Atrapados por la violencia

My assumption is that if you watched this movie, or are interested in watching this movie, then you know what the word "strapped" means. But, just in case your slang knowledge is lacking, strapped is an "urban" term meaning that one is carrying a gun.

It is clear from the end credits' text and the title of this movie that the pervasive message is one of gun control. I would be naïve to believe that the plethora of guns, particularly in the inner cities (or ghettos if you will), have nothing to do with the amount of violence in those same places. Guns absolutely play a role and are a factor in the violence. But I'd be equally naïve to believe that there are not myriad other contributing factors to the violence. And what was apparent in the movie "Strapped," by Forest Whitaker, was that hopelessness and thuggishness were as big, if not bigger, contributors to inner-city violence than even the guns. Not that hopelessness and thuggishness (or thuggery) always exist together, but hopelessness is definitely the main pillar of thuggishness. Remove hopelessness and thuggishness goes with it.

Enough of the societal ills speech.

As far as the movie is concerned, it was OK, but it had a lot of stiff competition at that time. I'd say that the late 80's/early 90's--probably starting with "Colors"-- produced quite a few movies centered around life in the 'hood; with some of your better movies being "Colors," "Boyz in the Hood," "South Central," "Menace to Society," and a couple of others. You can even extend the list to add movies like "The George McKenna Story," "Lean on Me," and "Stand and Deliver." Even though they were education based, they dealt with young people in the 'hood.

So, with the aforementioned movies already being so prominent, what was going to make "Strapped" stand out? As it was, I saw "Strapped" as a different version of the movie "Juice." "Strapped" is almost identical to "Juice." Both took place in New York. Both had a relatively levelheaded main character (Q, played by Omar Epps in "Juice" and DiQuan, played by Bokeem Woodbine in "Strapped"). Both had a hot-headed supporting actor (Bishop, played by Tupac in "Juice" and Bamboo, played by Fredro Starr in "Strapped"). And the main theme to "Juice" was you had juice if you were strapped. So, what you found is that Bishop in "Juice" became an untamable monster by virtue of having a gun; while Bamboo (Fredro Star), in the movie "Strapped," wilds out for virtual the same reason (and it's not lost on me that the two gun-happy characters have names that start with "B" and were played by rappers).

"Strapped" is essentially the same story as "Juice" with a little more emphasis on the wide distribution of guns in the ghetto. I happened to like "Strapped" more than I like "Juice" simply because of the two hyperbolized characters (Bishop and Bamboo), Bishop was the most outrageous. His behavior seemed extremely manic when nothing changed but his acquiring a pistol.

With a bevy of prior similar movies and a more popular movie that was nearly identical, "Strapped" failed to distinguish itself. Add to that the sub-standard cinematic quality, dialogue, and acting, "Strapped" just didn't cut it. It is watchable, I just wouldn't watch it twice.

I must give credit where credit is due. This film has a pretty good, well-structured script, with a powerful crisis and climax in the end. I must commend the writer for putting together such a script.

But the acting wasn't convincing most of the time, and the Brooklyn portrayal, which includes the character's choices of clothing, didn't give a realistic image of the Brooklyn I know. I would also probably change the music in the film, cut-out the snippets of reggae music during the revealing of a gun in the film, and the emphasis made on the main actors to look like thugs. The actors over did their performances as criminals most of the time and it was a bit distracting to someone, like myself, who grew up hanging out with true thugs from the streets of Brooklyn, New York.

But besides all of that, the film was still great. From a grade of A+, being excellent, to a F, being the worst, I give this film a C...

Take any of the dramas that came out in the early 90's about young African American men caught up in the dope game, everything that entails and substitute guns for them instead. Voila what you've got is the made-for-tv movie called 'Strapped' where some solid performances aren't enough to rise above a formula story. Accomplished actor Forest Whitaker directs in his behind the camera debut.

Diquan Mitchell (Bokeem Woodbine) spent time behind bars and isn't looking to go back. Trying to go straight takes a turn however when his pregnant gf is busted for selling crack cocaine & needs him to come up with bail money. Now it's a complicated mix of allegiances between old friend Bamboo (Fredro Starr) making bank selling guns on the street as a middle-man and Detective McRae (Michael Biehn). Who wants to help Diquan and his situation, but only if he gets him a high-end bust.

Woodbine, Biehn and Starr are all more than adequate. Solid pieces of acting, but they're constrained by a cookie cutter plot that doesn't have anything new to say on the topics of crime and everyday life. Also not lacking in questionable or downright cliche moments fueled by Diquan. Don't get me started on that forced and rather silly ending too.

Is 'Strapped' about guns? Poverty? Misguided thinking? It's hard to tell by the time the finale rolls around where some senseless deaths and loudmouth behavior gave the film it's most visceral bursts of energy. Whitaker and an able cast are up for the material, but this HBO made movie never does anything to set itself apart which explains why it's largely been forgotten about in a sea of similar films.

This is an absolutley great film. Forest Whiteka has excelled himself with a great detailed account of the lives of young black youths struggling through poverty to survive. The director of photography has chosen some brilliant urban backdrops to set the picture alive, almost as if you're a third person view within the film. The story is compelling and well structured, sure it's been done before, but it's the way it has been done that makes this movie so interesting to watch. Has some classic elements of other films such as The Warriors in places, but this only adds to the surreal effect being created here by Forest!

It also has some of the most shocking scenes from the 1993 era. A definite must see for urban-gangsta fans everywhere. Bokeem displays an amazing performance.

Why it wasn't a video release seems beyond me.

Although this is a credible story with good directing, I found the characters not very believable and some of the acting over done. Bokeem Woodbine as Diquan Mitchell is okay, but the turnaround in his state of mind at the end of the show is quite astonishing.

The ending leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Sure, it may be intentional but it unravels the whole point of the movie. What I thought was the story of a ex-con trying to make good his life suddenly ends in a socio drama reflecting the sad situation of the black community in Brooklyn. Everything seems to be a wasted effort -- there's just no conclusion.