Directed by Jeff Pollack. Starring Duane Martin, Leon, Tupac Shakur, Marlon Wayans, David Bailey, Bernie Mac, Tonya Pinkins, Wood Harris, Shawn Michael Howard, Henry Simmons. (R)
Young basketball talent Martin finds himself pulled in different directions by two young men: Leon, a former star player who lost it all and now works as a security guard, and Shakur, a brash drug dealer who wants Martin to play for his rough-styling Rucker's Playground team. Pretty standard stuff by by both inner city sports movie and inner city criminal lifestyle movie standards, with predictable and superficial plotting and a few weak links in the supporting cast (Wayans especially). Although the characterization itself is familiar, Shakur is an attention-grabbing antagonist, and director Pollack manages some energy and flash during the basketball scenes. Better remembered today for its hit Death Row Records soundtrack rather than the actual content of the film itself.
54/100
Young basketball talent Martin finds himself pulled in different directions by two young men: Leon, a former star player who lost it all and now works as a security guard, and Shakur, a brash drug dealer who wants Martin to play for his rough-styling Rucker's Playground team. Pretty standard stuff by by both inner city sports movie and inner city criminal lifestyle movie standards, with predictable and superficial plotting and a few weak links in the supporting cast (Wayans especially). Although the characterization itself is familiar, Shakur is an attention-grabbing antagonist, and director Pollack manages some energy and flash during the basketball scenes. Better remembered today for its hit Death Row Records soundtrack rather than the actual content of the film itself.
54/100