CLOCKERS

US, 1995, 128 minutes, Colour.
Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lingo, Mekhi Pfifer, Isaiah Washington, Keith David, Regina Taylor, Peewee Love.
Directed by is Spike Lee.

There have been so many movies about drugs and violence in US cities, and so many from black directors. Fresh was one of the best.

This time Spike Lee has taken on the theme (from a novel by Richard Price) and has made a very stylish film (with an arresting credits' collage) but one which local audiences may find hard to identify with. The first half-hour is hard on the ear and trying to work out who is who. And the theme is alienating, the brutal power exercised on young black men to become dealers and the role of the police (here, Harvey Keitel and John Turturro) in trying to get through, face racist issues and deal with the social background. Not new but Spike Lee's version of drugs and violence in Brooklyn.

1. The title, drug pushers, lower levels, dealers? The information given at the beginning of the film?

2. Spike Lee’s Brooklyn, Crooklyn? The tone of the credits, the collage and the vivid colours, blood and death, the streets, homes, parks, the stores, bars? Police precincts? The musical score and songs?

3. The emergence of Ronnie, his age, experience, in the park, with the other young men, the drug deals? His character? His upset stomach, the drinks that he took? His mother looking down? The police raid, the search of the men, rough handling? Rodney driving by, picking up Ronnie, the interrogation? Watching Darryl, the decision that he should die? The reasons, the drug deals? His going to Victor? The talk in the bar? The information about the hit? The garden?

4. The killing, Victor and his confession, alleged self-defence, yet the police examining the body, the four bullets, the flashbacks and Victor’s shooting? Victor and his wife and children, his love of them? His reliability, honesty, his jobs, recommendations? His work in the bar? His assertiveness, going to prison?

5. Rocco and Larry, the white men in the neighbourhood, their patrolling in their car, their discussions, the different personalities, Larry with the light touch and making jokes, believing Victor? Rocco, more serious, his interrogating of Victor? Not believing him? His visits to the neighbourhood, the discussions with Ronnie, with Rodney? With the young boy? Rocco and his life, focused on his work, the long years, the confrontations, tough, relentless?

6. Rodney, tough, his control, his clockers, the drugs, putting Ronnie under pressure? His shop, the honest front? his arrest? Getting out? His contacts? Deadly?

7. Ronnie and his challenge, whether to go or stay, packing, his mother? His attitude towards Victor? The young boy, his mother and her attacks and telling off Ronnie? The boy and his loyalty? On the bike, shooting Rodney? Rocco and his reaction to the story, sympathy for the mother, for the boy, giving a cover story, especially about the gun?

8. Victor, desperate, an honest man, his motivation for accepting the hit, shooting, getting out, reunited with his family?

9. Ronnie, his illness, the deals, Rocco helping him, his going?

10. The comment on Brooklyn in the 1990s? The black community, the detail of life, the older generation, the parents? Ordinary life in honour? The role of the police? Race, language? Spike Lee’s perspective?