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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 18783
Released: February 4, 1998 |
| Our Price: $7.05 |
| Used Price: $1.93 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
OscarÂ(r) nominees* Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth and Andy Garcia set the screen ablaze in this riveting crime thriller exploding with spectacular gun battles and brutal action. In 1930s' New York, Bumpy Johnson (Fishburne) rules the Harlem numbers racket with a rare combination of honor, dignity and strength. But when savage gangster Dutch Schultz (Roth), threatens his reign witha series of bloody attacks, Bumpy knows that the only way to win is to play Dutch's deadly game. Asa vicious war spins madly out of control, so does Bumpy's personal life, and soon the mobster realizes that his only way out is to instigate a dangerous plan involving one of the most feared and powerful gangsters in history...mob chieftan Lucky Luciano (Garcia). Featuring outstanding supporting performances by Vanessa Williams and the legendary Cicely Tyson, Hoodlum is a thrilling, electrifying and suspense-filled adventure! *Fishburne: Actor, What's Love Got to DoWith It (1993); Roth: Supporting Actor, Rob Roy (1995); Garcia: Supporting Actor, TheGodfather III (1990)
Description of Hoodlum:
A flawed but admirably ambitious gangster movie, Hoodlum aspires to be a kind of Harlem-based equivalent to The Godfather, and while it falls short of that lofty goal it's still got plenty of qualities to make it well worth seeing. It's the first film to tell the story of Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (charismatically played by Laurence Fishburne), an ex-convict who dominated the Harlem numbers racket during the 1930s and '40s. As he rises to power he gains equally powerful enemies, including hotheaded Bronx gangster Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth) and the suave mobster Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia). Determined to defend his Harlem turf against these invaders, Bumpy eclipses the "policy queen" Stephanie St. Clair (Cicely Tyson) and becomes a self-styled Robin Hood figure, attracting the attention of a community servant (Vanessa Williams) who must confront the brutality of Bumpy's business. A must-see for anyone who likes gangster movies, Hoodlum is certainly not a masterpiece, but sharp performances and some powerful scenes make it an interesting look at a little-known chapter in criminal history. --Jeff Shannon
Hoodlum Reviews:
Classic gangster movie! 
2009-08-16 - They had so much style! It shows that not only can you be a bad ass but you can do it with style. I liked the fact that the time setting just went with it. I got to admit Dutch was my favorite because he was a fool throughout the entire movie.
"Get ready for your final thrill"
2008-08-04 - This movie might not have won any awards or gotten praise by these high brow snobs but its still an excellent piece of work directed by Bill Duke(who stared in Commando, Predator, Exit Wounds, National Security and Busta Rhymes' Dangerous video) with excellent performances from an all-star cast.
Set in the Depression Era of 1930s Harlem, The only way people could make money was through the "Numbers racket which is ran by Stephanie St. Clair(Cicely Tyson) also known as " The Queen". An arrogant and brash gangster called Dutch Schultz wants to take control of the numbers game and ends up bumping heads with Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson(Laurence Fishburne) who is just released from jail. These two get into a series of wars and everything starts to get out of control. Laurence Fishburne as well as Tim Roth were great in this film. Andy Garcia played it mellow as Lucky Luciano but he was better here than he was in 8 Million Ways To Die. There are also some solid performances here by Cicely Tyson, Chi Mcbride(Illinois) and Vanessa Williams(Bumpy's love interest). As far as complaints I have none. Hoodlum is well written and well acted. It pays homage to gangsters but doesnt glorify them. I tip my hat of to Bill Duke for this one. Two thumbs up as high up as they can go.
Good movie,but...... 
2008-05-17 - Good movie,great acting, but if you want to know the REAL story of Bumpy Johnson,Madame Queen,and the character played by the great Clarence Williams III, Bub Hewlett, and the white gangsters, read an eyewitness account. Read "Harlem Godfather, the rap on my husband Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson. It's hard to put the book down! Also she tells the REAL story of Frank Lucas, who she says was little more than a flunky.
Anybody see the irony?
2007-11-06 - Oscar nominees, Fishbourne, Roth, and Garcia were nominated for an oscar for playing bad guys; Tim Roth for playing a ruthless royal rapist, Lawrence Fishbourne for playing an drug-addicted abusive husband, and Garcia for playing a power hungry gangster. Either way these three guys made this movie great.
Kinda the prelude to American Gangster
2007-11-04 - Excellent movie .. and if you watch this movie then go see American Gangster...it follows a path. In American Gangster Denzel's character is the hier to Bumpy Johnson who passes away early in the film.
