Monday, December 3, 2007

Clockers (1995) - Richard Price & Spike Lee

March 15, 1994

CLOCKERS

Screenplay by Richard Price and Spike Lee

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

In Brooklyn, STRIKE, a sensitive young black man, is giving himself an ulcer while working as a "clocker" (a crack dealer) for RODNEY, the neighborhood boss. Rodney is not pleased with the job DARRYL ADAMS, another clocker, is doing by selling drugs out of Captain Ahab's, a fast food joint. Rodney orders Strike to kill Darryl. Strike doesn't have the heart to kill anybody. He tells his straight-laced/family man brother VICTOR that Darryl is a woman-beater. Victor volunteers to get a friend to kill Darryl for Strike.

Darryl is killed outside the restaurant. Veteran homicide dicks ROCCO KLEIN and LARRY MAZILLI investigate the case. Meanwhile, Strike hangs out on the project benches with his pals. A huge black man, ANDRE THE GIANT, hassles them, warning them to leave TYRONE, 12, a young black boy, out of the drug life. Ignoring Andre, Strike befriends Tyrone, getting the kid a haircut, a new set of sneakers and a video game. Tyrone's mother IRIS is not pleased to see someone trying to be her son's daddy. Rocco picks up Victor for the murder. REVEREND PAUL sticks up for Victor's integrity. Victor says he killed Darryl in self-defense. Rocco doesn't believe him. Rocco thinks Strike did the murder. While being questioned, Strike lies to Rocco about knowing Darryl. Rocco gets fellow cop JO-JO to worry Strike, get him to talk. Meanwhile, Strike buys Tyrone a bike and gets him to be his runner. Strike's ulcer coughs up blood and he goes to the hospital.

At the benches, Iris shows up to yell at Strike. Rocco shows, tells Strike he know he lied and that he thinks Strike killed Darryl. Rodney is getting nervous about Rocco questioning Strike. Someone steals Strike's gun. Rocco arrests Rodney and tells him Strike gave him up. Strike plans to leave town, but returns to say goodbye to his MOTHER. Rocco acts friendly with Strike in front of Strike's buddies. They think Strike gave up Rodney. Rodney orders ERROL BARNES to kill Strike. Tyrone kills Errol with Strike's gun. Andre helps Tyrone with a self-defense story. Andre beats up Strike. Victor and Strike's mother tells Rocco that a stressed-out Victor did kill Darryl, but in self-defense. Rocco puts Strike on a train and orders him to leave town.

Summary Criticism: This is an exciting and evocative script. While the murder mystery is nothing special, the characters and milieu are intriguing.

Clockers (1995) - imdb

Clockers (1995) - wiki

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