Paid in Full (2002)

A young man from Harlem, forced to cope with the 1980s drug scene, builds an illegal empire, only to have a crisis of conscience.

Director:

Charles Stone III

Writers:

Azie Faison Jr. (earlier screenplay), Austin Phillips (earlier screenplay)

Stars:

Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris, Chi McBride

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Wood Harris	...	Ace
Mekhi Phifer	...	Mitch
Kevin Carroll	...	Calvin
Esai Morales	...	Lulu
Chi McBride	...	Pip
Cam'ron	...	Rico
Remo Greene	...	Sonny
Cynthia Martells	...	Dora
Elise Neal	...	Aunt June
Regina Hall	...	Kiesha
Joyce Walker	...	Janet Woods (as Joyce Walker Joseph)
Ron Cephas Jones	...	Ice
Nelson Tynes	...	Wedge
Karen Andrew	...	Cakes
Pedro Salvín	...	Columbian Man #1 (as Pedro Salvin)

Storyline

Ace is an impressionable young man working for a dry cleaning business. His friend, drug dealer Mitch goes to prison. In an unrelated incident, he finds some cocaine in a pants pocket. Soon, Ace finds himself dealing cocaine for Lulu. Via lucky breaks and solid interpersonal skills, Ace moves to the top of the Harlem drug world. Of course, unfaithful employees and/or rivals conspire to bring about Ace's fall.

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Plot Keywords:

hood | ghetto | restaurant | n word | fast food restaurant | 

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Taglines:

The American Dream... Their way.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, pervasive language, some strong sexuality and drug content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Paid in Full

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,328,789, 27 October 2002

Gross USA:

$3,090,862

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,116,526

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, Loud Films, Rat Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real life "Ace Boogie" made $100,000 a week selling cocaine.

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Goofs

When Mitch and Ace are talking in the red BMW if you look at the background as they are driving by you can see what appears to be a 90s model Ford Explorer and also a second generation Nissan Pathfinder in front of it.

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Quotes

Rico: Hey Ace, pull your skirt down B, dudes get shot everyday.

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Connections

References Scarface (1932)

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Soundtracks

Blaze
Written by Melle Mel (as Melvin Glover) & Michael Breunig
(Giant Size Music BMI/Zulu King Ent. BMI/Phoenix Cloak Sounds BMI)
Performed by Melle Mel
Courtesy of ACM Records

User Reviews

I Smell A Rat(ner)

I was looking forward to this film..the debut of one of the 3 geniuses of music video who released films this year...Michel Gondry (Human Nature), Kevin Bray (All About the Benjamins) and Charles Stone (Paid In Full). Stone's videos for Public Enemy (911 Is A Joke), The Roots (The Next Movement, You Got Me) and Living Colour (Elvis Is Dead, Funny Vibe) are some of the most vibrant, clever, adventurous and colorful promos to ever be seen, as well as his commercial work and other videos. The answer to why I was so disappointed in Paid In Full's averageness came when I realized that one of the producers was NYU hack Brett Ratner; famous for his generic hits such as Rush Hour as well as his proclamation that "I know what black people want" (in reference to filmmaking and attracting a black audience). Therefore Ratner probably used his clout to smother Stone's genius. The performances and story are fine but it could have been a TV movie. So I'll look for Stone's true genius when Drumline is released later this year.