Malik Hassan Sayeed – Cut To The Chase

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Written & Directed By: Hype Williams
Story By: Nas, Hype Williams & Anthony Bodden
Director Of Photography: Malik Hassan Sayeed
Edited By: David Leonard

Cast: Nas, DMX, T-Boz, Method Man, Power, Tyrin Turner, Taral Hicks, Frank Vincent, Kurt Loder

Tommy Brown and his friend Sincere are gangsters who have learned how to make a good living by dealing drugs and pulling armed robberies. Tommy and Sincere have been able to move out of the ghetto in Queens where they were raised and relocate to an upscale section of Manhattan; they would seem to have it made, but both realize that their lives are headed toward a dead end. Sincere begins getting in touch with his African roots and tries to convince his girlfriend Tionne that they should emigrate to the Motherland, while Tommy has a religious awakening and joins the Nation of Islam.

The film seems to have a grand vision, but a small story and limited budget. The film feels like essentially a ninety-minute rap music video. A bad one. This might have been the film that started the saying “all style no substance”. Whereas there is no denying hype Williams has tremendous talent as a director. He has unbelievably rich saturated visuals inventive angles and shots. but as a writer, he leaves a lot to be desired.

If that wasn’t bad enough it is hard to believe it took three people to come up with the barely-there story line. Were they just sitting around playing video games together and in between the levels they wrote down a idea. After three days this is what they came up with. After all, while watching this film I got confused by the plot, some characters, and their motivations that just either disappear or make no sense at all. Like a pop-art film or a 90’s version of an Andy Warhol film. It looks beautiful the visuals are rich and eye-popping, but everything else is bad. It’s like a supermodel great to look at, but not very deep or much to say.

The film seems to glamorize all things notorious If this film is remembered at all is that it is a nostalgic look at a time in hip hop. One of the few that actually made it into theaters. It involves many popular rappers at the time starring in the film together. It can be seen as a 90’s blaxploitation hood movie as it more exploits stereotypes, violence, and the nihilism of the street-life. While at the end tries to go out on a redemptive positive note. This film is just depressing to experience no real positivity at all when there is some or at least some type of message. It is soon given short shrift and forgotten by the next scene.

You can see the director’s ideas but while having crystal clear clarity with his visuals. He seems not to know entirely how to express his thoughts in the story. The most inventive thing in this movie was having frank Vincent. a man who usually plays mobsters or villains here is playing a government agent his appearance in this film is always incomprehensible. You never get a good look at him but you recognize the voice. So you know he is there. While director Hype Williams lives up to his first name with this film proves to be a visual stylist coming from the music video world he seems to need to learn how a story works for longer than five minutes and maintain themes, motivation, and story. He is a director I would have liked to see given another chance make a film all the wiser and see the results as I believe he could do it. There are rich colors off-kilter but defining looks and styles for each character. The ever-present fish-eyed lens camera shots a favorite of the director.

The plot is two friends who are drug dealers come up with a major supplier but they trespass on another dealer’s property. DMX Then has to do an assassination for the supplier, for his protection. But the man DMX kills is a protected made man. So they come after all of them. Their supplier is killed first in a scene ripped off from most rappers’ favorite film: Scarface. DMX makes a deal with the government to stay out of jail and to protect him. But he must kill a powerful black minister. Meanwhile, Nas tries to survive the streets while planning to run away with his share of the money to the safe motherland that is modern-day Africa. Exactly!!!

DMX plays his role believably so much that he got more acting work after this. He stays memorable in the role. He truly inhabits his character with a menacing viciousness. While Nas gives a horrible performance. He seems not to be able to really act. It seems that the same thing that works for Nas as a rapper. His image as a thug prophet works with his monotone delivery showing no emotion because nothing can affect him works against him as an actor. When everything is about emotion and reaction.

The actresses in this film are integral to the story but are barely given any real characters to play or many scenes to be in. Along the way, there is one subject that is touched upon that I found interesting. DMX’s girlfriend is a gold-digger who he openly cheats on but she is happy as long as she has the finer things in life. Then the cops raid the place she lives while hiding the drugs at her place. So she gets locked up for possession and doesn’t rat on him taking the rap for her man. Who she knows doesn’t love her nor makes any attempt to get her out. Maybe if that was explored a little more it could have been interesting. Then a little less of the gun battles and flossing of expensive things. This film would have been better more intriguing than a wannabe gangster epic of minuscule proportions which if they would have done their homework they would have noticed do have gun battles and flashy things but are also well-plotted and very dialogue-driven things again this movie seriously lacks.

At the very least. we could have seen Nas in Africa (Which is an interesting movie title) so we can see Mr. Williams illuminate it. I have to say the acting runs from horrible to passable no good or outstanding performances.

The ladies can act, so can method man DMX is sort of playing a version of himself and Nas just looks like he couldn’t have been bothered to put up an effort. to show the logic of this film. In one scene a guy from the criminal crew is beaten by DMX and he swears his revenge on Nas. Even though he had nothing to do with him being beat.

GRADE: D+

Written & Directed By: Spike Lee
Cinematography: Ellen Kuras & Malik Hassan Sayeed
Editor: Barry Alexander Brown

Cast: Ray Allen, Denzel Washington, Milla Jovovich, Bill Nunn, Rosario Dawson, Ned Beatty, Hill Harper, Rick Fox, John Turturro, Zelda Harris, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Roger Guenveir Smith, Lonette McKee, Arthur J. Nescarella, Jim Brown, Jennifer Esposito, Saul Stein, Ron Cephas Jones, Jamie Hector, Kim Director, Heather Hunter, Jill Kelly

Jake Shuttlesworth is in prison serving time for killing his wife in a violent family feud. He is released on parole, but with one condition – he must persuade his son, genius basketball player Jesus to sign with the governor’s alma mater university, Big State. And Jake only has a week to do it.

At first, glance didn’t really like the film. A few scenes fascinated me but ultimately just thought it was ok. Though over subsequent years and rewatching really got into the film and enjoyed it. As there is more than meets the eye. Plus as getting older can fully grasp many scenes and subjects brought up.

This film is surprisingly strong as a drama. That at first one thinks it will be a sports movie about corruption and recruiting. While it does involve those the film actually has a compelling story and a kind of community commentary of the times.

No one is truly innocent in the film including the basketball prospect played by Ray Allen. As everyone wants something from him. We see how some of his decisions directly affect them also.

Ray Allen’s character is more innocent though he is guilty of certain things as a young man given a certain level of celebrity character or popularity and power for the first time he is weak when it comes to indulgence as that is what various people are using to seduce him to sign and commit to them. Even his girlfriend to a degree. Ray Allen gives a convincing performance

As the film shows characters who supposedly love and care about the basketball phenom but seem more interested in trying to become invested in his fame.

The film shows How his family even uses him or considers that love and blood an investment. Leaving only his younger sister as truly the only innocent one who asks nothing of him

Other than noticing her performance in KIDS this was the next first noteworthy role of Rosario Dawson where she plays a damaged vixen. Ray Allen’s onscreen girlfriend and maybe a kind of gold digger. He has multiple levels throughout.

Denzel Washington plays his role strongly and this is one of his first more dislikable characters on screen. Even as he is more the protagonist of the film. At least the film gives him a three-dimensional role to play.

His character is still never a hero or a saint. He has made mistakes that he will pay for, for the rest of his life. Still, he loves his son and wants what is best. The least he can do and kind of finds his soul in the process.

There are some sex scenes but one, in particular, that seems more a pornographic fantasy seems to be the one scene where sex is used as part of the recruitment. The roles of the vixens played by actual porno actresses of the time

While at first, it seems unnecessary or even like baggage. One can see why Milla Jovovich’s character and scenes are here to humanize Denzel’s character and show he can be decent and nice but this isn’t a love story or a fairy tale. As he is no white knight. If anything this movie is all about harsh reality and showcases broken promises.

The film gives commentary on how the community is Being sunken in a speech by a drug dealer who does profit from it but has seen the best and worst of people and riches and gives Allen’s character a sermon and warnings to protect him. Even if it just seems written to give one of spike Lee’s regular actors Roger Guenveir Smith a role and an impressive one.

Basketball is spike Lee’s passion other then filmmaking a die hard new yours Knicks fan and he introduced Basketball icon Michael Jordan into sneaker marketing

There are so many subjects going on in spike lee films that some are explored mroe and others more in the background or left on the side.

This Movie involves at the time more the controversial route of paying ir bribing players for Recruitment to head a college Team to win championships less about the education. Only A few years later it would be deciding whether to go professional Straight from high school or play for College .

The film works as a wondering showdown that we know will eventually have to happen between the main two characters and we know the set-up.

Showcasing the beauty of the game in Slow motion action of a pickup game along with classic classical music on the soundtrack. Showing the players as almost modern-day warriors with their strengths and physicality. The art of physical perfectionism. This is the closest we come to seeing director Spike Lee’s well-known love of the game.

Throughout the film, it seems like regular old cast members of most of his films stop by for what amount to almost guest star roles. Though important ones as different guides for Allen to pick a side.

At first, the film feels more contemporary for its time, maybe more mainstream but as it goes along it reveals more and more depth. As it tackles a bunch of subjects that are revolving its Main characters. Showing them and commenting on them while keeping the focus on the main characters.

Though it can be accused of being melodramatic at times, understandable (selling devotion and renting your soul but then have more stakes in you from others)

The film Acknowledges the commercialization and business aspect that the game has taken but also tries to sell the art of it.

In the end, you come into the film expecting one thing and it eventually reveals itself to be so much more and ends up being one of Spike Lee’s stronger movies.

Grade: B

Tag: Malik Hassan Sayeed

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