Consider the plight of Dennis Brown. He is living in the projects at Red Hook, Brooklyn, at the time when violence, drugs and despair was rampant among the poor, mostly black residents of that crime infected area. Dennis shows he is a young man of a certain intelligence, who is going nowhere because instead of thinking about getting an education and beating the poverty, he has decided to solve his problems in a different fashion, he will rob the drug lord that has business in the same housing complex.
Dennis' father Ray, is a man that feels beaten by the system. He is also a man who has defeated himself and his family by drinking heavily. Alcoholism is making him take all his frustrations against his loving wife, Frankie. He beats her every time he is too drunk to think clearly, as he rants and raves. Dennis, and his sister Carolyn, are helpless in defending their mother, who, like all victims, will not do anything to help herself and stays by her man.
Dennis' life has a positive side in the love he shares with Shirley, the young waitress. Shirley understands she wants no part of what Dennis tells her he is about to do, but she is helpless in trying to stop him from ruining his life and that of his family's. Everything conspires against Dennis in the end.
"Straight Out of Brooklyn", directed by Matty Rich, who also has a key part in it, shows a talented man who tells it like he saw it. The film has some awkward moments, but in general Mr. Rich achieved a great coup by casting an ensemble team to give life to his characters. Best of all, the amazing Larry Gilliard Jr., who as Dennis shows a range of emotions others, more accomplished actors, would have problems portraying. George T. Odon, Ann Sanders, Barbara Sanon, play the other members of the Brown family with assurance. Reana Drummond is another surprise who gives life to Shirley and makes us like her.
The film is a vivid account of what life is like for people caught in a desperate situations caused by the environment and the lack of opportunities and the way they were dealt a bad hand by fate.
Dennis' father Ray, is a man that feels beaten by the system. He is also a man who has defeated himself and his family by drinking heavily. Alcoholism is making him take all his frustrations against his loving wife, Frankie. He beats her every time he is too drunk to think clearly, as he rants and raves. Dennis, and his sister Carolyn, are helpless in defending their mother, who, like all victims, will not do anything to help herself and stays by her man.
Dennis' life has a positive side in the love he shares with Shirley, the young waitress. Shirley understands she wants no part of what Dennis tells her he is about to do, but she is helpless in trying to stop him from ruining his life and that of his family's. Everything conspires against Dennis in the end.
"Straight Out of Brooklyn", directed by Matty Rich, who also has a key part in it, shows a talented man who tells it like he saw it. The film has some awkward moments, but in general Mr. Rich achieved a great coup by casting an ensemble team to give life to his characters. Best of all, the amazing Larry Gilliard Jr., who as Dennis shows a range of emotions others, more accomplished actors, would have problems portraying. George T. Odon, Ann Sanders, Barbara Sanon, play the other members of the Brown family with assurance. Reana Drummond is another surprise who gives life to Shirley and makes us like her.
The film is a vivid account of what life is like for people caught in a desperate situations caused by the environment and the lack of opportunities and the way they were dealt a bad hand by fate.
