Slums

Author(s): Al
Location: NY

"Slums”

Produced by Spike Lee and Denzel Washington
Directed by Spike Lee
Written by Stephen Gaghan and Spike Lee
Original Songs by Lyfe Jennings
Cinematography by Robert Richardson
Edited by Pietro Scalia

Principal Cast:

1982-1999 Christopher Warren: Denzel Washington
1967-1977 Christopher Warren: Terrence Howard
Hal Morris: Willem Dafoe
Eddie Lampten: Mos Def
Kelli: Jennifer Hudson
Julie Warren : Yaya DaCosta
Young Julie: Keke Palmer
Vanessa: Queen Latifah
Mr. Sparkle: Andre Benjamin
Chris's Mother: Cicely Tyson

Tagline: "There's nowhere you can hide from the color you are outside"

Synopsis: In 1967, 26-year-old Christopher Warren lives with his mother in the slums of L.A., starving. In desperation, he tries to steal a loaf of bread from a supermarket, but the manager sees him and comes after him with a gun. They struggle, and the gun goes off into the manager's stomach, almost killing him. The all-white police force arrests him for attempted theft and attempted manslaughter and sends him to jail for 10 years. He is finally released to parole and is watched over by Officer Hal Morris, on his first assignment, but is unable to get a job or any sympathy. He sinks deeper and deeper into poverty, until he changes his identity and runs to San Francisco. Morris, outraged that Chris slipped through his fingers, declares it his mission to track him down, no matter what. Years later, with the shackles of his jail time behind him, Chris is a successful store manager back in L.A. An old friend of Chris's, Vanessa, falls into prostitution in order to support her young daughter Julie. Unable to feed 2 mouths anymore, she desperately leaves Julie to her former pimp: rich and sleazy nightclub owner Mr. Sparkle, who abuses her. Chris finds Julie and takes her back to her mother as she is dying from AIDS contracted during her prostitution. Vanessa entrusts Julie to Chris' care and dies knowing her child is in safe hands. 10 years later, it is the eve of the Rodney King riots. Chris has moved back to L.A. with Julie. Morris is a police captain, but now has a sick obsession with catching Chris and is hot on his trail. Julie is friends with Kelli, another young woman who is infatuated with Eddie, another friend of Julie's and an idealistic young freedom fighter. However, Eddie and Julie find themselves even deeper and deeper in love. Once the infamous Rodney King is perhaps unnecessarily beaten by a team of white police officers, Eddie starts protesting and encourages Chris, Kelli, and Julie to join them as Morris and the police are trying to contain the black youth. Sure enough, the riots begin, but everyone involved will be thoroughly different people at the end of it all…

What the press would say:

If you had told me a while ago that Spike Lee was adapting the classic story "Les Miserables" for the African-American slums of L.A., I would have told you it was probably going to be terrible. But I'm a believer now in the shockingly humane epic "Slums". Spike Lee and Stephen Gaghan, who penned "Traffic", have given the actors in this film a surprisingly challenging and true-to-life script to work with and they do not disappoint in their respective parts. Denzel Washington, also a producer, almost reaches the caliber of his Oscar-winning role in "Training Day". He deserves a nomination and possibly a win. After breaking out in "Hustle and Flow", Terrence Howard is great as a younger version of Washington's character, although I wish he had a bit more screen time. Yaya DaCosta (best known for a role in "Take the Lead"), is great and will be a name to watch for the future, along with her younger version Keke Palmer. Of course, there are many notable actors in featured roles. Mos Def, is showing off his fiery, wittier side in a great performance after supporting roles in smaller movies. Willem Dafoe is also wonderful as the racist police officer determined to catch Washington's character, and deserves a lot of praise. However, the real recognition deserves to go to Andre Benjamin, also known as Andre 3000, from the musical group Outkast. After handing in so-so performances in "Idlewild" and "Four Brothers", Benjamin is absolutely perfect in his role as the sleazy, Thenardier-like pimp. In one time period, he is bouncy, flamboyant, and positively slimy. But later on, he is dark, desperate, and lonely to the point of total believability after a sour fire insurance scam. We sympathize with and despise him at the same time. Also in the singer/actress category are Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah. Rapidly gaining attention for "Dreamgirls", there is not enough that can be said about this girl's acting. But even better is Queen Latifah, as the despondent mother of DaCosta's character. She deserves an Oscar for this (her death scene is masterful). All in all, the movie is a must-see masterpiece that makes us think hard about the way that we've treated an entire class of people for years…just like this great filmmaker has always given us.

For Your Consideration:

Best Picture: Spike Lee and Denzel Washington
Best Director: Spike Lee
Best Actor: Denzel Washington
Best Actor: Terrence Howard
Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe
Best Supporting Actor: Andre Benjamin
Best Supporting Actor: Mos Def
Best Supporting Actress: Queen Latifah
Best Supporting Actress: Fantasia Barrino
Best Original Screenplay: Spike Lee and Stephen Gaghan
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Original Song: "What I Know" Fantasia Barrino, Ludacris, Mos Def, Lyfe Jennings; by Life Jennings