Always Outnumbered (1998)

A former prisoner tries to save a neighbor child from repeating of his way.

Director:

Michael Apted

Writers:

Walter Mosley (book), Walter Mosley (teleplay)

Stars:

Laurence Fishburne, Daniel Williams, Bill Cobbs

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laurence Fishburne	...	Socrates Fortlow
Daniel Williams	...	Darryl
Bill Cobbs	...	Right Burke
Natalie Cole	...	Iula Brown
Laurie Metcalf	...	Halley Grimes
Alan Wilder	...	Anton Crier
Cicely Tyson	...	Luvia
Bridgid Coulter	...	Corina M'Shalla
Bill Nunn	...	Howard M'Shalla
Isaiah Washington	...	Wilfred
Bill Duke	...	Blackbird Wills
Kevin Carroll	...	Pegus
Jamaal Carter	...	Phillip
John Toles-Bey	...	Stoney Wiley
Brooke Marie Bridges	...	Winnie M'Shalla

Storyline

In Los Angeles, the hot-tempered collector of cans Socrates "Socco" Fortlow is an ex-con that has served a long sentence for killing a man and a woman. Now he is trying to build a new life and find a job. However he is discriminated against his age, color and background. His only friend is Right Burke, who is dying of cancer. He also helps a young woman that is having problems with her husband. When Socco meets the boy Darryl, he finds that Darryl lives with a foster family that does not take care of him. Further, he has just witnessed the murder of another boy by a small-time criminal. Socco helps the boy to grow-up while helps Burke and tries to find work at a supermarket.

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Plot Keywords:

gang | cancer | los angeles california | employment discrimination | racism | 

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Taglines:

In every man's soul hides a hero.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, and some sexuality and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cap that Socrates wears throughout the movie reads "90291", the zip code corresponding to the Los Angeles suburb of Venice (roughly 15 miles west of where this movie takes place). The M'Shalla family moves to Venice at the end of the movie after Howard gets a job offer there.

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Quotes

Socrates Fortlow: A boy should be hungry
Darryl: Fuck that supposed to mean?
Socrates Fortlow: It means somethings missing and hungry tells you what it is.

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Connections

Spin-off The Right Mistake

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Soundtracks

Joy To The World
Written by Hoyt Axton (as Hoyt Anton)
Published by Irving Mucsic, Inc.
Performed by Dan Stein
Courtesy of Rondor Music International

User Reviews

Black on the outside...

But human on the inside. A warm, thoughtful, touching examination of both men and women. The little indignities we visit on each other everyday whether we are aware of them or not. The strength to do the right thing. This film is possibly Larry Fishburne's finest performance, subtle, nuanced, deeply felt. He seems so natural that this could be a documentary. Black on the surface because Walter Mosley can only write what he knows,as I can only write about what I have experienced, but human inside because here is a thoughtful man reflecting on a world that is not black and white but multicultural and multi-ethnic with the focus on what he knows.

This film should be shown in every school. It may not cure the troubles we see there but those it does reach will be changed.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Palomar Pictures (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1