NEW JACK CITY
US, 1991, 101 minutes, Colour.
Wesley Snipes, Ice- T, Allen Payne, Chris Rock, Mario van Peebles, Michael Michele, Bill Nunn, Russell Wong, Bill Cobbs, Christopher Williams, Judd Nelson, Vanessa Williams.
Directed by Mario van Peebles.
New Jack City came at the beginning of the 1990s along with a number of films made by first-time black directors. This included such films as Rage in Harlem, directed by Bill Nunn who appears in this film. It was the beginning of Mario van Peebles’ directing career which he continued for many years. He also appears in one of the central roles.
The film looks like any other black American action thriller – partly in the tradition of the blacksploitation films of the 1970s, but illustrating the new focus on drug warfare in New York City (New Jack City) and the role of the police. The black action American thriller is its style. But it is anti-drug and anti the new black gangsters of cities like New York. There is some violence in the film – but it is tempered to illustrating characters and issues. This is the kind of film that makes immediate impact with the niche audiences of African Americans in America itself.
Wesley Snipes, emerging as a leading man, is megalomaniac as Nino Brown who is ambitious to control drugs in New York. (It is significant that Al Pacino in Scarface screens behind significant scenes.) He is supported by rapper Ice- T (who contributes the songs and reminds us of the now long history of rap). The strong black supporting cast includes Allen Payne as the rival to Snipes, a very young Chris Rock as an addict who is an informer for the police and Mario van Peebles himself.
There is only one major white character in the film, an ex-addict now policeman, played by Judd Nelson, who clashes with his partner, Ice- T, but eventually this leads to mutual respect and each saving the other’s life.
There have been a number of similar films since, but New Jack City is interesting as coming from the early 1990s and as significant in the career of Mario van Peebles.
1.The opening with the aerial shots coming into New York City, the nickname of New Jack City, the focus on Brooklyn, the streets, the tenements, the drug world, the contrast between poverty and affluence? The camera moving out of New York City at the end?
2.The authenticity of the locations, the characters within these locations? The period of the mid-1980s to the late 1980s? The crack empires developing in New York City? The streets, the buildings, the world of the gangsters? The musical score, the range of songs? Rap song at the end?
3.The focus on the character of Nino Brown? Wesley Snipes’ strong interpretation of the character? The ordinary beginnings, yet his ambition, self-image? His relationship with Gee Money? Fraternal, eventual rivalry? His surrounding himself with his friends, family, his relying on the Duh Duh Duh Man? The women? The developing of a family? His ambitions about crack, the demonstration of crack and its availability, its manufacture and his control of that? The distribution? Streamlining, delivery at the factory? His violence, the family eliminating rivals, the brutal murders? The confrontation with the Italian Mafia, his humiliating them and treating them violently? The police? The infiltration by Pookie, Gee Money trusting him, as an addict, the information given, the camera? His being exposed, the violence and his death? The confrontation by the police, Nino Brown not being filmed, escaping? Scotty Appleton and his friendship with Gee Money, his infiltrating himself, the deals? The build-up to taking Nino Brown down? His continued arrogance, the New Year celebration, his taking Gee Money’s girl? His having no regard or respect for her? The phone calls when he was with the girl, his trying to take control? The wedding sequence (echoes of The Godfather)? The Italian Mafia and their attack? The violence, the little girl, Brown escaping? The woman clashing with him, his rejecting of her, her being willing to turn State’s Evidence? The drive-by shootings of the Italian Mafia in the streets and cafes? The build-up to the final confrontation, the recognition of Scotty as police? The shoot-out, his henchman dying? His being on the run, the final confrontation with Gee Money, Gee Money’s appeal to him, his shooting him? His being taken, the fight with Scotty, Nick saving his life? Brown’s arrogance, his appearance in court, dapper, the testimony against him, his speech, pleading guilty, the possibility of him being out on the street within a year? The significance of the scene with the children as distributors of crack, the old man coming, drawing his gun, confronting Brown? The irony of the old man coming to the court and shooting him dead? The fall of a gangster?
4.Scotty Appleton, his role as under cover, the initial confrontation and chase, Pookie on the bike, the bag of money, his being police, the crowd gathering around to take the money? The commissioner and the authorities wanting something done about crack? The appointment of Stone? Stone asking Appleton to partner with Nick, their mutual antagonism, Nick talking about the black thing? Their work, Pookie going in under cover, trying to get evidence? Pookie’s death and the raid? Appleton going in under cover, gaining the confidence of Brown? Kareem as suspicious? The final recognition, Appleton having infiltrated as far as being a partner with Brown? The wedding, Brown’s using the child as a shield? Appleton’s anger? The final confrontation in the warehouse, the chase, the shooting, Nick saving his life? His pointing the gun, his having to be restrained? Impatient in the courtroom? The verdict? Witnessing the old man shooting Brown?
5.Brown and his partners, the character of Gee Money, subservient, the relationship with the girl, the deals, loyalty? His own addiction? The raids, his being rebuked for trusting Pookie? His final plea to Brown, that they were each the brother’s keeper, Brown shooting him?
6.Pookie, the initial chase, the addict, his being persuaded to be an informer? His going into the factory, the belt with the camera, the evidence, the police watching? His taking the drugs, behaving erratically, exposed, his death?
7.The Duh Duh Duh Man, the yes-man to Brown, the loyalty, cruel, his own death? The other members of the gang, the women, their ruthlessness as well? The glamorous girl and her linking up with Brown?
8.Stone, in command, bringing Appleton and Nick together, the difficulties? The cover blown? Allowing Appleton to infiltrate? The final confrontation, the court case, success? The background of prosecutors, officials?
9.Nick, the only white man, his own addiction, tough, the gun, the clashes with Appleton, the bonding? Each saving each other’s life in the shoot-out?
10.The background of New York City, life in the city, the addicts and their going to centres, the crack houses? The wealthy and the drugs? The possibilities of life and decorum as seen in the wedding sequence – and its being destroyed by the Italian Mafia and their shooting?
11.The film as a message film, for African American audiences, especially in New York City? Wider audiences? Anti-drug films?
