The gangster movie has been a staple in film since, well, the time of gangsters. Thugs and mob bosses, godfathers and goombahs, the stereotypes are always brought together mixing fact and fiction to tell a compelling story. For the most part these films have chosen to surround themselves with Italian based gangsters with the mafia being an easy target. But on occasion other stories are told and are quite satisfying such as HOODLUM.The true story of Bumpy Johnson (Laurence Fishburne), a young black numbers runner in Harlem who did his time and returns in the employ of Stephanie "The Queen" St. Clair (Cicely Tyson). When she is sentenced to jail for racketeering she leaves Bumpy in charge with the promise of no bloodshed.Bumpy continues to build the empire of St. Clair with himself at the top of the heap. Along the way he establishes a deal with the then de facto mob boss Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia). In return for a small tribute Bumpy is allowed to run the numbers and other criminal enterprises in Harlem. This sets him up as a hero of the neighborhood, someone who can work with the mob and retain his own heritage.But things don't go as planned and Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth) makes the decision to move into Bumpy's territory in spite of the truce. Going against Luciano doesn't help his cause though. Eventually Bumpy and Dutch will but heads and blood will flow in spite of past promises made. At stake will be the control of crime in Harlem.While it claims to be a complete fictional account of events the film is based in some historical reality. There really was a Bumpy Johnson and he was the crime lord of Harlem. The same holds true for both Luciano and Schultz. What has been slightly altered is the storytelling that takes place around these names and the actual events that involved them.Well made, well shot, well acted and well directed. The film did well enough at the box office but wasn't a mega-hit which it should have been. Fishburne was in the midst of his most popular status, 4 years out from WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT and 2 years ahead of THE MATRIX. He turns in a great performance here with a seething anger that builds rather than an off the handle scream fest. Actor turned director Bill Duke does a fantastic job and why he wasn't presented with higher priced and more supported projects is anyone's guess.In the end the question is does the movie entertain and the answer is yes. The story is interesting and all things combined to tell it make it one worth taking a look at. It's even more interesting when you realize that the character of Bumpy Johnson has been in more movies than this one. Fishburne himself played a character based on him in THE COTTON CLUB and Denzel Washington's film American GANGSTER had a character based on Bumpy that advises him. Knowing that makes this movie one to go back and check out again from a new perspective.

Gangster movies tend to be judged on three factors: how good is the acting, how intelligent is the script and how believable is the action. This particular film has all three. Taking place in a suburb of New York City, in the time of the Great Depression, this picture stars Laurence Fishburne as "Bumpy" Johnson, an African-American gangster and the war he wages against "Dutch" Schultz, played by Tim Roth. And in the background, waiting to do business, is Lucky Luciano portrayed by Andy Garcia. Probably one of the reasons I give this film the rating one sees is because I feel it tells a fascinating piece of history from a different perspective than with conventional Hollywood techniques. I like the story, the action's well thought out and it has a surprisingly heartfelt and touching ending. For anyone who likes gangster movies, highly recommend you check this flick out.

Here we have a film that feels like a lot of the "black" films, like the oust anding "soldier's story", trying to work in a little 'inside' humor. The story itself is a great one, it was the downfall of the reviled Schultz when he muscled in on the numbers racket.Tim Roth almost gets to Oscar territory in this movie. Absolutely spectacular. Andy Garcia, ditto BIG time. Fishburnes part is very stolid and one dimensional as maybe the real Bumpy was but nevertheless he delivers.A so so supporting cast, a weak script - except for Roth's lines - and Scorcese-oid attempts at certain setups and shots hose it down quite a bit for me. Funny story, I originally rented "Mobsters" by mistake and found that film pretty awful, this one was much better.Bad direction at times, but mostly watchable with good continuity. Queen Latifa, Vanessa Williams and - CICELY TYSON!!! - all are absolutely superb. Latifa is actually one of my favorite actresses, she really shines with what they give her.I would recommend it, historical inaccuracies aside (and there are MANY) because its an interesting story set at a time when the mob was finding new ways to make money after prohibition.Interesting tidbit for real history buffs: Ed O'Casey plays Bo Weinberg, shown here as a fat pickle munching sideman who gets shot. In real life, 'twas the Dutchman himself, legend has it, who beat Bo unconscious, stuck his feet in cement and, still living, tossed him in the Hudson river. Dutch Schultz was psychopath enough to do it, that's for sure.

Colorful, violent, a good cast, and excellent period recreation highlight this depression era Gangster Movie. Directed by Actor Bill Duke, it is at times talky and languishes a bit, but the action pieces are stylish and visceral.Guilty of repetitive speech making and some over acting, the Movie waivers between High Camp and a serious Character Study. Tim Roth almost steals the Show with a sleazy, disgusting, foul-mouthed portrayal of Dutch Schultz, but Laurence Fishburne as Bumpy Johnson, and Vanessa Williams in a supporting Role make their mark.The Film is never boring even though it tends to drag in spots and is over-long to a fault. Overall it is a mostly fictitious account that is worth a watch for its style, pizazz, great period detail, and brutal Gangster violence that the Genre demands.