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Hoodlum
1997 130 min United States of America R 16+
★6.1
Crime, Drama
Director: Bill Duke
Trailers
Description
In 1934, the second most lucrative business in New York City was running 'the numbers'. When Madam Queen—the powerful woman who runs the scam in Harlem—is arrested, Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson takes over the business and must resist an invasion from a merciless mobster.
Budget:
$30M
US Gross:
$23.5M
Worldwide:
$23.46M
Starring
Laurence Fishburne
Actor
Tim Roth
Actor
Vanessa Williams
Actor
Awards
7 nominations total
Key opinion
Hoodlum is a stylishly crafted 1930s crime drama that succeeds largely due to its high-caliber performances and atmospheric production design. While reviewers appreciate its technical polish and unique Harlem-centric perspective, the film is criticized for leaning into romanticized tropes and delivering a narrative that lacks a cohesive moral resolution.
| Acting | The cast delivers exceptional performances, with Andy Garcia’s portrayal of Lucky Luciano serving as a major highlight. | |
| Production | The film excels in visual world-building, effectively recreating the elegance and gritty atmosphere of 1930s Harlem. | |
| Culture | The narrative perspective provides a valuable, fresh lens on the gangster genre by focusing on the Black experience in Harlem. | |
| Ending | Opinions on the resolution are divided: some view the ending as a missed opportunity for moral clarity, while others find the narrative's lack of closure unsatisfying. |