Crooklyn (1994)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers:

Cinqué Lee (writer)
Joie Lee (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 May 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

From Spike Lee comes this vibrant semi-autobiographical portrait of a school-teacher, her stubborn jazz-musician husband and their five kids living in '70s Brooklyn. |

Plot Keywords:

Semi Autobiographical | Schoolteacher | Child's Point Of View | Family Relationships | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Alfre Woodard	...	Carolyn Carmichael
Delroy Lindo	...	Woody Carmichael
David Patrick Kelly	...	Tony Eyes / Jim
Zelda Harris	...	Troy
Carlton Williams	...	Clinton
Sharif Rashed	...	Wendell
Tse-Mach Washington	...	Joseph
Christopher Knowings	...	Nate
José Zúñiga	...	Tommy La La
Isaiah Washington	...	Vic
Ivelka Reyes	...	Jessica
Spike Lee	...	Snuffy
N. Jeremi Duru	...	Right Hand Man
Frances Foster	...	Aunt Song
Norman Matlock	...	Clem

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug content.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-3 | Australia:M | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Trivia:

Bokeem Woodbine's film debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the store, Troy buys a bag of chips, lemon heads, bazooka gum, licorice, fireballs and Boston baked beans. When she gets home all of the boys pull out all of the candy from the bag and Troy is seen eating a candy necklace, obviously something she did not buy.

Quotes:

Nate: May I PLEASE be excused?
Carolyn Carmichael: No you will not. You're gonna sit there until you eat every black eyed pea on that plate!
[to the kids]
Carolyn Carmichael: And when I come home tonight, I want this kitchen clean.
Clinton: [the kids groan] See what you started, Nate? Shoot!
Nate: I HATE Black-eyed peas!
Carolyn Carmichael: Yeah, that's right! There's no reason why your father and I should have to run around here cleaning up after you shifty Negroes!
Clinton: Daddy don't make us clean up, don't you, Daddy?
Woody Carmichael: [Pouring lemonade in glass] I ain't in this. Leave me out of this.
Carolyn Carmichael: Your daddy may not mind but your momma do. I'm going with your father to a gig tonight and when I come home, this house BET-TER be clean. I'll be goddamed if I should have to do anything when I come home from work but sleep and relax!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: Don't Make Me Over (#4.4)" (2005)

Uneven Joint

Although I wouldn't say this is a great Lee film, it is still very solid. There isn't a story as such, instead it is a love letter to childhood and family life in Brooklyn. Imagine Radio Days, including the sentimental streak.

The actors are great and this movie only goes to prove that Delroy Lindo is one of the best actors around. Zelda Harris as the young girl, Troy, is also brilliant. Alfre Woodard is the pivot of the film, around which most of the film revolves around - even if she has less than Troy.

Tonally the film doesn't quite click. Sometimes the original music is quite sour and does not fit with the images. Some scenes seem forced.

But the amazing soundtrack helps put things right.

Even though the film isn't perfect, it has a great soundtrack and a very unique take on things.