Cut Throat City movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Cut Throat City [Blu-ray + DVD]

RATING: R

LENGTH: 2 hours, 3 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: C

IN A NUTSHELL:

Set in New Orleans during the infamous Hurricane Katrina, this film features four friends from the poor 9th Ward who are desperate enough to get involved with a local gang and dangerous heist. Gee, what could go wrong?

Directed by the de facto Wu Tang Clan leader RZA, the movie is raw, dark, and tells a compelling crime story with drama and action.

This is NOT a movie that will appeal to a lot of people, simply because of the immense profanity and rough environment.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Terrible profanity, including zillions of F-bombs and the “N” word
Some skin during a honeymoon scene
The movie starts with graphic-novel images of violence with blood splatters
You see the rear end of a man when he pulls his pants down
Crime
Violence with guns and hand-to-hand combat, murder
Several scenes in a strip club with views of scantily-clad strippers and topless women
Drugs, alcohol
A woman flips the bird.

THEMES:

Racism
Blame vs. responsibility
Don’t wait for the government to save you. Save yourself.
Be careful who you spend your time with because you become like them.
People do desperate things in desperate times.
Corruption (society, corporations, and individuals)
Rationalizing crime
Choices and their consequences
Greed
Second chances
Home

THINGS I LIKED:

The talented cast includes Shameik Moore, Demetrius Shipp Jr., Denzel Whitaker, Keean Johnson, and Eiza Gonzalez. But wait! There’s more! There are some impressive cameo performances by Ethan Hawke, Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes, Isaiah Washington, Kat Graham, Lil Chuuch, Joel David Moore, and Rob Morgan.
I liked the use of the graphic novel to illustrate the world that the protagonist lives in.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I felt like I just walked through the swampy gutters of New Orleans after watching this foul-mouthed film. It was exhausting but powerful.
Some bad editing.
Some of the accents were bad and inconsistent.
There is an interesting juxtaposition of religion and crime. For example, several men pray before they commit crimes and murder.
The protagonist had a college education and artistic talent, yet he chose to commit crimes, claiming he wasn’t given equal opportunities.

INTERESTING LINES:

“It’s not always about happiness, but meaning.” – bride’s mother
“You’re tugging at my heartstrings. If I had one, you’d have it.” – Cousin Bass (T. I.)
“A pencil can take you a hell of a lot farther than a gun.” – Lucinda Valencia (Eiza Gonzalez)
“Money’s a funny thing…can make any man feel like a king.” – Jackson Symms (Ethan Hawke)
“Katrina’s always been with us. It just had different names.” – Blink (Shameik Moore)

OTHER HEIST MOVIES I LIKED WAY BETTER:

<br /> <br /> <br />
WATCH THE Movie Review Mom YOUTUBE REVIEW WITH THIS LINK:

Coming soon!