Surprisingly Refreshing
This film by first-time feature director Michael A. Pinckney has notably refreshing elements and is definitely worth a watch.
The acting is good - especially the performances of the two police officers investigating the case, who become noticeably more natural with one another as they continue to pursue the killer. The chemistry in the budding romantic relationship between the younger officer and the young woman who works at a hip-hop magazine is also believable and fun to watch.
The play with racial roles is also refreshing, and helps to evade cliched stereotypes - both black and white characters can relate to hip-hop based on who they are as individual characters, rather than based on their race. It is also refreshing to see rap and rappers treated with an appreciation for all of their manifestations and effects, rather than simply being glorified or demonized. The film treats these subjects with humor and self-awareness.
I look forward to seeing...
THE RAP INDUSTRY IS MODERN SLAVERY
There is a slasher killing rappers and amazingly enough the cops are out looking for the guy. Two policemen take on the case. Good cop, Det. Johnson (James McDaniel) a black man who knows very little about rap and the white Det. Francelli ( Michael Mosley) who is curiously a walking rap encyclopedia and also plays the "bad cop."
The slashing is mostly at the beginning of the film. At this point it turns into a lengthy who-dun-it with street interviews for filler material and a Spike Lee message. The production attempts to roll but then sputters on dialouge. The film needed to properly space out the killings and a more thrilling way to connect the dots. Like so many 21st century African-American productions, this film was long on dialouge and short on action. Some acting would have helped.
Parental Guide: F-bombs, N-word, no sex, no nudity, some implied sex.
Okay.
This is an okay movie. I personally would watch it once, maybe in a few years again. Use your own judgment.
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