Two young friends involved in organized crime and drug dealing find that their priorities differ.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| DMX | ... |
Tommy 'Buns' Bundy
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| Nas | ... |
Sincere
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| Hassan Johnson | ... |
Mark
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| Taral Hicks | ... |
Kisha
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| Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins | ... |
Tionne
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| Oliver 'Power' Grant | ... |
Knowledge
(as Power)
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Louie Rankin | ... |
Lennox
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Stan Drayton | ... |
Wise
(as Stanley Drayton)
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James Parris | ... |
LaKid
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| Method Man | ... |
Shameek
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| Kurt Loder | ... |
Kurt Loder
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| Benjamin F. Chavis | ... |
Rev. Saviour
(as Minister Benjamin F. Muhammed)
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| Tyrin Turner | ... |
Big
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Jay Black | ... |
Black
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John 'B.J.' Bryant | ... |
Thug #1
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Prince 'Blunt' Graham | ... |
Thug #2
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Wondosas 'Kilo' Martin | ... |
Thug #3
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Shaun Morrison | ... |
Housekeeper
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| Frank Vincent | ... |
Roger
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Eric Keith McNeil | ... |
Shorty
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Xavier Simmons | ... |
Young Tommy
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LaVita Raynor | ... |
Kionna
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Monica Michaels | ... |
Club Manager
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| Jen Gatien | ... |
Girl in Office
(as Jennifer 'Nen' Gatien)
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AZ | ... |
Born
(as Anthony 'Az' Cruz)
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David Edwards | ... |
Federal Agent
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Jeffrey H. Kaufman | ... |
Federal Agent
(as Jeffrey Kaufman)
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Brant Spencer | ... |
Federal Agent
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Adam Vignola | ... |
Federal Agent
(as Adam C. Vignola)
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Micaal Stevens | ... |
Killer
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Michael Woodhouse | ... |
Older Barber
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Tyrone Lewis | ... |
Younger Barber
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Carmen Yannuzzi Jr. | ... |
Guard
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Crystal N. Johnson | ... |
Knowledge's Cop Girlfriend
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James Gresham | ... |
Speaker
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Michael Manning | ... |
Teacher
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| Tony Devon | ... |
FBI Agent
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Akim Black | ... |
Church Member (uncredited)
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Bogle | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Paul Borghese | ... |
Officer who arrests Tommy 'Buns' (uncredited)
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| Joe Crosson | ... |
Church member (uncredited)
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Keshun Davis | ... |
Chiquita (Assassin) (uncredited)
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| Brother Eden Douglas | ... |
Night Assassin (uncredited)
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Andrew G. Johnson | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Dufflyn Lammers | ... |
Poet / Wrath (uncredited)
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| Steve Nuke | ... |
FBI Agent (uncredited)
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| Sean Paul | ... |
Sean Paul (uncredited)
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| Akilah Shedrick | ... |
Party goer at night club (uncredited)
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Ronald 'Too Small' Small | ... |
Bodyguard (uncredited)
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| Nick Stellate | ... |
Cop (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Hype Williams | ||
Written by
| Anthony Bodden | ... | (story) & |
| Nas | ... | (story) & |
| Hype Williams | ... | (story) |
| Hype Williams | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| James Bigwood | ... | executive producer |
| Rj Harper | ... | producer liaison |
| Avram 'Butch' Kaplan | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Larry Meistrich | ... | producer |
| Edwin J. Nunez | ... | producer |
| Ron Rotholz | ... | producer |
| Robert Salerno | ... | producer |
| Hype Williams | ... | producer |
Music by
| Stephen Cullo | ||
Cinematography by
| Malik Hassan Sayeed | ... | director of photography (as Malik Sayeed) |
Editing by
| David Leonard | ||
Editorial Department
| Laura Congleton | ... | assistant editor |
| Keith Croket | ... | associate editor |
| Bryan Ellenburg | ... | executive in charge of post-production |
| Tritia Espinoza | ... | international editor |
| Jim Passon | ... | color timer |
| Patricia Sztaba | ... | negative matcher |
| Stan Sztaba | ... | negative matcher |
Casting By
| Winsome Sinclair | ||
Production Design by
| Regan Jackson | ||
Art Direction by
| Jennifer Chang Binns | ... | (as Jennifer Chang) |
| Nicholas Lundy | ||
Set Decoration by
| Raquel Anita Parke | ||
| Carol Silverman | ||
Costume Design by
| June Ambrose | ||
Makeup Department
| Mary Aaron | ... | makeup artist |
| Marie Brown | ... | personal hair stylist: Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins |
| Jane Choi | ... | additional assistant makeup artist |
| Sharyn Cordice | ... | makeup department head |
| Michele Paris | ... | key makeup artist (as Michele Paris-Catanzarite) |
Production Management
| Bill Block | ... | executive in charge of production |
| Kwesi Dickson | ... | unit production manager: Jamaica |
| Richard Ford Jr. | ... | production supervisor |
| Eitan Hakami | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Dana Reid | ... | executive in charge of production |
| Natascha Tillmanns | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Angi Bones | ... | second second assistant director (as Angelique Bones) |
| Sarah Gyllenstierna | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Scott Canfield | ... | set dresser |
| Hallie Coletta | ... | scenic artist |
| Karen Cusick | ... | art department coordinator |
| Anthony Dimeo | ... | property master |
| Director X | ... | visual consultant (as Julien Christian Lutz) |
| Daniel Finn | ... | key construction grip |
| Rodrigo Guerrero | ... | art department intern |
| Greg Izzo | ... | special props |
| Clarissa Shanahan | ... | painter |
Sound Department
| David Acord | ... | boom operator |
| Steve Borne | ... | sound designer (as Steve 'Iceman' Borne) |
| Dave Flynch | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Bobby Johanson | ... | adr mixer |
| Bruce Kitzmeyer | ... | sound effects editor |
| Tod A. Maitland | ... | sound mixer |
| Reggie McGuire | ... | sound effects editor |
| Jay Meagher | ... | sound mixer |
| Branka Mrkic | ... | adr editor |
| Kelly Neese | ... | recordist |
| T.J. O'Mara | ... | cable |
| Angela Organ | ... | assistant adr editor |
| Ulises Sanz | ... | international mixer |
| Michael Scott | ... | boom operator |
| Dominick Tavella | ... | sound re-recordist |
| Clive Taylor | ... | sound editor: TV version |
| Jerome R. Vitucci | ... | recordist |
Visual Effects by
| Andy Barrios | ... | inferno artist: main title, Rainmaker Digital |
| Eric Person | ... | digital effects |
| Wilson Tang | ... | digital restoration |
| Christopher Dusendschon | ... | in-show optical process and effects compositor: THDX (uncredited) / optical element Hazeltine colorist: THDX (uncredited) |
| Will McCoy | ... | digital compositor (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Brother Eden Douglas | ... | stunt performer (as Brother Douglas) |
| Peter Epstein | ... | stunts |
| Joanne Lamstein | ... | stunts |
| Julius LeFlore | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Marcus Salgado | ... | stunts |
| Mitchell Green | ... | stunt performer (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Terrence Laron Burke | ... | grip |
| Brian Carmichael | ... | video operator |
| Teofilo Colon Jr. | ... | assistant to cinematographer |
| Lamont Crawford | ... | key dolly grip |
| Ray Edwards | ... | second assistant camera: Jamaica |
| Christian Epps | ... | gaffer |
| James McMillan | ... | key grip |
| Leigh Rathner | ... | second assistant camera |
| Rick Robinson | ... | camera operator |
| Darren Ryan | ... | 24 frame video operator |
| Lowell Schulman | ... | key construction electric |
| Jonas Steadman | ... | Add'l 1st Assistant Camera |
Casting Department
| Mel City | ... | casting associate |
| David H. Kramer | ... | adr voice casting |
| With Lacroix | ... | casting assistant |
| Theron Smith | ... | casting associate |
| Akilah Shedrick | ... | extras casting (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Denise N. Gray | ... | wardrobe intern |
Location Management
| Guy Efrat | ... | location scout |
| Charlynne J. Hopson | ... | assistant location manager |
| Ronnie Kupferwasser | ... | location scout |
| James D. Lee | ... | assistant location manager |
| Michael London | ... | location facilities coordinator |
| Len Murach | ... | location manager |
| Shieed Pittman | ... | location production assistant |
| Joaquin Diego Prange | ... | location assistant |
| Cesar Quinones | ... | location scout |
| Mimi Turner | ... | location scout |
Music Department
| Barry Cole | ... | music consultant |
| Stuart Levy | ... | music editor |
| Lawrence Manchester | ... | score mixer |
Script and Continuity Department
| Andrea Greer | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Mike Easter | ... | transportation co-captain |
Additional Crew
| Steev Beeson | ... | production accountant (as Steve Beeson) |
| Anthony Bodden | ... | assistant to director / consultant: grassroots |
| Cassandra Butcher | ... | publicity consultant / unit publicist |
| Sam Connelly | ... | production assistant |
| P.J. Haines | ... | chef |
| Celeste Jackson | ... | assistant coordinator (as Celeste Peterka) |
| Rosemary Lombard | ... | production coordinator |
| Maeve Mannion | ... | production accountant: Jamaica |
| Keegan Martin | ... | production assistant |
| Tim Masick | ... | film-to-tape transfer |
| Ademola McMullen | ... | key production assistant |
| Bryndan D. Moore | ... | production assistant (as Bryndan Moore) |
| Gayatri Persad | ... | production coordinator: Jamaica |
| Abdur Rahman | ... | directorial assistant |
| Gingi Rochelle | ... | equipment coordinator |
| Dana Terra | ... | equipment coordinator: Jamaica |
| Rick Washburn | ... | weapons coordinator |
| Ryder Washburn | ... | assistant weapons coordinator |
| Ithiell Yisrael | ... | production assistant |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Artisan Entertainment (United States) (DVD)
- Highlight Video (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- Momentum Pictures (1998) (United Kingdom)
- United Paramount Network (UPN) (United States) (tv)
- WWOR (United States) (tv)
- Xscapade Pictures Ltd.
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Film Finances (completion guarantor)
- Mega Playground (consultation, video dailies, post-production facility)
- THX Ltd. (digital mastering: 2006 DVD)
- Visual Icon (exclusive clip and still licensing)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Tommy Brown and his friend Sincere are gangsters who have learned how to make a good living by dealing drugs and pulling armed robberies. Tommy and Sincere have been able to move out of the ghetto in Queens where they were raised and relocate to an upscale section of Manhattan; they would seem to have it made, but both realize that their lives are headed toward a dead end. Sincere begins getting in touch with his African roots and tries to convince his girlfriend Tionne that they should emigrate to the Motherland, while Tommy has a religious awakening and joins the Nation of Islam. Written by Anonymous |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Money, power, respect... but who's got your back? See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $3,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $3,454,776, 08 Nov 1998 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The scenes where the characters are seen smoking weed in the film are real, the marijuana blunts being smoked are not props. See more » |
| Goofs | In the scene when Tommy house gets raided by the authorities he later tells Sincere that it was the Feds that hit his spot the problem with that is they were snitched on by a rival dealer the FBI wouldn't get involved in drug busts that area of crime would fall under the DEA or the local PD Narcotics Unit.. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Mýa Feat. Noreaga & Raekwon: Movin' Out (1998). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Back to Life See more » |
| Quotes |
Rev. Saviour:
I knew you were coming... so I sent everyone away... because I believed my final moment was at hand. Before you pull that trigger... and take my life, I would like the chance to tell you some things, perhaps to think about after I am gone. Don't worry about me stallin'. My people have orders to leave me to my studies for another 15 minutes. I will only take five. Can you bear with me? Will you? Then make up your mind. Today marks the change of not only a New Year, but a new millennium. Take a look around. The majority of the youth roam the streets... dealing in drugs, sex and violence, thinking these things have no real effect on life. Crimes without real punishment. An uncaring, unfeeling generation... without knowledge of self. This is the future of our nation, the future of our people. Do you think hatred and evil will go unpunished? The world is now feeling the heat... from flames it has kept burning since the beginning of civilization. You represent that fire. You and I are just a small part of God's plan. The evil men of this world have applied every method possible... to deceive its occupants. And each time with greater success than anticipated. But no more. Tonight, with this new millennium, God will begin to overcome this evil. I represent the truth... to the people. Without truth, nothing is sacred. The lie-that's what the devil is all about. You know that, that's why you're here. The truth is, we all play a grave role... in our own destruction. Your money. Your lifestyles. The things that people value and covet so dearly... are the bait that lures them out of the light. Through the love of others... I have power. The truth gives me this. Those that fear me send you here, here to murder all that I say. They use what you fear against you. Your fear of death, your fear of imprisonment. Where in this world is anyone safe from death? You see the lies you've been told? The path you take is not your own. Have you ever thought about how precious a life is? How difficult it is to create? How loosely and easily it has been for you to take away? Brother, help me. Help me to do what's right. Help me to stop the slaughter of our children. Help me to put an end to the disrespect... and the dishonor of our most valuable resource: the black woman. Help me put an end... to the destruction of the young mind through the use of drugs, alcohol. Help me to build up a population of great thinkers. People who create change... through thoughtfulness and spirituality. Will you choose that truth? Will you? Will you choose the light over the darkness? Hold it, stay where you are. Will you choose life? It's time. It's time, man. It's time. See more » |