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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Lions Gate
Salesrank: 150744
Released: May 20, 2003 |
| Our Price: $2.97 |
| Used Price: $0.01 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A young man must choose between what he wants and what he knows is right in this story of love, honor and revenge. Brian Lovaro (Johnny Green), equal parts hustler and idealist, gets by as best he can. When he meets and falls for Amy (Alison Lohman), a beautiful young girl pregnant by her ex-boyfriend, a white supremacist, his world is turned inside out. Their relationship puts them at serious risk when her ex-boyfriend finds out about the romance and swears to kill them both. Desperate, Brian turns to his "brothers" from the streets for help, and they make him a deal that will save their lives, but also change them forever…
Menace Reviews:
Of Interest To Abel Ferrara Or Alison Lohman Fans 
2009-08-29 - This film was presented by Abel Ferrara and the filmmakers borrow as many plot points from his films as possible. There is a racist cop who's a drunk and a killer ('Bad Lieutenant'), a white guy trying to rally a group of black gangstas to his cause ('King Of New York'), young lovers caught on opposite sides of a bloody turf war ('China Girl'), and enough drugs, violence, and religious imagery to make up the rest of the film. (In the commentary track Abel admits that parts of it remind him of 'China Girl' and his own 'Fear City'). As the film opens we witness Det. Ron Masters (Jan-Michael Vincent) pull over a black driver (Romany Malcano) and murder him. This is quickly followed by a trial which finds Masters getting off on all charges. This sends the black community into a frenzy and sets the stage for a bloody race war. Enter Brian Lovero (co-writer and star Johnny Green) a small time hustler who sells weed and stolen goods. His dad (the excellent David Proval) is an ex cop who has turned into a drunk after his wife died. It is Brian's scams that keep the money coming in. Brian meets a cute, young blond named Amy (Alison Lohman in one of her first major roles). The two start seeing each other and before long Brian learns that Amy's ex boyfriend Cole (Jonathan Avildsen), a white supremacist, beat and raped her. For his part, Cole isn't about to let some Italian steal his woman so he gets a couple of his skinhead buddies together and they beat the hell out of Brian. A plan gets set into motion that has black gangstas protecting Brian from Cole and his crew in exchange for Brian helping them get Masters. The film has NONE of Abel's style or substance. It's often embarrassing and amateurish. However, it is watchable and there is some strong acting here. Lohman is amazing in one of her earliest roles. She proves here that she is more than a gorgeous face and rather has the emotional skill to be a great actress. Though I would never say it's a well made film, it shows promise. Things start off strong before collapsing towards the end with too much violence, overacting, and major plot holes that seem too convenient. The draw here for Abel fans is that he joins the director and producer on the commentary track. It's an obvious case of hero worship as the two spend the entire track trying to cajole him for a comment and ask him how he would have done things differently. To Abel's credit he doesn't humor the guys. The director compares himself to Abel so many times that you wish someone as fiery as Ferrara would tell him to shut up but it never happens. You actually respect Abel a lot for his restrained comments and he easily comes out looking the best compared to these other two jokers. With that being said, Abel admits that he likes the movie a lot and that he loves the actors. It makes you wonder what he responds to so about this movie that he agreed to put his name front and center so that it would get some publicity. I'd recommend it only to fans of Abel or Alison Lohman.
Good flick -- better than your avg crap @ theaters today.. 
2005-04-14 - With that, I say rent/buy Whiteboy if your are into alot of varied subject matter of today, portrayed by well trained up-and-coming actors. Sure, it's low-budget (hell Jan-Michael Vincent is in it!) so it's not Lord of the Rings or anything but it does portray gritty street and home life in LA and generally, modern sububia. There is a latino edge and race cards are played all over the film but it blows something like the commercially lauded "American beauty" away. Okay so this won't win an Oscar, but that's exactly why I rent or buy a film -- because some academy says it's outstanding. I like realistic movies and this is one. Kinda in the vein of another Ferrar flick, Bad Lieutenant. Gritty. Realistic. Multiple plotlines intertwined. This is what I like in a film so I do recommend it.
ALISON LOHMAN ROCKS
2004-08-28 - Alison Lohman rocks in this movie. She is a great actress , and really makes you feel scared for her. I saw her first in White Oleander , and watch everything she is in. If you love Alison Lohman like I do , watch this movie.
an abel ferrara fan 
2004-06-16 - When I saw Abel Ferrara was presenting this film, and being a major Ferrara Fan , I had to see it. I was not dissapointed. I can see why Abel Ferrara liked it, and thought this is a film he might have made early in his career.I don't want to spoil the plot by saying what happens , watch it if you want. It is low budget but the story and acting is killer.
Powerful , gritty, an L.A. MEAN STREETS
2004-01-21 - This film reminded me of Mean Streets , the way it was shot , and acted , except in Los Angeles. The acting was real also. Cool film.
