Synopsis
A gangster, Nino, is in the Cash Money Brothers, making a million dollars every week selling crack. A cop, Scotty, discovers that the only way to infiltrate the gang is to become a dealer himself.
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Cast
- Wesley SnipesNino Brown
- Ice-TScotty Appleton
- Allen PayneGarald "Gee Money" Welles
- Chris RockPookie
- Mario Van PeeblesStone
- Michael MicheleSelina
- Bill NunnDuh Duh Duh Man
- Russell WongPark
- Bill CobbsOld Man
- Christopher WilliamsKareem Akbar
Recommendations
- 88
Chicago Sun-Times
The movie isn't a comic book that's been assembled out of the spare parts from other crime movies; it's an original, in-depth look at this world, written and directed with concern—apparently after a lot of research and inside information. - 88
Washington Post
The "Godfather" films transcended their mobster genre; New Jack City doesn't, but it's a great genre film, edgy, vibrant and full of urgent color. - 80
The New York Times
The film's flamboyant portrait of Nino may be stereotypical, but Mr. Snipes makes it chilling. - 75
USA Today
City loses some bearings in its second half, becoming a ragged collection of punchy action scenes. Big deal. It's also one of the most enjoyably ragged examples of fuzz vs. scuz since 1972's Across 110th Street. [8 Mar 1991, p.2D] - 75
San Francisco Chronicle
Modeling his work after the old Warner Bros. gangster movies of the '30s and '40s, and using plenty of shootouts, Van Peebles still manages to instill a highly personal sense of urgency about the need to eradicate the crack trade. That passion flares through the script by Thomas Lee Wright and Barry Michael Cooper, a former addict who coined the phrase ''new jack'' to describe the flashy style of deprived inner-city youth eager to get rich quick by any means. [8 Mar 1991, p.E3] - 70
Variety
Filmmakers pull off a provocative, pulsating update on gangster pics with this action-laden epic about the rise and fall of an inner city crack dealer. Strongest element is the anger and disgust directed squarely at drug dealers. - 50
TV Guide Magazine
Despite its preachiness, we all know New Jack City is making the right statement on drugs, racism, the system, etc. But the fact is it's not very good. - 50
Chicago Tribune
The movie has no sense of temptation and no real taste for revolt-it's a good little film that knows its place. Van Peebles' direction has a by-the-numbers competence but no discernible personality.
