User Reviews

A decent made for streaming urban crime drama, 4 childhood friends , trying to pursue their dreams of success, get hit with the calamity of Hurricane Katrina in their community and all hope for survival seem doubtful, RZA did what he could with the material to bring us a tale that is all too real, the acting from the veteran actors was excellent, the camera work during some scenes was a little chaotic, the plot could have been a little more coherent in some scenes , the soundtrack was excellent , the young actors that portrayed the friends, their skills will continue to develop, but got the job done in their roles, overall decent watch, I want to see more films from RZA in the future, he has potential to be a good director.

"Cut Throat City" (2020 release; 128 min.) brings the story of James and 3 of his friends. As the movie opens, they are reading a graphic novel that James has written and illustrated. It is James' wedding day, while we are told that Hurricane Katrina is rapidly approaching New Orleans. After Katrina ravages the city, James has a job interview that alas yields no job. Desperate for money, James and his friends turn to a local ringleader. He offers them an opportunity to mob a local casino, and they accept... At this point we are 10 min. into the film, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this film is the latest directed by the de facto Wu Tang Clan leader RZA (actually, the film credits reads "The RZA"). Here he takes on what in the abstract could make for a great movie: 4 guys attempt a casino heist, things don't quite work out as planned, and how they deal with the fall-out. Alas, this film is doomed by several factors: first and foremost, the film is nearly unwatchable resulting from the never-ending stream of extreme close-ups and head-ache inducing hand-held camera work. Check out the footage from within the van as the guys drive to/from the heist. It's one massive blur. Equally responsible for the film's downfall is the weak script. There is hardly any character development, and as a result, at no time did I have any emotional investment in any of the characters. That is a fatal flaw, sorry. The cast does the best it can with the material it is dealt with. Keep an eye out for Ehtan Hawke, appearing in a handful of scenes as the city council man who pressures the NOPD to apprehend the guys, the sooner the better.

"Cut Throat City" was scheduled to premiere at this year's SXSW festival. Then a little thing called COVID-19 stopped the world in its tracks and the festival was canceled (rightfully so, of course). The movie finally opened this weekend in theaters, as they try to brings back people while fully adhering to all COVID-19 compliance rules. The Saturday early evening screening where I saw this at the Cinemark here in Cincinnati was attended dismally: 3 people (including myself) in a huge theater. It will take stronger films than "Cut Throat City" to convince the public at large that it is safe to come back to the theater. Of course I'd readily suggest you check out "Cut Throat City", be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

It's easy to see that this film was made by a rapper who thinks he's a director.. This film had a terrible script and the overacting was just so obvious..The main character just couldn't act to save his life and I couldn't understand a word he was saying most of the time so subtitles would have been handy. The main villain just didn't fit the part and he just looked awful.. At the end there's this malcom x type mystery black crime boss as the film takes a plunge into spiritual overtones and philosophical sayings which was bordering on cringe. I felt like I was watching some weird masonic ritual gone wrong on YouTube. Ethan Hawk playing the crooked politician even came across like he was overacting and the film just made no sense at all to me. Straight to dvd for me with this film.. Don't waste your money.

Nobody with an actual New Orleans accent in the movie huh? And casting TI? Come on man, I'm pretty sure Juvenile was unemployed around this time. Lil Wayne or something.

Four best friends from the Lower Ninth Ward in post-Katrina New Orleans are struggling to survive. They try to rob a casino under the direction of local gangster Cousin Bass. It goes wrong and they become fugitives from both Bass and the law.

The characters are talking about Tarantino. RZA is obviously taking some homage with him. It's nowhere near that level but non of that is a cinematic sin. The first half is actually pretty good. I like the four buddies and I like crime drama. I like T.I. I like this movie until Terrence Howard and Ethan Hawke show up. Those characters are unnecessary and the movie is too long anyways. After the first half, it only needs a few more scenes before a big shoot-out to finish off a good crime B-movie. It wastes a couple A-level talents and the movie is compromised by them.

If there were more movies coming out I don't think this movie would even make it to theatres. Total waste of time. Bad acting.

I didn't necessarily think this was a terrible movie but I feel it could have been much better, maybe needed a better director or something. The lead actors were good actors but this could have been the next hood classic movie but it fail short.

This is not a great film. It's okay. I'm enjoying this film. This is a gritty movie. If you've never been hungry you would not understand

This has to be one of the worst movies for such a good cast of movie stars! I wish I could get my time back!

It's been awhile since 2018 trailer come out I was alright let's check this movie out then waiting, waiting, waiting then year later 2019 I was like where's movie? has this came out yet? I don't know if this was true or not but film is been on hold for awhile this was in production in 2017 and film would been in shot in 2017 between 2018 because in December 2018 Ethan Hawke joined in cast I am like? yeah film is in hold for awhile because RZA changed his mind with script and cast I am not kidding if you see the very, very first trailer that came out Jul 23, 2018 to this film Ethan Hawke is not in cast in trailer where it was introducing the actors in film? so that means RZA changed his mind, changed script he said let's put new character that is Ethan Hawke that's why I had strange feeling I am not if that's what it looks like to me he re-shot movie then he decided to do it but anyway during this COVID-19 I wish I could of saw this movie in theatre but could not during COVID-19, theatres weren't open I decided to buy Blu-ray on eBay just see a new movie in 2020 saw it on Saturday night I wanted to hate film but I could not I just could not hate it for some many reasons. it's well scripted performance was great, not all actors were wasted they were all barley in it the only actors that are only wasted is TI and Terrace Howard that's it you can't have all actors part of movie but hey fair thing. I got to say this is a good movie, it's worth watching because of characters our lead guys in film I enjoyed I enjoyed it for cast of film thankfully they weren't wasted. Getting into story of film (Shameik Moore) Blink and 3 of his friends living in New Orleans Blink is an Artist and as you see opening up of movie theirs a reading graphic novel that Blink has written and drawing and has Illustrated very interesting to have character who loves art soo much, Blink gets married and has 1 daughter.

Then suddenly their is a Hurricane Katarina is rapidly approaching New Orleans after National Disaster, Blink and his friends are Desperate for money to pay their bills, pay their own rent basically they don't wanna up like bums so they try to get jobs Blink tries to get a job in art industry then somehow he didn't get job and FEMA not helping financially. Blink decides turn into local ringleader he offers his friends an opportunity to mob a local casino and they accept it. so they end up robbing every single store or anything you name in town to own money and get out of town. Lucinda Valencia (Eiza González) known for From Dusk Till Dawn series, Baby Driver, Alita Battle Angel, Fast and Furious Hobbs and Shaw, Bloodshot in this film she play's as cop she gets a call from Jackson Symms (Ethan Hawke) who is a is a councilman wanting to get business back in town after the hurricane. saying the casino is been robbed I think it was his casino then in threw out film Lucinda is investigating going threw cases finding those robbers and now she is not villain or bad cop at least she helps with Blink she has connections with him and helping out, if you curious about 'Cousin' Bass (T.I.) character he is their and their doesn't get too do much he gives Blink and his friends job then something turns out to be wrong he play's boss of his gangs then they were on run then Blink goes to his grandfather or his dad house that is (Wesley Snipes) Lawrence who is their and their in movie not much he play's old man who is just nobody who hasn't done well in school all that he let's Blink and his friends to stay in his house. I love Wesley Snipes great actor, great action star I haven't seen him since Expendables 3 (2014) in theatre then he cameback then lands back to slaright to DVD films sadly but then he gets back up in theatrical film not a direct to DVD film. and The Saint (Terrence Howard) is the big honcho mob boss at the top of the food chain he does alright in film but not much to say about Terrance Howard because he wasn't much in film what can I say he was only in 2 scenes in film you have scene with him and Blink with his friends that's about it he doesn't do much he does what he does in film, surprised I saw Tyron Woodley plays as the loser because he is a UFC fighter he recently lost in UFC by Coby Covington surprised cameo in film that no one saw it coming if you watch UFC you will be surprised who is in movie. also what I also liked is amazing looking I liked the use of the graphic novel to illustrate the world that the protagonist lives in. The actors made the movie realistic. Perfect camera angles. This movie keeps you engaged throughout. Showed passion, love, and tugged on your emotions. Enough action to maintain your attention, happy moments with situations that keep you guessing. Ignore the reviews it's good movie it's worth seeing filmi would top RZA as director then to Spike Lee Ultimately it is akin to a Spike Lee joint in that it doesn't pander or avoid difficult topics. There's a lot more to admire here than the reviews or ratings indicate! RZA just keeps it simple when he does his movies i will look forward to any RZA movies that anything he does this is highly recommend worth of look of movie 7.10

What's the point of having a movie based in New Orleans, if the accents are all over the place.

Let me save you the trouble. this flick was a waste of time. save yourself from the agony of sitting through this movie; not worth it.

This was a real letdown for me. What a piece of ****

I feel like I'm in a "bad-movie-spiral" at the moment. And because of Covid-19 we properly are!! Just do yourself a favor, believe the bad critics, like mine, and skip this. Or like the gangster in South Central always say: Puff Puff Pass! I'm outta here bro!

3/10 (Like a bad Steven Seagal movie) Wait, you know what, I'll give it 2/10!!!

This movie was really well made with a stellar cast and great musical choices, plot mechanics, and editing. Ultimately it is akin to a Spike Lee joint in that it doesn't pander or avoid difficult topics. There's a lot more to admire here than the reviews or ratings indicate!

Waste of my time.I wish I would've read reviews before watching. I am from New Orleans and was excited for this movie. All I can say is it's a comedy to me.

I liked this movie for showing us realistic criminals, police, and their problems, all which remind me of real life ones. All characters look real and deep enough, can be remembered by look and behavior. Emotional, both positively and negatively, in from of hope and sadness. Good story and lesson explained in one sentence and two different scenarios. The only bad thing here is too much smaller heists, characters, problems, instead of higher quality but less. I expected less quantity and more quality of heists, criminals, scenarios. Also nice presence of religion and morality.

It would have gotten a 6, but the last 2 minutes made absolutely no sense to me.

I love RZA but this is a perfect example of a movie with great ambitions that could not be organized and tempered to what could have been something great. A lot of fluff and little substance, and went on way too long. Nothing exceptional here, in writing, drama, action, acting (solid performance from T. I. though). The conception just did not materialize here.