Clockers Movie Review 1995

Strike (Phifer), leader of a group of bottom-feeding drug dealers ("clockers"), engages in a power struggle with his boss (Lindo), his do-the-right-thing brother Victor (Washington), and his own conscience. He's also suspected of murder by relentless narcotics cop Rocco Klein (Keitel). Supported by an excellent cast, first-timer Phifer surprises with a fierce and powerful performance. Lindo, in particular, stands out as the paternally evil Rodney. Aggressively edited, with Turturro's performance mostly lost on the cutting room floor. Critically lauded cinematography is marred by the occasional boom shot. Poignant and compelling street drama is based on the Richard Price novel. Lee took over after Scorsese and De Niro dropped out to make "Casino."

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 128 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

New York, New York, Cops, Drug Use & Abuse, Books to Film: Richard Price, Hard Knock Life, African America, New Black Cinema

Screenplay

Richard Price, Spike Lee

Cast

Mekhi Phifer, Harvey Keitel, Delroy Lindo, Isaiah Washington, John Turturro, Keith David

Cinematography

Malik Hassan Sayeed

Director

Spike Lee

Music

Terence Blanchard

Producer

Spike Lee, Jon Kilik, Martin Scorsese, Monty Ross, Rosalie Swedlin, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Universal Pictures