Dead Presidents (1995)

A Vietnam vet adjusts to life after the war while trying to support his family, but the chance of a better life may involve crime and bloodshed.

Directors:

Albert Hughes (as The Hughes Brothers), Allen Hughes (as The Hughes Brothers)

Writers:

Allen Hughes (story), Albert Hughes (story)

Stars:

Larenz Tate, Keith David, Chris Tucker

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Larenz Tate	...	Anthony Curtis
Keith David	...	Kirby
Chris Tucker	...	Skip
Freddy Rodríguez	...	Jose
Rose Jackson	...	Juanita Benson
N'Bushe Wright	...	Delilah Benson
Alvaleta Guess	...	Mrs. Benson
James Pickens Jr.	...	Mr. Curtis
Jenifer Lewis	...	Mrs. Curtis
Clifton Powell	...	Cutty
Elizabeth Rodriguez	...	Marisol
Terrence Howard	...	Cowboy (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
Ryan Williams	...	Young Revolutionary
Larry McCoy	...	Nicky
Rodney Winfield	...	Mr. Warren

Storyline

This action film, directed by the Hughes brothers, depicts a heist of old bills, retired from circulation and destined by the government to be "money to burn." However, more broadly, it addresses the issues of Black Americans' involvement in the Vietnam War and their subsequent disillusionment with progress in social issues and civil rights back home in the United States, during the 1960's.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam war | 1960s | black panthers | new york city | black militant | 

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Taglines:

They'll risk everything for the ultimate score.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic violence, language, a sex scene and some drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alta Jogada

Filming Locations:

Mount Vernon, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$24,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Caravan Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Underworld Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ironically Martin Sheen character the Judge (who says he was a WWII Vet) was in the Vietnam war movie Apocalypse Now (1979) 16 years earlier.

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Goofs

When Cutty punches Anthony there is no way that Anthony could've rolled down the staircase since the punch was opposite the direction of Anthony's fall.

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Quotes

Skip: I'd rather be home with a fucked-up hand up in some pussy than to be out here healthier than a motherfucker without it... Shit

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Alternate Versions

Criterion laserdisc version includes additional scenes originally deleted before the theatrical release.

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Connections

References Apocalypse Now (1979)

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Soundtracks

Jingle Bells
Written by James Pierpont
Arranged and Performed by Michael Tavera (as Mike Tavera)

User Reviews

Great movie

I really enjoyed this movie. Everyone in it did an excellent job and it was very gripping. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Larenz Tate, in his best role ever, plays Anthony Curtis, a young black man from late 1960's The Bronx, who is just a regular guy who hangs out with his friends played by Chris Tucker also in his best role ever as Skip, and Freddy Rodriguez as Jose. Shortly after graduation from high school, Anthony decides he doesn't want to follow his big brother's path of going to college but instead, joining the Marine Corps and fight for his country. Shortly thereafter, we are taken to Vietnam with the boys and we meet some other interesting characters, one of them a psychotic preacher, Cleon, played by Bokeem Woodbine,and the Vietnam sequences are executed very realistically and are very bloody. After a while, we are taken back to the boogie down Bronx, where Anthony upon returning to the old neighborhood after four years,realizes that things are even worse than before, and everyone, including his pre-Vietnam girlfriend, Juanita, all have taken their lives in a different direction. Anthony is now a father, and cannot find a job anywhere and realizes that his own country has turned his back on him and many young black veterans from 'Nam, including his old boys Skip and Jose. We also meet Kirby, played by Keith David, a once cold and ruthless hustler, who has now left the life because the corruption of the city has forced him to quit his old habits, and Juanita's sister Delilah, played by N'Bushe Wright, who is an activist with the Black Panthers. Pretty soon all of these characters, save Juanita, fed up with their lives and their situation, get together to plan a stickup on an armored truck that is making a pickup of old dollar bills and is taking them to a location in Washington to burn them. The stickup sequence is very well made, but of course, bloody. This movie is filled with great performances, the best coming from Larenz Tate, Bokeem Woodbine and Keith David, heart-pounding action and good dialogue. A Hughes Brothers' classic. 9.5 out of 10.