Crooklyn (1994)

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.

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers:

Cinqué Lee, Joie Lee (screenplay),

Stars:

Alfre Woodard, Delroy Lindo, David Patrick Kelly

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

semi autobiographical | dog | domineering mother | poverty | 1970s | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 1994 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$13,640,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Child Hood Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

None of the children on set had any idea how to play any of the street games their characters engage in - Lee had to personally instruct them.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the movie, Troy is playing stick ball wearing moccasin shoes, in the next scene, she is still wearing the moccasin shoes.

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Quotes

Carolyn Carmichael: Damn it, Woody, you bounced another check.
Woody Carmichael: I thought we had it covered. I'll get some money.
Carolyn Carmichael: When?
Woody Carmichael: When? What do you think I'm doing right here? Gem, Let me just finish this music.
Carolyn Carmichael: That's what I've always done. The problem is your music's not bringing anything into the house but music.
Woody Carmichael: Gem, the money will come.
Carolyn Carmichael: I'm waiting. I'm back teaching school again, and I am waiting, Woody.
Woody Carmichael: Just keep doing what you're doing, Gem. Now you know it wasn't always like this. I made money before. I'll make ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits play over old footage of several episodes of "Soul Train".

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Connections

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

User Reviews

Underrated gem from Spike Lee

CROOKLYN isn't Spike Lee's greatest, but it comes very close. Parts of the film hit so close to home with me - the sense of community so vividly depicted, and the 70s soul music (which is nearly ubiquitous through CROOKLYN) makes this film something much like a musical, with the grit and intimacy of Lee's visual realism constantly balanced against the idealism and romanticism of the music. As slice-of-life Americana, this is about as good as it gets. I disliked the scenes with the Aunt & Uncle - I felt that they were being ridiculed mercilessly, for no good reason (they are the living embodiment of the idealism contained in at least some of the music heard at other times in the film, whether they know it or not), and I wished those scenes were handled with more subtlety - Lee, like his NYC bretheren Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen has major issues with suburban types (this hits a peak in Lee's later BAMBOOZLED - an almost brilliant, but also almost cruel expression of rage at the excesses of the entertainment industry that also aimed merciless fury at uncritical audiences - audiences of any and every race and class).

But this scene aside, the remainder of CROOKLYN is so strong, and very well-made - I'd still offer a recommendation.