Hoodlum

Plot

In 1934, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson is release from prison, and heads back to his neighbourhood in Harlem.

He discovers that a mobster named Dutch Schultz is now made himself known to the neighbourhood, and is threatening Bumpy’s former boss Madame Queen’s illegal lotto “numbers game”.

Tensions rise, as does the body count, as Bumpy along with his associates try to get Madame’s game back, as well as the neighbourhood.

Directing

Fairly flawless direction, from Bill Duke (Mac from Predators). It perfectly encapsulates the period of what Harlem in the mid 1930’s would have been.

He also is able to offer the correct ratio of culture and race, as most of the characters are of “African American” or black race. I don’t feel that a white director could have expressed these as succinctly as he does.

Cast/Characters

Laurence Fishburn plays Bumpy Johnson,

Tim Roth plays Dutch Schultz

Andy Garcia plays “Lucky” Luciano.

Cicily Tyson plays Madame Queene.

Other notable cast are Vanessa L Williams as Francine (Bumpy’s on off girlfriend), Chi McBride as Illinois Gordon (Bumpy’s long time friend), Loretta Devine plays a fictional version of “Pigfoot Mary” and Queen Latifa plays Sulie one of Mary’s friends.

Breakdown

I never actually got to see this upon its release way back in 1997, but it was interesting watching this – considering I just watched American Gangster – which was all about the power play after Bumpy Johnson died.

I enjoyed the dynamics behind the power play between all the characters, from Bumpy’s tumultuous relationship with Madame Queen (she would rather do things her way, while Bumpy is a tad more aggressive).

There are also antagonism between Schultz and Luciano at times, which I wasn’t expecting

The narrative is “true enough” with certain aspects “made for Hollywood” such as Pigfoot Mary being involved in the lives of Johnson (the real Lillian Harris Dean died in 1929), and the inclusion of Francine is a fictional character.

There is some great action sequences, such as the attack on Madam Queen, and Schultz is a well written sinister character – with his aggression towards her too. Roth plays these types of roles well, and Tyson is equally as brilliant as the tough as nails Crime Lord.

The setting of 1934 Harlem gets the noir like setting spot on, and I really felt I was watching people within this timeline.

If I could ask for more, I would have liked to see slightly more of Bumpy’s role as “godfather of Harlem” as there are only a few short scenes of this, where he ‘gives back’ to the community (only after stealing from Schultz).

Garcia seemed to be in his element as Luciano, he plays the cool, calm and collected – but also merciless Mafia boss well.

Overall

This was a solid retake on historic events, that hit all the right notes in terms of setting, acting etc. A forgotten 90’s flick that is fairly easy to watch. I’d recommend watching this and American Gangster around the same time, as they deal with similar themes and characters.

3.5/5