Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Buddy Giovinazzo

Writer:

Buddy Giovinazzo (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Be cool. You're so cool. Life is cool in Cracktown.

Plot:

Various stories of how crack cocaine has infiltrated the inner-city streets. Based on Buddy Giovinazzo's novel "Life is Hot in Cracktown". |

Plot Keywords:

Crack Cocaine | Night Shift | Gunshot Wound | Prostitution | Youth Gang

Cast

Brandon Routh	...	Sizemore
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Concetta
Kerry Washington	...	Marybeth
Desmond Harrington	...	Benny
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Betty McBain
Carly Pope	...	Stacy
Ariel Winter	...	Susie
Thomas Ian Nicholas	...	Chad Wesley
Illeana Douglas	...	Mommy
Mark Webber
RZA	...	Samy
Evan Ross	...	Romeo
Tony Plana
Ridge Canipe	...	Willy
Victor Rasuk	...	Manny
Richard Portnow	...	The Guy in Apt 4K
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Hope Olaide Wilson	...	Girl in Closet / Bleeding Girl
Katija Pevec	...	Becky
Mayte Garcia	...	Murietta
Edoardo Ballerini	...	Chas
Elena Franklin	...	Melody Amber
Stephanie Lugo	...	Debbie Carter
Quddus	...	Terrance
Omar Regan	...	Cremont
Jeffrey Lorenzo
Joseph Rye	...	Dr Bullen
Maxie J. Santillan Jr.	...	Slimy Drunk
Ilya Jonathan Zaydenberg	...	Drugged out Party boy
Kevin Dunigan	...	Sergeant
Sara Pickett	...	Joy
Victoria Cruz	...	911 Operator (voice)
Shawn McGill	...	Tiny Pinto
Adriano Aragon	...	Officer Lindall
Ten Travis	...	Caesar
Bryan Becker	...	Peperton
Johann Benét	...	Gospel
Melissa Wilfley	...	Fay
Astrelle Johnquest	...	Party girl
Eddie L. Fauria	...	Turner Vasquez 2009
Luke LaFontaine	...	The beret
Jonathan Silva	...	Kenny Carter
James Saxenmeyer	...	Guy
Melvin Payne Jr.	...	Zuko boy
Marci Canipe	...	Melody Ambers Mom

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, rape, drug content throughout, graphic sexuality, nudity and pervasive language.

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Karmic Productions

Trivia:

The dude that robs Manny the first time is Carmine Giovinazzo (Detective Danny Messer from "CSI: NY" (2004)), cousin of the director, Buddy Giovinazzo.

Movie Connections:

References Bubble Bobble (1984) (VG)

The REAL Reality...

With this being the FIRST movie review i've done, i couldn't have picked a harder movie to summarize.. If you've seen Buddy Giovinazzo's 1986 street slime suicide epic "Combat Shock", than you'll know what to expect.. A perfectly made film thats downbeat and depressing, a Drama that can pass for horror And characters that you are supposed to hate, but can't.. The only difference here is that instead of the gritty 80's look this film has a nice pop-polished feel (and more characters to feel bad for)

The movie basically follows four groups of characters in their day to day struggles in a drug/hooker infested neighborhood (Not unlike Hollywood). There's Marybeth (Kerry Washington) and Benny (Desmond Harrington) who roam the streets looking for johns. Marybeth is a Transsexual who's trying to save money for her sex change by giving head to old filthy tricks and at the same time supporting her loser boyfriends (bennys) drug habit. Benny's trade is a burglar, but his drug problem and age has made it difficult to pull anything off without F**king it up. Then There's Willy (Ridge Canipe) A pre-teen who, like all kids in these neighborhoods has no future. He wakes up to cockroachs running across his face, hangs out with the Junkie outside his welfare building (Brandon Routh), Has a crush on a local hooker named "Melody" (Elena Franklin) who's roughly the same age as he is.. He also has to watch after his little sister while his Mom (Illeana Douglas) and her abusive boyfriend smoke rock.. Romeo (Evan Ross) is the neighborhood punk who roams the streets terrorizing people, extorting and brutally beating down the elderly for their welfare checks, raping, robbing, killing.. People may think his character is an exaggeration of a street punk, but there are HUNDREDS of "Romeos" in every city.. The kids that were number one on the football team 2 years ago, now sell crack and aspire to live out the "Scarface" life. Then There's the people in the neighborhood who are trying to make a life for themselves, but they are too naive to realise that it will NEVER happen.. Manny (Victor Rasuk) works two jobs.. A Day job at the local Liquor Store and a Security job at the welfare apartments (were Willy Resides). He and his wife Concetta (Shannyn Sossamon) live in squalor and have a newborn son who NEVER STOPS CRYING (Kinda reminiscent of Frankies 'Agent Orange" Baby in "Combat Shock"). Of all the people in the neighborhood (that we see) he is the only one trying to make a better life for himself and his family, but in the end not even THREE jobs can help. (you just have to LEAVE!!)

Of the four of us that went to the film i think i was the only one who really loved it.. My Girlfriend (who's favorite film is "Bloodsucking Freaks")said that it was too dark. My two other friends liked it, and one friend actually sparked his stem about half way through.. The truth is, we all grew up in a neighborhood just like the one shown in the film. Its hard to watch "Hollywood" almost Glorify and Exploit this reality for rich snobby dick heads to watch and try to analyze.. (Its basically Hollywood Exploiting ITSELF!) I've been in willy's shoes and the reality is that no matter how innocent he seems in the film, eventually he will grow up to be a junkie, thief or dealer (or all three) Some people finally realise that it would be easier to just LEAVE the neighborhood and move to the suburbs. You'd still have to struggle, BUT after everything you've already dealt with, moving would be a walk in the park. HOPEFULLY some Crackheads out there will see this film and realise that they should NEVER have kids! Maybe they will see that this life is a vicious cycle that they will pass on to their kids and they'll grow up to be our future addicts and hookers OR WORSE, They'll become the future "Romeos". Too many kids in the city end up like him. In a neighborhood full of druggies you realise that the only REAL job out there is to actually supply these drugs to these losers. When your Mom and Dad cant pay the rent and your able to hustle $1000 A DAY selling crack and heroin you feel like a success. Thats the trap. Only 1 in 10 will be able to stay off the drugs they sell, and only 1 in 10 will save that money and move to Riverside and get a job selling DVD's and VHS tapes on Amazon :) Anyways, this is my first movie review to a movie that still doesn't have a review. (now i'll try to sound like everyone else) The movie had GREAT direction, excellent acting from an excellent ensemble cast and it will give you a realistic look into the streets! I heard somebody say this film was like "Short Cuts on Drugs". That sums it up nice, except there isn't some stupid earthquake. Unlike "Short Cuts" this movie has a realistic ending. Good job Buddy G!! Hopefully you'll adapt some of your other books to film. Then you'll have my SECOND review ever!