New Jack City, now released in a special two-disc DVD edition, blended classic gangster elements and the sounds of Hip-Hop music to create a new style of crime thrillers and the modern urban gang film.
The film, which was released in 1991, starred then unknown actors Wesley Snipes, Chris Rock and Ice T, and was directed by Mario Van Peebles.
It followed the direction of past classic crime movies, such as Scarface, but also brought elements from the modern day setting – mostly seen through the amount of street crime violence and the effects of drug addiction.
Set in 1986, Snipes plays a street criminal named Nino Brown who uses the emergence of the new drug called crack to build a criminal empire.
Once Brown's empire is established, it all begins to crumble from within thanks to the efforts of the police to crush Brown’s hold on the city.
Although he had never acted before New Jack City, Ice T is extremely good in the movie, and seems truly driven as the character Scotty Appleton.
Ice T plays Appleton as a tough street-cop that is determined to bring Brown to justice, and willing to go to any length to achieve his goal.
This determination results in Appleton using a reformed drug addict, played by Rock, as an inside informant. When that fails, the character is then forced to go undercover and become part of Brown’s world to stop Snipes.
New Jack City featured great performances by Ice T and Chris Rock
Although the movie was seen as fresh and new in 1991, it does appear a bit dated now thanks to the fashion and even some of music – which was described as cutting edge when the film was first released.
This dating doesn’t ruin the film, but might distract from some of the film’s strengths and its message.
The two-disc DVD is loaded with special features including NJC: A Hip-Hop Classic; Harlem World: A Walk Inside; The Road To New Jack City; and commentary by director/co-star Mario Van Peebles.<!--page-->
Snipes is cold and ruthless in the movie
Out of the special features, The Road To New Jack City is the best one thanks to the inside look at the making of the film and the interviews with the cast. The actors talk about how they approached the project, and how they wanted it to be an urban version of past crime films - like Scarface.
At the same time, they wanted to make sure the film had a grit to it that grounded the movie in reality, and showed the urban crime world as it was at the time. Ice T talks about how he approached the movie and served as both an actor and an advisor to the rest of the cast.
NJC: A Hip-Hop Classic explores the sounds of New Jack City and how the makers of the movie marketed the soundtrack to help promote the film – again you have to remember most of the actors were unknowns at the time of its release. The feature has interviews with Ice T and Warren G.
Snipes’ character Nino Brown builds a criminal empire
Although it is a bit dated today, New Jack City is still a powerful movie that explores the criminal world and the results of drug addiction. It is entertaining for fans of the crime genre, and still worth watching.
I recommend the two-disc set to anyone who enjoyed the movie and the music that help shape its characters.
The two-disc special edition of New Jack City is available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK, but the regular edition is available at AmazonUK . Visit the DVD’s database for more information.
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