without comparing it to something a large studio would distribute. I would love to see what Matty Rich might produce with a larger budget.
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