Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Original Gangstas Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 7, 2017

In 1988, titans from the Blaxploitation era (including Isaac Hayes, Bernie Casey, and Jim Brown) reunited for “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” a parody production from director Keenan Ivory Wayans that triumphantly pantsed the absurdities of the subgenre and embraced some of its effortless cool. In 1996, director Larry Cohen, a player in the Blaxploitation game with movies such as “Black Caesar” and “Hell Up in Harlem,” reunited most of the gang for “Original Gangstas,” which drops any ounce of intentional silliness, attempting to stage a traditional vigilante actioner with old faces and fists. Results are uneven at best, but when “Original Gangstas” fails, as it often does, there’s always the thrill of seeing some of these meaty actors onscreen again, delivering poundings to a younger generation that’s been raised without rules and respect. For that alone, the feature is worth a viewing, but it takes considerable patience to get there, as Cohen isn’t too concerned with throttling supporting performances, and the messages of Aubrey Rattan’s screenplay are confusing, seemingly celebrating a thuggish mentality the protagonists of the story are struggling to extinguish.

Times have been rough in Gary, Indiana, with the loss of the steel industry paving the way for street gangs to take over the city, with major forces in rivals The Rebels and The Diablos. When Kenny, a boy with a promising future, makes the mistake of hustling The Rebels in a basketball game, the gang retaliates by shooting him in broad daylight, with store owner Marvin (Oscar Brown Jr.) sharing witness information with the cops. Furious with the snitch, Rebels leader Spyro (Christopher B. Duncan) orders an underling to murder Marvin, but he botches the job. Arriving in town to tend to the mess is John (Fred Williamson), Marvin’s son and a high profile ex-NFL pro, returning to the city of his youth, furious with the violence, while reuniting with old friend, and Kenny’s mother, Laurie (Pam Grier). Declaring war on The Rebels, a criminal organization he co-founded long ago, John is ready to purge Gary of gangs and problems, picking up a partner in Jake (Jim Brown), Laurie’s ex. As the three gear up for a battle, local lawmakers and police try to broker peace, but John, Laurie, and Jake understand that something more is necessary to get rid of youthful aggressors.

Arriving during an era that produced decidedly more grim urban agony films like “Boyz n the Hood” and various Spike Lee endeavors, “Original Gangstas” aims to be throwback entertainment to a time when heroes were permitted to use violence to excise violence, only here the battleground isn’t a costal issue, but the heartland, with opening narration detailing how Gary, Indiana was once a thriving blue collar center of hope and employment before the steel mills shut down, trapping those left behind in poverty and despair. The screenplay isn’t subtle in the least, creating a snarling enemy out of Spyro and The Rebels, with their furious ways wreaking havoc on the local population, who live in a state of fear and for some, like Marvin, fatigue, used to the criminal element that grows yearly. “Original Gangstas” isn’t refined work, but it is evocative, creating a defined environment in Gary and its state of emergency, with the drive-by murder of Kenny barely raising an eyebrow with the community and the cops, who are routinely denied information to make proper arrests.

Gary is a hellhole, and John arrives to put things back in order, enraged that his elderly father was nearly killed for doing the right thing. There’s sympathy for Laurie as well, who’s snapped after losing her son, inspiring the former gridiron king to make changes around town, including confronting Spyro and his heavily armed minions. “Original Gangstas” is broad, almost a sequel to “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” rendering most attempts at emotion useless, with the possible exception of Jake’s lament for the life with Laurie he wasn’t allowed to live. The majority of the picture is primarily about screaming, crazed performances from the gang members, with most of the actors doing anything the can to make themselves stand out in the frame. The movie gets a little obnoxious at times, and while primarily colors were a staple of the subgenre, Cohen shows no real leadership during gangland visits, keeping what should be a horrifying actioner fully Crayola.

The thrill of “Original Gangstas” is watching Williamson, Grier, and especially Brown in action, gearing up to take on The Rebels, ready to pound any members who try to block their path to revenge. Cohen makes room for charged encounters and snarling threats before the effort escalates to shootouts, allowing the stars to showcase their natural charisma and way with acts of intimation, making a statement, however unrealistic, that age doesn’t dilute power. Adding to the experience are famous faces such as Paul Winfield (as a pastor who favors Rebel rule), Richard Roundtree, and Ron O’Neal, who makes a memorable appearance as a local man who rejects John’s sudden interest in the welfare of the community. And to make the movie all the more authentic, dopey white men are put in charge, with Robert Forster as a cop, Charles Napier as the Mayor of Gary, and Wings Hauser as a government stooge.

Original Gangstas Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers an older scan of "Original Gangstas" for its Blu-ray debut. Detail isn't impressive, only coming through memorably during select close-ups, and clarity is good with set decoration, showcasing town business and urban decay. Softness is present throughout and delineation isn't always consistent, but frame information is rarely threatened. Colors are adequate, best with louder period outfits, which register with bolder reds and yellows, while greenery and colder, concrete jungle hues are open for inspection. Skintones are natural. Source encounters a few single-frame red blemishes, and some speckling is spotted.

Original Gangstas Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Big beats welcome listeners to the 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix, which does very well with soundtrack selections, providing a clear study of rap tunes and R&B offerings, supplying crisp instrumentation and respectful placement, never intruding on the performances. Dialogue exchanges handle with ease, maintaining balance with screaming performers and hushed scenes of mourning. Atmospherics provide a sense of street bustle, but surrounds are rarely memorable. Sound effects detail sharp gunfire and heavier explosions.

Original Gangstas Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Larry Cohen.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:14, HD) is included.

Original Gangstas Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Original Gangstas" fumbles its overall theme of frustration, offering an eye-for-an-eye showdown with The Rebels (and other gangs) without a necessary understanding of the cyclical nature of violence -- a message it teases at the top of the feature. Cohen crudely discards deeper analysis as the film rolls to an explosive finale, while his quest to sell a soundtrack filled with gangster rap song seems at odds with the screenplay's condemnation of gang life. "Original Gangstas" isn't a mess, but it gradually falls apart as it gives in to bloodlust and chaos, trying to remain within the parameters of a freewheeling Blaxploitation movie that riles up its audience with a display of vengeance. It's hard to discount the power of the actors in revenge mode, but initial meditation on the ravages of violence is eventually replaced with mouthbreathing ridiculousness.