Name: Retro Film Review: Original Gangstas (1996)
Item: Original Gangstas
Rating: 40
Author: @drax

(source: tmdb.org)

Few years ago the nostalgia for everything connected with 1970s briefly resurrected interest for "blaxploitation", subgenre that thrived in the first half of that particular decade. This renewed interest reflected itself mostly in the form of pop culture references within contemporary films or use of "blaxploitation" stars. Few film makers actually took the task of paying proper homage to "blaxploitation" in the form of standalone feature film. One of those was Larry Cohen, American screenwriter and director who had success with "blaxploitation" in early 1970s. In 1996 he made Original Gangstas, some kind of "blaxploitation" film updated for 1990s.

Plot takes place in Gary, Indiana, once thriving city within industrial heartland of America, now reduced to ruins and population struck with poverty, violence and drugs. The streets are ruled by Rebels, gang powerful enough to turn even the mayor (played by Charles Napier) into one of its collaborators. Rebels' methods of governing include random killings and one of the latest victims is Kenny Thompson (played by Timothy Lewis), promising basketball star. This killing is too much for Marvin Bookman (played by Oscar Brown Jr.), old store owner who decides to break the city's code of silence and give testimony about murder to the police. As a result, he is visited by Rebels, beaten up and left for dead. Because of this, John Bookman (played by Fred Williamson), old man's son and former pro football star, returns to town. He had originally founded Rebels back in 1970s and nowadays he is appalled to see his former gang turning into such evil force. Bookman joins forces with other old Rebels and they form small vigilante army that would start cleaning the streets of Gary.

All fans of "blaxpoitation" films would probably be delighted to see so many of that sub genre's stars in one film - Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, Ron O'Neal, Richard Roundtree, Pam Grier. Spirit of "blaxploitation" is also present through Larry Cohen's screenplay that uses the medium of an action film to talk about some social issues, in this case the industrial decay of USA and increasing poverty and hopelessness of once thriving cities. Yet, this film, although it pays homage to 1970s, actually belongs more to 1980s (and Wings Hauser, one of 1980s top action stars, also gets a brief cameo) - the vigilantes who declare war on all-powerful drug dealers are easier to connect with the film made during Reagan years. Such strange combination of idealistic vigilantism and harsh social commentary seems somewhat out of place in cynical 1990s. But the movie's greatest problem is Larry Cohen's inability to properly direct action scenes, and since those scenes represent the major attraction of the film, this homage to 1970s is visibly worse than it should be. Because of this, Original Gangstas should be recommended only to the biggest fans of "blaxpoitation", while the rest of the audience would probably enjoy 1970s originals much better.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on November 25th 2002)