Clockers
1995
***½
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lindo, Mekhi Phifer, Isaiah Washington, Keith David, Regina Taylor, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Sticky Fingaz, Fredro Starr
Strike, a young low-level drug dealer, is torn between loyalty to his ruthless boss and his desire to escape the drug trade. When his brother confesses to a murder, a determined homicide detective suspects Strike knows the real truth. This compelling drama combines a gritty and believable urban crime story, from Richard Price's 1992 novel, with Spike Lee's freewheeling directorial style. The resulting film is too long and occasionally repetitive, but consistently interesting. Mekhi Phifer delivers a strong debut performance.
