Gripping story with well-crafted characters

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

I was a rap fan back from the beginnings with kurtis blow, this was all part of the phenomenom that russell simmons, and rick rubin started with their def jam recordings studio...i remember being like 14 yrs old going to see this movie with my dad, and even at that easily entertained age, i was let down...but...looking back now..they did the best with what they had, the budget had to be a spaghetti string..im sure...so with what they were given....it was the first RAP movie...and ushered us in to the age of tupacs,biggie smalls,redmans,wutangs...opened doors for the movies like friday,house party...they were the FRONT RUNNERS!!! and deserve better ratings then the people rating the show here.... AMEN thank god for run dmcmackdaddyspliffs AKA a white boy who fell in love with those FUNKY BEATZ

This movie is a gulity pleasure. It takes us to a world where if you punch a guy he files in the air, girls ask you out and murder is cool. Run-DMC basically plays themselves on steriods in this hip hop semi classic. If you haven't seen it, see if you can find it.

I bought this film based entirely on the fact that I'm a RUN DMC fan, and I wasn't disappointed. It's surprisingly well directed, considering Rick Rubin is a record producer and as far as I know had no experience, and the acting is much better than you might expect. Jam Master Jay is especially good in a Tarantino-esqe storytelling scene in the beginning when DMC is released from prison and Jay and RUN go to pick him up. Run is also very good. DMC was great in his action scenes, and even though his lines weren't done wonderfully, he's not at all bad either. In fact, everyone does surprisingly well, for being mostly Musicians and their producers and managers. Jenny Lumet is really sexy as well as being a pretty good actress, I'm surprised that I haven't seen her more. Great action sequences, excellent introduction, and totally cool party scenes with Slick Rick and the Beastie Boys rapping, and DMC drinking from a 40 of OE. A very underrated movie!

What can I say about this breakthrough movie? It's got all the making of a classic...intense special effects, great acting, Run DMC, nail-biting suspense, and the Beastie Boys. You can't help being drawn into the fast-paced story of revenge and greed. But I think its those tender, heart-warming moments that really make "Tougher than Leather" one of Run DMC's best films to date. Take for example the touching scene were Russell Simmons attempts to pick up 2 fly honeys....RS - "Hey Baby you wanna do the wild thing?" FH1 - "No" RS - "Hey Baby you wanna do the wild thing?" FH2 - "Sure"I tell you there was not a dry eye in the house. And that clever scene where Jam Master Jay attempts to get some information out of a bartender with the aid of his "rich friends" Benjamin Franklin and his twin brother. Simply brilliant.But seriously folks: This movie was definitely worth the $2 Australian dollars (1.60 US) that we paid to rent it, but just barely.