Original Gangstas (1996)

Marvin Bookman is a small shop owner in Gary, Indiana, USA. After he sees a drive-by shooting of Laurie Thompson's son by a local gang, he gives up the license number of the car to the ... See full summary »

Director:

Larry Cohen

Writer:

Aubrey K. Rattan

Stars:

Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, Pam Grier

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fred Williamson	...	John Bookman
Jim Brown	...	Jake Trevor
Pam Grier	...	Laurie Thompson
Paul Winfield	...	Reverend Dorsey
Isabel Sanford	...	Gracie Bookman
Oscar Brown Jr.	...	Marvin Bookman
Richard Roundtree	...	Slick
Ron O'Neal	...	Bubba
Christopher B. Duncan	...	Spyro
Eddie Bo Smith Jr.	...	Damien
Dru Down	...	Kayo
Shyheim Franklin	...	Dink
Robert Forster	...	Detective Slatten
Charles Napier	...	Mayor
Wings Hauser	...	Michael Casey

Storyline

Marvin Bookman is a small shop owner in Gary, Indiana, USA. After he sees a drive-by shooting of Laurie Thompson's son by a local gang, he gives up the license number of the car to the police. The gang doesn't like this so they go to the store and rough him up. Soon, John Bookman comes to town to set the wrong things right. With the help of Laurie and his old friend Jake, they attempt to take back the streets and show the new breed of gang members what the true originals can do.

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Plot Keywords:

drive by shooting | profanity | african american | arson | poetic justice | 

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Taglines:

The original bad boys are stepping up in '96!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for non-stop violence and pervasive strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Warzone

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,800,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$3,014,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Po' Boy Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Camera crew shadow visible during the fight at the abandoned steel mill.

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Connections

Featured in Baadasssss Cinema (2002)

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Soundtracks

"X.O."
Performed by Luniz
Produced by N.O. Joe for Gumbo Funk Productions
All instruments by N.O. Joe
Hook performed by Yukmouth (as Yuk), N.O. Joe and Corey Stoot (as Corey 'Funky Fingers' Stoot)
Publishing: Triple Gold, EMI Blackwood Music, Inc., Straight Cash Music, Stackola Publishing
Written by N.O. Joe (as Joe Johnson), Numskull (as Garrick Husbands), Yukmouth (as Jerold Ellis Jr.)
Luniz appear courtesy of C-Note/Noo Trybe Records

User Reviews

Why is this film so disappointing?

This film does not work.

It has great potential and the theme of abandoning your roots frequently pops up -- giving potential for further plot development which most action films do not even approach. However, this all-star cast of blaxploitation veterans making their first film together rarely jells.

For instance, Fred Williamson, who produced, seems to have forgotten that there were other great actors from that era. 90% of the film is him strutting around, pontificating on how bad the neighborhood has become and why don't the cops/neighbors/politicians/whoever do something about it. He saw fit to put Jim Brown in as co-star, but Brown serves as little more than a bodyguard, punching the whey out of a few people and (in his one big solo scene) threatening a young thug. Richard ("Shaft") Roundtree and Mr. "Superfly" himself -- Ron O'Neal -- are given glorified cameos. In fact, the introductory scene with O'Neal is shown completely in long shot. Why didn't the director do a few closeups? You can hardly tell it's O'Neal. That's just sloppy direction (either that or they didn't have permits to shoot on city streets and shot this on the sly).

Other great character actors -- Robert Forster, Charles Napier, Wings Hauser -- are featured but have little to do but act like cartoon characters. Whoever wrote this film should have given thought to the reasons why the best blaxploitation epics worked.

Not a complete failure but overall a major disappointment considering this is the first and only film these stars have been in together (no chance for a reunion with O'Neal's recent passing).

** out of *****