Sunday night was a bit of a marathon. In addition to watching Millions, which was due back to Family Video, we also watched New Jack City, which was due back to the library. The movie is set in late 80’s New York City and chronicles the rise of a new drug gang, the Cash Money Brothers (CMB), and the NARCS who are trying to bring them down. Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Allen Payne, and Chris Rock star. The soundtrack kicks with Queen Latifah and Ice-T providing the defining raps. Flavor Flav cameos as a night club MC, big clock and all.

As an action movie, it’s not very good. The gunfights are almost comical. It seems gangsters with automatic sub-machine guns are very inaccurate. As a social commentary, however, I thought it was worthwhile. The rise of the CMB is really the rise of crack cocaine. The movie presents a strong indictment of the War on Drugs. Turns out all was not rosy in the economic boom of the 80’s. Not all boats rose with the tide; some capsized.

The R rating well deserved: It’s loaded with bullets and a far dinkum or blood. There are a couple scenes with partial nudity. Using the Carlin standard only about half the dialogue could be repeated on television.

My verdict: It’s worth getting from the library or the dollar rack at the rental store, not so much as an action film, but as social commentary. The 80s fashion and hair styles are pretty rad, too.