Rage in Harlem: la reine des pommes

A Rage in Harlem (1991) is a movie I watched for the first time in a long time on Amazon Prime. The storyline involves the woman of a drug lord who steals a briefcase of money and needs to find a quick and cheap place to live. She stashes away with a virgin, religious mamas boy who would appear to have no hope with her. Her misfortunes may lead to his good fortunes. This movie is directed by Bill Duke (Hoodlum) and stars Robin Givens (Boomerang), Forest Whitaker (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon) and Zakes Mokae (The Serpent and the Rainbow). The storyline for this picture is fairly straightforward but entertaining. Badja Djola (The Last Boy Scout) played a solid villain and Givens delivered a sly and unpredictable character well. Whitaker was great as the clumsy lover boy too. The cast and execution was perfect. The storyline wasn't as compelling to me as Duke's Hoodlum but it is still entertaining and worth a viewing. I'd score this a 6.5/10.

The story revolves around a chest of gold. People find it and lose it, people kill and die for it. Deceit is the currency for everyone. Well, for everyone but Jackson, whose candid innocence and unwavering faith in his love and his Imabelle brings some light in what's basically a very dark tale. And this is true even with all the humor and the wit which is indeed in the story. There's violence here, there's bad things happening, but there's tenderness too, and caring, and straightforward humour. The actors are familiar stars, back when a bit younger (produced in 1991). But their talent is very evident here, shown through every twist and tumble of the cliff-hangers throughout the film. And the print is fine indeed; along with all production values. Forest Whitaker, Danny Glover, Robin Givens and Gregory Hines all give their all; everything, action, bawdy humor, music, all shine through.

The fast pace, the witty dialogues, the honest rendering of human flaws and strength reminded me a lot of the book, even if some of the dynamics are different. Still I enjoyed what's new in the film as much as I enjoyed everything in the book. One of the new ideas I particularly enjoyed is the larger importance of Imabelle character inside the story. She has a larger part, her story starts first and is presented in more detailed, and she comes across as an exceptionally hard-boiled, and still very vulnerable characters. This was just a good fun heist film set back in Harlem's hay day. Take a ride back into time and have a good laugh, you will be glad you did.

Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Robin Givens stars in this brilliant action-comedy-crime-thriller flick about a gangster's moll, who after a bloody shoot-out in the beginning, flees to Harlem with a trunkload of gold. She later finds herself involved with a shy assistant(the always dependable Forest Whitaker). They predictably fall in love and pretty soon Givens' presumed dead boyfriend comes to town looking for her and the gold.

As my one line summary states it, this is one the best gangster movies ever made. In the vein of such gangster films like "The Untouchables" or "Hoodlum", "A Rage in Harlem" ranks pretty high up there. Director Bill Duke who directed Laurence Fishburne in the very stylish "Deep Cover" and the gritty "Hoodlum" is at the top of his game here. The 1950s setting really adds to the overall greatness of this movie.

Robin Givens is excellent and very beautiful in a role that seems almost perfectly suited for her. Forest Whitaker plays his role almost too good. Not only does fit his part but he looks it as well.

To sum it up, this movie is excellent. The direction, acting, and casting are all top notch.

10/10

This takes place in 1956. Imabelle (Robin Givens) gets away from her mobster boyfriend with a stash of gold he stole. She drives from Mississippi to NY and hides out totally unaware that her boyfriend and his gang are after her. She gets an overweight, naive and trusting man named Jackson (Forest Whitaker) to love her--but then her boyfriend shows up. She leaves him but Jackson gets his brother Goldy (Gregory Hines) to help him find her.

That may sound a little plot heavy...but that's only the first hour! This movie is way too convoluted and far too long. Also Hines and Givens are just not good actors. They try but they can't pull this off--although Givens looks great in some of her costumes. Still I did like this.

Some previous posters pointed out that this is extremely bloody and that's very true. Also it has strong doses of black humor. Still, it didn't bother me. If anything it gave the film a few nice jolts. It's well directed by Bill Duke, has great period detail (love the cars!) and (aside from Givens and Hines) has plenty of good acting. So, if you like extreme violence, black humor and gangster movies this should work for you. I give it a 7.

Seductress gun moll Imabelle (Robin Givens) escapes a gunfight with white police in Mississippi and steals a trunk full of gold ending up in Harlem. Religiously devoted undertaker Jackson (Forest Whitaker) is a pushover and he completely falls under her spell. His brother Goldy (Gregory Hines) is a gangster. Easy Money (Danny Glover) is a more ruthless mobster. Scary men from the south have arrived looking for the gold.

Jackson needs an early scene with Goldy to set up their relationship. Robin Givens uses all her sex appeal. Whitaker is always good. In this one, he's forced to bend a bit too far. He can be this pushover but he can't be clueless. At times, he drifts into cluelessness. The writing is not always the best. Everybody is acting over the top in gangster style. It adds an interesting but flawed movie.