Monday, December 08, 2008

Non-Oprah Film Club: Across 110th Street



Released in 1972, Across 110th Street is the violent story of a trio of robbers who gun down 5 guys while stealing $300,000 in mob money, and the race between the police and the black and Italian mob they ripped off.

Where has this movie been all of my life? If Sidney Lumet made a blaxploitation movie, it would be Across 110th Street. Acutally, I don't know if Lumet could have pulled this off to tell you the truth. The rough direction by Barry Shear, whose economic television technique shines through, along with the raw performances from Paul Benjamin and Anthony Quinn (who is a baaad motherfucker in this - who thought Anthony Quinn could be a bad motherfucker?) transforms 110th from a generic urban action movie into a real piece of cinematic art.

Highly recommended.

2 comments:

Paul D Brazill said...

Weird, but I was just listening to the soundtrack 3mins b4 I discovered your blog!

Steve Allan said...

I think the title song is up there with Superfly and Shaft - maybe the best of the three to tell you the truth.