Straight Out of Brooklyn (1991)

Director:

Matty Rich

Writer:

Matty Rich (written by)

Release Date:

June 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Drug Dealing | Tragedy | Gas Station Attendant | Domestic Violence | Poverty

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

George T. Odom	...	Ray Brown
Ann D. Sanders	...	Frankie Brown
Larry Gilliard Jr.	...	Dennis Brown
Barbara Sanon	...	Carolyn Brown
Reana E. Drummond	...	Shirley
Matty Rich	...	Larry
Mark Malone	...	Kevin
Ali A. Wahhab	...	Luther (as Ali Shahid Abdul Wahhab)
Joseph A. Thomas	...	Saledene
James McFadden	...	James
Dorise Black	...	Ms. Walker
Robert N. Nash	...	Skeet
Fran Sperling	...	Sarah
Billy R.	...	Gas Station Customer
Joseph Pampillonia	...	Gas Station Manager (as Joseph Pillonia)

Runtime:

Spain:79 min | USA:91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

American Playhouse

Trivia:

To raise financing for his film, Matty Rich went on a local radio station in Brooklyn, asking for pledges. The next day about 50 people showed up and he raised $77,000 in the space of 20 minutes.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Principal character's parents' argument clearly indicates that the film was "flipped" to achieve proper eye-line match. Unfortunately, a large wound on the mother's face (from earlier abuse) changes from one side of her face to the other.

Quotes:

Ray Brown: If I find out you've been doing anything in the street, I am going to kick your ass.

Soundtrack:

In Time of Need

Low Budget Urban Cinema Series.

Straight 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.