User Reviews

Some more input from the other review here, I caught a good print of this on TCM Middle East so maybe TCM US will play it sometime also. I enjoyed this escapist entertainment, you definitely would not take this movie seriously in any way. It's the kind of movie you would have caught at a drive thru or at a 2nd tier movie theater like on 42nd street in the 70's. Umong the best reasons to see this is a long full frontal of Pam Greere's bust, something that other movies she made early on lack but people rent just to see (like me, lol). As far as that goes, may I say that some things are best left to the imagination, the real thing will never live up to the fantasy (if there's a Rachel Welch/ Sophia Lauren/Gina Lola.... movie out there with actual nudity I'll pass now, I'd hate to spoil those fantasy's). The Asphalt Jungle is one of my favorite movies so thats the second reason why I wanted to see it (the Pam Greer factor was an unexpected surprise because I didn't know she was in this film). It's a low budget Blaxploitation film and of the few I've seen its better than most and for the white boy that I am kept me watching till the end (I lost interest in the others pretty fast). There's a good bit of T&A and a lot of it is nude, big pluses for me in a low budget flick. The story deviates from the earlier version but its not a bad thing, it's almost a must have for this to have some type of "good" ending. I didn't think the Whites were made too stupid or bad which was good, and probably makes this hold up better as time goes on. I really liked the acting by Sam Laws by the way, he did alright as did most of the cast and the ladies were very pretty (God I'm fixated on the babes in this flick, lol). Catch the sign at the Bathhouses front counter that says "No Homos Allowed" .....classic. 7/10 for the entertainment factor.

The cast list of this blaxploitation caper film (that could easily be defined as a comedy) is a who's who of the genre, and modern classic black cinema as well. With Judy Pace, Paula Kelly, Pam Grier and Margaret Avery among the young ladies alone, it's worth seeing just on those credits. For their talents though, they're upstaged by the scene stealing Royce Wallace as the wheelchair bound wife of Raymond St. Jacques who walks off with the film, her desperation for some loving by her uninterested husband making them like a black version of "The Ropers" from "Three's Company".

The film surrounds a group of black men of different backgrounds who decide that the best way of rising past the white man is to perform the ultimate heist, a theft of $3 million dollars in underworld diamonds. Jack Crowder, St. Jacques, Jim Watkins and Sam Laws are trying to stay ons step ahead of the law which includes Lincoln Kilpatrick, John Lupton and Stewart Bradley.

Even events leading up to the heist is completely cartoon like with plenty of double talk and buffoonish reactions by the white cops. They know something's going on but are far too idiotic to catch up in this road runner and coyote race where the road runner is stealing the coyote's Acme tools. This one gets better as it goes along where as everything unfolds the audience wants the heist to succeed even though it's obvious that they're going to turn on each other towards the end. I definitely see the comparisons to "The Asphalt Jungle".

Getting passed an excellent issue of a magazine called Cinema Retro from a family friend,I noticed a huge story about the films of Pam Grier.Talking to a family friend about the mag,he mentioned to me that he had recently discovered that Grier had appeared in a Blaxploitation remake of The Asphalt Jungle,which led to me getting ready to catch some breeze.

The plot:

Released from jail, master criminal Sidney Lord Jones (what a "street" name!) heads to LA. During his time in jail,Jones read magazines about diamonds ,which gave him the idea of planning a diamond heist,so that Jones can set up a "black bank",which will give affordable loans to African Americans.

Meeting underground bookie Finian and his major "financer" Bill Mercer,Jones reveals that he needs $50,000 in order to hire the best team for the heist.Keeping the fact that he is almost broke hidden from view,Mercer agrees to fund the robbery,whilst making secret plans to keep the diamonds all for himself.As Jones and the rest of the team start robbing the diamonds,they discover that Mercer has ruthless plans of his own.

View on the film:

Before I get to the movie,I have to mention that Warner Archives have given the title a very good transfer,with the audio being clear and easy to hear,whilst the picture is clean,but still retaining the gritty flavour of the film.

Keeping Solomon Burke's smooth jangly Funk score humming in the background,writer/director Barry Pollack gives the title an extraordinary rustic atmosphere,with Pollack following each gang member with hand-held whip-pans that give the film an almost documentary appearance.Along with the shot gun whip-pans,Pollack also slices Neo-Noir tension through a Blaxploitation filter,by covering the movie in ultra-stylised,low-lit primary colours,which heat up as tension starts to build between the gang.

Whilst the guys dominate the movie,the very sexy Pam Grier (who also appears naked) stands out in her small role as Mona,with Grier clear unease being the first shot of doubt to hit any of the gang members.Entering the film dancing out of jail, Thalmus Rasulala gives an excellent performance as Sidney Lord Jones,who Rasulala wraps up in silky-smooth Blaxploitation charm,which becomes brittle,as the fall out from the robbery leads to Rasulala transforming Jones into a Film Noir loner. Joining Rasulala, Julian Christopher gives a wonderful performance as Travis Battle,who Christopher gives a hard thug edge which never fits in with the socially savvy skills of Jones & Mercer.

Bringing The Asphalt Jungle into "the hood",the screenplay by Barry Pollack surprisingly does not pay much attention to the rehearsals of the robbery,with Pollack moving from the formation of the team straight to the robbery.Whilst sadly missing out on building anticipation for the robbery,Pollack makes up for it by making the robbery a thrilling set-piece,which sets each of the gang up for a Neo-Noir final note.Making sure that the title does not solely hang on the robbery,Pollack gives each of the gang members distinctive introductions,with Jones movie star sheen rubbing against Travis battered & bruised street fighter,as they both enter the deadly Blaxploitation Asphalt Jungle.

Shrewd criminal mastermind Sidley Lord James (smoothly played with charisma to burn by Thalmus Rasulala) gets paroled from prison. James concocts a bold scheme to steal three million worth of jewelry, but things go awry when human error encounters into the deal. Writer/director Barry Pollack relates the complex and compelling story at a quick pace, offers a flavorsome evocation of the gritty urban environment, brings an engaging hip sensibility to the already sound premise, and presents a neat rogues' gallery of colorful lowlife characters. The fine acting from the bang-up cast keeps this movie humming: Judy Pace as the sweet Obalese Eaton, Jim Watkins as bitter and down on his luck Vietnam veteran Travis Battle, Lincoln Kilpatrick as hard-nosed corrupt cop Lt. Brian Knowles, Sam Laws as jolly bookie Finian, Raymond St. Jacques as the slippery Bill Mercer, Stack Pierce as Mercer's shady partner Tinker, and Margaret Avery as the ditsy Lark. Pam Grier has a regrettably small part as a prostitute, but does at least bare her beautifully bountiful breasts. The amusing sense of cheeky humor and generous sprinkling of tasty female nudity rate as additional pluses. The heist is quite gripping and exciting. Kudos are also in order for Solomon Burke's funky chilling score and the polished cinematography by Andrew Davis. A nifty flick.