The Popcorn Critic-Hoodlum

Large Popcorn

This movie is a perfect reincarnation of an old gangster movie which does justice to some gangsters who never got the recognition that the others got. Laurence Fishburne plays Bumpy Johnson, a man trying to keep his head above water the only way he knows how, by helping run the numbers racket in Harlem in the 1930's. His adversary is the ruthless gangster Dutch Shultz, played by Tim Roth, who is running the larger numbers all over Manhattan and is trying to take over the racket in Harlem. Their fighting attracts the attention of mobster Lucky Luciano, played by Andy Garcia. Luciano decides to play arbitrator to the two in order to settle the fude, but only makes things worse. Despite some historical inaccuracies, I think this is one of the best movies of the year. One big reason for that is the acting of Chi McBride who puts forth an Oscar caliber performance as Illinois Gordon, partner and best friend of Bumpy Johnson. This virtually unknown actor stood out in the movie like a...well, you figure it out. I will be very disapointed if the Academy passes on this performance when nominations are announced.

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