Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.5 |
| Video |  | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 1.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Cotton Comes to Harlem Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 22, 2014
Ossie Davis (who passed away in 2005) was a respected actor, but little is shared about his brief career as a film director. 1970’s “Cotton Comes to Harlem” was his second movie, but it’s an important feature when it comes to the growth of blacksploitation cinema, helping to define what the decade would eventually offer in defiant, gritty entertainment. It’s also something of a supercop picture, always a delightful subgenre, bringing the exploits of Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) to the big screen, with the pair of no-nonsense cops scouring NYC to locate a missing bale of cotton containing a small fortune and nail a crooked preacher for his considerable crimes.
Davis (who co-scripts) does an amazing job with this adaptation of a Chester Himes novel, transforming “Cotton Comes to Harlem” into a riotous comedy (Redd Foxx appears in a supporting role) that floors it from the get-go. It’s a feature that celebrates madcap antics with physical emphasis, pokes satirically at black culture, and indulges cynical cop procedures, with the stars of the show openly mocking their suspects and witnesses, showing little patience for the wheels of justice to turn. There’s a plot involving missing money, and Davis takes the premise with a degree of seriousness, emphasizing character to encourage a deeper investment in the plot. However, “Cotton Comes to Harlem” is mostly about the ride, with chases and barbed banter urging the movie along, keeping the whole endeavor light on its toes.
Cotton Comes to Harlem Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Color is a highlight of the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Dealing with an explosive period in costuming choices, hues are bold, with a secure read of primaries, appearing here without overt fade. Skintones are also true. Grain is present, delivering a filmic viewing experience, and detail is strong throughout, providing vivid textures on close-ups and NYC locations, keeping image easily inspected. Print features some troublesome reel changes and speckling, but remains in good condition. Black levels are expressive, sustaining delineation on evening activities.
Cotton Comes to Harlem Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix keeps dialogue exchanges crisp and loud, preserving performer idiosyncrasies with clarity, with only a mild read of hiss competing with the freshness of voices. The group dynamic is also handled satisfactorily, with heightening behavior identified with ease. Scoring is big and defined, and while it supports without steamrolling the human element, it's also able to carry specific moments without drowning out the rest of the mix.
Cotton Comes to Harlem Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- A Theatrical Trailer (2:12, HD) is included.
Cotton Comes to Harlem Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"Cotton Comes to Harlem" is a spirited, edgy romp, juggling violence and laughs with conviction. It has faith in its audience to have fun with wavering tonality, while Davis preserves the NYC atmosphere, dashing around the streets and inside nightclubs and apartment buildings, keeping the visuals as varied as the personalities. It's a strangely hypnotic effort, and for anyone interested in the foundation of blacksploitation, this should be one of your first stops on a long cinematic education.
