Strapped (1993)

Ex-con attempting to go straight runs accross serious problems. His girlfriend gets arrested for dealing crack to an undercover police officer. In a desperate attempt to get the charges ... See full summary »

Director:

Forest Whitaker

Writer:

Dena Kleiman

Stars:

William James Stiggers Jr., Chi Ali, Bokeem Woodbine

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William James Stiggers Jr.	...	Chucky (as Willie James Stiggers Jr.)
Chi Ali	...	Pharoah
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Diquan Mitchell
Starletta DuPois	...	Diquan's Mother
Mike Farley	...	Cop
Hugh Hurd	...	Man in Hallway (as Hugh L. Hurd)
Anthony Lozama	...	Young Boy in Hallway
David Robinson	...	Boy at Mortuary Truck
Mary Hedahl	...	Secretary
Kia Goodwin	...	Latisha Jordan (as Kia Joy Goodwin)
Marcella Lowery	...	Fast Food Customer
Joseph Gimpel	...	Fast Food Manager
Jermaine Hopkins	...	Lay Lay (as Jermaine Hopkins bka 'Huggy')
Nzingha	...	Aunt Viola
Fredro Starr	...	Bamboo (as Fredro)

Storyline

Ex-con attempting to go straight runs accross serious problems. His girlfriend gets arrested for dealing crack to an undercover police officer. In a desperate attempt to get the charges dropped against his woman, he strikes deal with weapons cop(Michael Biehn) to turn in local gun dealers. How ever, the D.A. is not satisfied with the results, resulting in some serious game playing and double crossing.

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Plot Keywords:

gun | teenager | blood | violence | one word title | 

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Taglines:

On These Streets You Take Life One Bullet At A Time.

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even before this movie was completed, word began to spread that Forest Whitaker was highly talented as a director; he received more than a dozen directing offers, both from big studios and independent companies. Whitaker finally set on "The Number Four," which was going to be produced by Tri-Star. The project, about the hijacking of a Los Angeles bus filled with a cross-section of residents, began casting around the same time this movie was released, but it remained unproduced.

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Goofs

When Daquan & Yvonne are at the dinner table, in close shots they are sitting next to each other. In wide shots they are sitting across from one another.

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Quotes

Matthew McRea: Diquan, you don't have to do this.
Diquan Mitchell: Man, what do you know about it? You don't live in my world. My grandma cleans your apartment.

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Connections

Referenced in Cult Legends and Rising Stars: Cult Legends: Bokeem Woodbine (2016)

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Soundtracks

I Ain't Goin' Nowhere
Written and Performed by Kenn Whitaker

User Reviews

A great urban movie

This is an absolutley great film. Forest Whiteka has excelled himself with a great detailed account of the lives of young black youths struggling through poverty to survive. The director of photography has chosen some brilliant urban backdrops to set the picture alive, almost as if you're a third person view within the film. The story is compelling and well structured, sure it's been done before, but it's the way it has been done that makes this movie so interesting to watch. Has some classic elements of other films such as The Warriors in places, but this only adds to the surreal effect being created here by Forest!

It also has some of the most shocking scenes from the 1993 era. A definite must see for urban-gangsta fans everywhere. Bokeem displays an amazing performance.

Why it wasn't a video release seems beyond me.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Strapped

Filming Locations:

88th Precinct - 298 Classon Avenue, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Osiris Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1