Hoodlum

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Hoodlum

R

1997

2h 10m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Having just been released from jail, Bumpy Johnson (Laurence Fishburne) returns to his criminal ways as a linchpin in the African-American-run numbers racket. However, Bumpy's longtime friend Illinois Gordon (Chi McBride) and girlfriend Francine Hughes (Vanessa Williams) are both eager to get him back on the straight and narrow. But a brewing rivalry with Mafia boss Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia) and his henchman Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth) threatens to raise the stakes to dangerous new levels.

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USA Today

01/01/2000

3/4

The Sting-like ending with its crosses and double-crosses could have been better handled, but there are plenty of other payoffs.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

3/4

This is a gangster movie in a sense, but it is also about free enterprise.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

07/24/2016

2.5/4

[UPDATED 2025 REVIEW] Impressively mounted if overly familiar gangster tale.

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

02/14/2009

2/4

This slow-going, talky film is in a constant struggle to hold the audience's interest.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

07/28/2005

3/5

Dragan Antulov

rec.arts.movies.reviews

03/15/2004

2/10

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Max M.

@Househuntermax Nov 19

Great period crime drama

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Hugh O

Jul 24

In many ways, this movie is time travel. The cast’s Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth and Andy Garcia are absolutely top class as very different players of the time. I found the movie completely gripping and they show the moral arc of the character portrayed by Lawrence Fishburne. Admittedly, some of the acting is a little bit wooden here and there, and sometimes they confrontations between the characters of a little bit TV movie, but it is a movie to see

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D P

Jun 18

I didn't even know this movie existed. I try to support black cinema, but this won't suffice. Everything about this movie was subpar.

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Nunn Y

Feb 28

I love this gangster flick. The acting, atmosphere of the scenes was on point and I love seeing this piece of Harlem history as a beautiful cinematic period piece.

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Jelisije J

01/27/2024

An enjoyable gangster flick where the tone is all over the place, but leaves a memorable experience at the end of the day.

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andre k

01/17/2022

Laurence Fishburne!!!

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Bill Duke

Director

Laurence Fishburne

Bumpy Johnson

Tim Roth

Dutch Schultz

Vanessa Williams

Francine Hughes

Andy Garcia

Lucky Luciano

Cicely Tyson

Stephanie St. Clair

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3%

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Synopsis

Having just been released from jail, Bumpy Johnson (Laurence Fishburne) returns to his criminal ways as a linchpin in the African-American-run numbers racket. However, Bumpy's longtime friend Illinois Gordon (Chi McBride) and girlfriend Francine Hughes (Vanessa Williams) are both eager to get him back on the straight and narrow. But a brewing rivalry with Mafia boss Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia) and his henchman Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth) threatens to raise the stakes to dangerous new levels.

Director: Bill Duke
Producer: Frank Mancuso Jr.
Screenwriter: Chris Brancato
Distributor: United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: United Artists
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 27, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.5M
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS

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