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Straight Out of Brooklyn (1991)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 8/06, 10/10, 4/24

StraightBrook
8/06: Spike Lee is a through and through fraud.

Straight Out of Brooklyn proves any black man can direct a better film than him, regardless of film experience. The 19-year-old Matty Rich wrote the short story two years prior and filmed it as an 8-minute short for his high school before blowing it up to a full feature film under a budget of $450,000.

The result is astonishing. Filled with nonprofessional actors that's set in Brooklyn's Red Hook projects, it's almost on the same level as Boyz n the Hood while the gritty style reminds me of Italian neorealism.

All in all, Straight Out of Brooklyn offers an insight into what it's like to live in the projects.

10/10: Straight Out of Brooklyn is a somewhat slow picture that's lacking in substance.

Yet the level of realism remains high. The performances are excellent. However, the buildup toward the end is disappointing, falling short of the needed power.

All in all, although not up to par with Boyz n the Hood, Straight Out of Brooklyn is a respectable addition to black cinema.

4/24: Straight Out of Brooklyn is still a well-made movie that beats almost anything by Spike Lee.

Director Matty Rich is effective with the message of racism, but it's not the true reason why the family is having problems. Rather, it has everything to do with IQ. The father won't stop drinking or beating up his wife while their two kids are rendered helpless. The boy thinks he can rob a drug dealer as a way out, but it's not that simple. Regardless, thanks to the low budget, the film is gritty and real, and it's 100% believable.

All in all, Matty Rich proved that he could beat Spike Lee at his game.