Paid in Full (2002)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Charles Stone III

Writers (WGA):

Azie Faison Jr. (earlier screenplay) &
Austin Phillips (earlier screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action | Crime

Tagline:

The American Dream... Their way.

Plot:

A young man from Harlem, forced to cope with the 1980s drug scene, builds an illegal empire, only to have a crisis of conscience.

Plot Keywords:

Harlem | Dry Cleaning | Drug Dealer | Loyalty | New York City

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Wood Harris	...	Ace
Mekhi Phifer	...	Mitch
Kevin Carroll	...	Calvin
Esai Morales	...	Lulu
Chi McBride	...	Pip
Cam'ron	...	Rico
Remo Greene	...	Sonny
Cynthia Martells	...	Dora
Elise Neal	...	Aunt June
Regina Hall	...	Kiesha
Joyce Walker	...	Janet Woods (as Joyce Walker Joseph)
Ron C. Jones	...	Ice (as Ron Cephas Jones)
Nelson Tynes	...	Wedge
Karen Andrew	...	Cakes
Pedro Salvín	...	Columbian Man #1 (as Pedro Salvin)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

Based on the true story of Azie Faison Jr., Alberto Martinez and Richard Porter. The trio controlled much of the drug trade in New York City in the 1980's.

Quotes:

Calvin: I just made enough money to bake biscuits for the projects.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kanye West: College Dropout - Video Anthology (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Dirty and Grimey

Very good movie

Any hip hop heads know who Rich Porter, Alpo and AZ. The movie tells their story subiting the names for Mitch, Rico and Ace. The film is told through the eyes of Ace played with great vigor by rising talent Wood Harris. Ace see his boy Mitch (Pfeifer) in a great performance living the high drug life. After Mitch gets locked up Ace decides to take over but he isn't your average dealer he's cool and laid back. While in prison Mitch meets Rico (Cam'ron in a breakthough debut) a hot head who decides he wants someone of the action. On the streets the trio run thangs but greed and betrayal thretan everything and the film has some shocking twists that are hard to believe. The eighties slang, clothes and life are portyaed very well. Producers Jay-Z,Dame Dash ( who shows up in a cameo) and Brett Ratner did their research to make the film look true to life. Regina Hall,Chi McBride go good supporting performances and the direction by Charles Stone III is impressive as is the script. I give it **** out ****.