The Breaks (1999)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Eric Meza

Writers:

Mitch Mullany (writer)
Jeff Stolzer (uncredited for script)

Release Date:

26 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

He's a brother that pales by comparison.

Plot:

A Sunday in the life of Derrick King, an Irish kid raised in South Central L.A. by a Black family. He talks Black...

Cast

Paula Bel	...	Paula - 'the Ho'
Paul Benjamin	...	Clerk
Lamont Bentley	...	Darryl
George Clinton	...	Himself
Loretta Devine	...	Floria
Justin Doran	...	Nilla
E-40	...	Judge
Pierre Edwards	...	The Pimp (as Pierre)
Alex Esta	...	Poet Ling Ling
Art Evans
John Farley	...	Police Officer
Kevin P. Farley	...	Police Officer
Ricky Harris	...	Militant Leader
Charity Hill	...	Dream Girl
Edwin Hodge	...	Tiki
Teddy Lane Jr.	...	Large Jaw Guy in Jail
Darius McCrary	...	Shaquan
Eddie Mui	...	Kim
Mitch Mullany	...	Derrick King
Paula Jai Parker	...	Ann
Carl Anthony Payne II	...	Chris
Gary Payton	...	Man Quizzing Derek in Prison
Clifton Powell	...	Cosmo
Reynaldo Rey	...	Uncle Deion
Sam Scarber	...	Cop
Larry B. Scott	...	Paraplegic Inmate
Speedy	...	Derrick's Father
Xzibit	...	Jamal
Barry Brandt	...	Cop (uncredited)
WC	...	Whiskers (uncredited)

Directed by
Eric Meza

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mitch Mullany		writer
Jeff Stolzer		uncredited for script

Produced by
Bob Shapiro	....	line producer
Terry Spazek	....	producer

Original Music by
Tree Adams

Cinematography by
Carlos González

Film Editing by
Matthew Colonna
Kevin Wiebelhaus		(co-editor)

Casting by
Betsy Fels
Anissa Williams

Production Design by
Simon Dobbin

Production Management
Mark B. Lasser	....	unit production manager
Laura Stuart	....	production manager
Robert E. Warner	....	unit production manager

Art Department
Scott Buckwald	....	property master
Laura J. DeRosa	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Pembrooke Andrews	....	assistant dialogue editor
Bobbi Banks	....	supervising sound editor
Jeff K. Brunello	....	sound effects editor
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Elisabeth Flaum	....	sound effects editor
John R. Fors	....	boom operator
Shawn Kennelly	....	adr mixer
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Dov Schwarz	....	dialogue editor
Cathie Speakman	....	supervising adr editor

Special Effects by
Jor Van Kline	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	hazeltine optical element timing: THDX (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	in-show optical compositor: THDX (uncredited)

Stunts
Chris Blackwood	....	stunts
Hollis Hill	....	stunts
Larry Nicholas	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
William Ambrose	....	best boy grip
James Boniface	....	generator operator
Mark J. Coyne	....	assistant camera
Craig Lerner	....	grip
Richard A. Ludt	....	key grip
Barry Norwood	....	first assistant camera
Paul Ott	....	grip
Tyler Williams	....	assistant camera

Music Department
Richard A. Harrison	....	preview music editor

Transportation Department
John W. Barbee	....	transportation coordinator
James Boniface	....	driver

Other crew
Ted Campbell	....	production assistant
Michelle A. De Mayo	....	post-production accountant
Donique Patton	....	script supervisor
Tory Reed	....	key set production assistant
Tim Turner	....	production accountant
Donald E. Wygal	....	assistant production coordinator (as Don Wygal)

Distributors

• Artisan Entertainment

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies

MPAA:

Rated R for strong crude sexuality and language, and for violence and drug content.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

UK:18 | Germany:16 | USA:R

Goofs:

Continuity: Position of the guns in the "Kill Whitey" group meeting.

Movie Connections:

References The Mack (1973)

Up there with Friday, CB4, Don't be a Menace To Society...

A funny, funny, funny movie... It's ALMOST a typical "day in the hood" comedy, except it revolves around a White Irishman, raised by a Black family in Compton... Derrick ("White Mike" from "Martin"), accompanied by his best friend Chris ("Cole" from "Martin") adventure around the neighborhood, chased by Cops and Thugs, in search of a carton of milk... There are not only several side-stories to enjoy here, developing snippets of ideas from other movies ("I'm Gonna Get You Sucka", "Friday", "Pulp Fiction"), but there are countless guest stars from other "day in the hood" type movies, as well as from the rap, funk, and basketball worlds... If you like Friday, CB4, Fear Of A Black Hat, Don't Be A Menace To Society, Who's The Man, etc...You owe it to yourself to check out "The Breaks".

I give it an 8/10 (with only Fear Of A Black Hat getting a higher score from me in this genre)