"The Corner" (2000) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

16 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

On the front lines of America's drug war, one family is living in the crossfire.

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series | Based On Book

Awards:

Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 7 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

T.K. Carter	...	Gary McCullough (6 episodes, 2000)
Khandi Alexander	...	Denise Francine 'Fran' Boyd / ... (6 episodes, 2000)
Sean Nelson	...	DeAndre McCullough (6 episodes, 2000)
Clarke Peters	...	Fat Curt (6 episodes, 2000)
Glenn Plummer	...	George 'Blue' Epps (6 episodes, 2000)
Toy Connor	...	Tyreeka Freamon (6 episodes, 2000)
Maria Broom	...	Bunchie Boyd (6 episodes, 2000)
Sylvester Lee Kirk	...	DeRodd (6 episodes, 2000)
Corey Parker Robinson	...	R.C. (6 episodes, 2000)
Reg E. Cathey	...	Scalio (6 episodes, 2000)
Jerome Ro Brooks	...	Drug Dealer (6 episodes, 2000)
Yuval David	...	Co-star (6 episodes, 2000)
Tyra Ferrell	...	Ella Thompson (5 episodes, 2000)
Delon Browne	...	Boo (5 episodes, 2000)
Neko Parham	...	Dinky (5 episodes, 2000)
John Epps	...	Tae (5 episodes, 2000)
Brian O'Neill	...	Officer Bob Brown (5 episodes, 2000)
Tasha Smith	...	Veronica 'Ronnie' Boice (4 episodes, 2000)
Cyrus Farmer	...	Stevie Boyd (4 episodes, 2000)
Bonita L. Cartwright	...	Roberta (4 episodes, 2000)
Robin Michelle McClamb	...	Rita Hale (4 episodes, 2000)
Donnell Rawlings	...	Bread (4 episodes, 2000)
Duane Chandler Rawlings	...	Hungry (4 episodes, 2000)
Derren Fuentes	...	Officer Tucker (4 episodes, 2000)
Fran Boyd	...	Detox Clerk / ... (4 episodes, 2000)
Clayton LeBouef	...	Scoogie (3 episodes, 2000)
J. Valenteen Gregg	...	W.M. (3 episodes, 2000)
Ron Brice	...	Tony (3 episodes, 2000)
Antonio D. Charity	...	Ricardo 'Cardy' McCullough (3 episodes, 2000)
Robert Harley	...	Brooks (3 episodes, 2000)
Kathryn Kelley	...	Adelaide (3 episodes, 2000)
Susan Duvall	...	Mary (3 episodes, 2000)
Joe Laney	...	House (3 episodes, 2000)
Terry Hamlin	...	Bryan Mathis (3 episodes, 2000)
E. Dawn Samuel	...	Rose Davis (3 episodes, 2000)
Rodney Scott	...	Young DeAndre (3 episodes, 2000)
Krystal Morris	...	Officer Jenerette (3 episodes, 2000)
Bobby J. Brown	...	Officer Ira Weiner (3 episodes, 2000)
Dennis Wilson	...	Tee-Tee (3 episodes, 2000)
Lance Reddick	...	Marvin (2 episodes, 2000)
Denise Diggs	...	Sherry (2 episodes, 2000)
Justin Omar Smith	...	Little Stevie (2 episodes, 2000)
Don Wallace	...	Bugsy (2 episodes, 2000)
Larry Hull	...	Will (2 episodes, 2000)
Eugene R. Little	...	Gee Money (2 episodes, 2000)
R. Emery Bright	...	Doug (2 episodes, 2000)
Lorenzo Heard	...	Dennis (2 episodes, 2000)
Willette Thompson	...	Antoinette (2 episodes, 2000)
Mia Arnice Chambers	...	Peaches (2 episodes, 2000)
Jacqui Allen	...	Mrs. Taylor (2 episodes, 2000)
Chantia L. Thomas	...	Shanelle (2 episodes, 2000)
Denise Preddy	...	Marzell (2 episodes, 2000)
Donyelle Brown-Parish	...	Wendy's Manager (2 episodes, 2000)
Robert Crenshaw	...	Fat Rick (2 episodes, 2000)
Chuck Jeffreys	...	A-rabber (2 episodes, 2000)
Delaney Williams	...	Scale Guy (2 episodes, 2000)
Courtlon Ward	...	Foolish Dealer / ... (2 episodes, 2000)
George 'Blue' Epps	...	Shelter Worker / ... (2 episodes, 2000)
Tyreeka Freamon	...	Cashier / ... (2 episodes, 2000)

Runtime:

376 min (6 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Blown Deadline Productions

Trivia:

The corner is located at the junction of West Fayette St and North Monroe St.

Displaying the problem magnificently!

THE CORNER is a powerful mini-series that delivers a ruthless, depressing, and depraved view of the lives of drug abusers and dealers. Told semi-narratively by a documentary crew, the viewer is delivered into the bowels of a hellish neighbourhood in America. Being based on a true story only serves to rattle the viewer further as you get to watch all the horrors of growing up on the streets from the comfort of your own home.

Truth be told, at times, I could barely watch the events of the program as the pain and suffering of each character seemed unbearable. Each has a struggle to deal with, from a father who has fallen into the depths of heroin addiction to his son who deals the same drugs on the unforgiving streets. Yet, they still try to maintain some sense of their former selves. Gary (the father) tries to get back on his feet numerous times, but failure seems to be the only result. DeAndre (the son) has had no worthy role models to teach him the value of honest living. The failure of his parents has reduced him to no more than another lost soul wandering the ghetto for his income.

Each event in the mini-series seems timeless and not easily forgotten, as I write this now, five months after I last saw THE CORNER, all I can think of is a shoot-out in the latter half of the story. We are shown kids with guns (somewhat echoing Columbine), however the shooters are scared. And you can see it, the fear in their faces and their random shooting. I was breathless watching this scene unfold as the youths who we have come to know have to defend themselves from rival dealers who have promised blood shed. All their talk and acting macho is instantly discarded as we watch them shoot up a once peaceful, beautiful neighbourhood in order to eliminate an unseen foe. There is nothing honourable about this scene and by the end I found myself lacking breath and on the edge of my seat. It is still one of the most incredible things that I have seen on television.

The fact that this story happened in Baltimore just enhances the story that much more. Usually, when people think of the drug problem in America they first think of the big cities. New York or Los Angeles, but here we are shown that the drug problem is in the backyards and backalleys of America, as well. IT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.

By the conlcusion of this story there seem to only be bodies left over as lifeless as they were wandering the slums for their next high. But there is no more highs after death, there is only a gap. The absence of a person has a great effect on the lives of those that surround them. But what's truly sad is that by the end the understanding is that only the dealers feel the loss...of customers. The death of their friends only serves to limit the junkie's chances of 'scoring' easier. Herein lies the saddest fact. Hope is fleeting on THE CORNER.