Always Outnumbered (1998)
Grade: 87
Made-for-television movies do not get the respect they sometimes deserve. HBO made one of the best films last year, "Don King: Only in America", and "Always Outnumbered" is one of the best films of this year. But these films are relegated to instant obscurity, because the only screens that they are shown on reside in living rooms and bedrooms.
"Always Outnumbered" stars Laurence Fishburne as ex-convict Socrates Fortlow, paroled after serving a long sentence for double murder. He has moved to a Los Angeles ghetto, and ekes out an existence collecting bottles and cans from dumpsters. He tries to get a better job, but his stubborness and intimidating presence interfere.
With little going for him except pride and determination, Fortlow has more success helping others than himself. He semi-adopts a young street kid (Daniel Williams), steering him away from a gang. He helps save the marriage of a troubled neighbor couple, and gets medical help for a an aging, ailing friend (Bill Cobbs).
While Fortlow becomes a hero, his achievements are not just due to his integrity. He is a big, intimidating man, and he regularly takes advantage of his size to get his points across. A lesson here is that if you must live in poverty, it really helps to be built like a linebacker.
Walter Mosley, who also wrote the book, wrote the screenplay. He probably deserves even more credit than director Michael Apted. The script is outstanding, with the only flaws showing up at the film's end, when the loose ends are all tied up perhaps too neatly. Early scenes also threaten to stereotype minor white characters as jerks, but this tendency is overcome later in the film.
It is possible that "Always Outnumbered" would not be successful as a theatrical release, despite its quality. Fishburne, Cobbs and Natalie Cole are a generation older than young filmgoers who might prefer to see Will Smith. The depiction of urban poverty and youth gangs is not glamorized. There is no room for comedy in this stark drama. Once again, we can be grateful for HBO for ignoring demographics and simply producing an excellent film.
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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