IMDb > Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009)

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Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009) -- Various stories of how crack cocaine has infiltrated the inner-city streets. Based on Buddy Giovinazzo's novel "Life is Hot in Cracktown".
Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009) -- Trailer for this urban tale of drugs and corruption
Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009) -- Movieplayer.it - Trailer (Flash)
Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009) -- MovieMaze.de - Trailer (Quicktime & Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   430 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 12% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Buddy Giovinazzo
Writer:
Buddy Giovinazzo (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Life Is Hot in Cracktown on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Be cool. You're so cool. Life is cool in Cracktown.
Plot:
Various stories of how crack cocaine has infiltrated the inner-city streets. Based on Buddy Giovinazzo's novel "Life is Hot in Cracktown". | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
(17 articles)
Sound On Sight Radio #152 - Bronson & Life Is Hot In Cracktown
 (From SoundOnSight. 7 September 2009, 10:10 PM, PDT)

Contest: Win Life Is Hot in Cracktown on DVD
 (From MovieWeb. 23 August 2009, 7:40 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Gritty. Real. Personal. Unfortunate About The Title... more (10 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Shannyn Sossamon ... Concetta

Brandon Routh ... Sizemore

Lara Flynn Boyle ... Betty McBain

Desmond Harrington ... Benny

Kerry Washington ... Marybeth

Thomas Ian Nicholas ... Chad Wesley

Carly Pope ... Stacy

Ariel Winter ... Susie

Illeana Douglas ... Mommy
Mark Webber

RZA ... Samy

Hope Olaide Wilson ... Girl in Closet / Bleeding Girl

Evan Ross ... Romeo
Tony Plana

Richard Portnow ... The Guy in Apt 4K
Victor Rasuk ... Manny

Ridge Canipe ... Willy

Katija Pevec ... Becky
Vondie Curtis-Hall

Mayte Garcia ... Murietta

Edoardo Ballerini ... Chas

Elena Franklin ... Melody Amber

Stephanie Lugo ... Debbie Carter

Ten Travis ... Caesar

Omar Regan ... Cremont

Quddus ... Terrance

Jeffrey Lorenzo

Maxie J. Santillan Jr. ... Slimy Drunk

Shawn McGill ... Tiny Pinto
Johann Benét ... Gospel
Joseph Rye ... Dr Bullen

Kevin Dunigan ... Sergeant

Melissa Wilfley ... Fay

Sara Pickett ... Joy
Ilya Jonathan Zaydenberg ... Drugged out Party boy

Astrelle Johnquest ... Party girl

Adriano Aragon ... Officer Lindall

Bryan Becker ... Peperton

Victoria Cruz ... 911 Operator (voice)
James Saxenmeyer ... Guy
Eddie L. Fauria ... Turner Vasquez 2009
Luke LaFontaine ... The beret
Melvin Payne Jr. ... Zuko boy
Jonathan Silva ... Kenny Carter
Marci Canipe ... Melody Ambers Mom
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence, rape, drug content throughout, graphic sexuality, nudity and pervasive language.
Runtime:
USA:99 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Certification:
USA:R
Filming Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USA

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The dude that robs Manny the first time is Carmine Giovinazzo (Detective Danny Messer from "CSI: NY" (2004)), cousin of the director, Buddy Giovinazzo. more
Movie Connections:
References Bubble Bobble (1984) (VG) more

FAQ

What are the differences between the Theatrical version and the Director's Cut?
more
2 out of 4 people found the following comment useful.
Gritty. Real. Personal. Unfortunate About The Title..., 2 September 2009
8/10
Author: fwomp from United States

I'm gonna have to eat some crow here, especially after complaining about the last film I reviewed, SHADOWHEART. Both it and this one – LIFE IS HOT IN CRACKTOWN – came to me via Amazon's Vine Program. And I was becoming rather tired of the careless films that tended to populate The Vine's DVD list. Well, Life Is Hot In Cracktown has reformed me ...somewhat. It isn't great. It isn't stupendous. But it is gritty, real, and put together in a way that made it extremely watchable.

All of these characters are well-rounded and exceptionally well acted. There will be someone that every watcher will be able to connect with. Whether it's the young boy looking after his younger sister as his mother and her boyfriend get high and leave them alone for days, or the pre-op transsexual Marybeth (Kerry Washington, THE LAST KING OF Scotland) and her emotionally labile boyfriend Benny, or Manny, the guy working two jobs trying to support his wife Concetta (Shannyn Sossaman, WRISTCUTTERS) and their colicky baby, or the gang-banger Romeo who's life on the street is turning him into a dangerous individual, there's someone here for everyone.

The interest comes in the fact that you watch most of these people make horrible decisions or do terrible things, yet you cannot look away or even condemn them. They are the best and worst of us all, and it shows a rugged side of humanity that most of us would rather not see ...except to realize that one of these people might have been you had you not had a few breaks. It's frightening and enlightening.

The best part of the film is toward the end as we watch each person forced to make a decision and wonder at what the outcome will be. It is a turning point in their lives and we are given front row seats to it. Amazing how it all came together.

Watching the special features, I have to disagree with Kerry Washington's comment about transsexuals never being shown on film in any meaningful way. The film TRANSAMERICA focused specifically on this subject and was a fantastic film. Just FYI, Kerry.

Anyway, this film is actually quite good, even though I found the title a bit unfortunate.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (10 total)

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