SUGAR HILL
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1994 Michael John Legeros
Directed by Leon Ichaso Written by Barry Michael Cooper Starring Wesley Snipes, Michael Wright, Theresa Randle, Abe Vigoda, Ernie Hudson, and Clarence Williams III MPAA Rating "R" Running Time Approx. 110 minutes
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Wesley Snipes is starting the year solo! After recent pairings with everyone from Dennis Hopper to Sly Stallone, the back-to-brunette actor has returned to NEW JACK territory as another KING OF NEW YORK.
In the downbeat drama SUGAR HILL, Snipes stars as a Harlem hood who's ready to retire. For years, Romello and his brother (Wright) have been dealing drugs for a neighborhood gangster (Vigoda). But Romeo's tired of the trade. He's knows what's ahead--including a rival dealer (Hudson)--and wants to "get out." Unfortunately, Romello's "retirement" is threatened by obligations to both his brother and his junkie father (Williams).
Forget SUGAR HILL's moral slant, the *cast* is the best reason to watch this film.
Snipes is great and always worth watching. He's backed by former "Mod Squad-er" Clarence Williams III, a knock-out as the drugged dad. Father's final scene is the most chilling in the film. Less impressive is Michael Wright, who twitches more than Samuel Jackson in JUNGLE FEVER. And don't forget Abe Vigoda's genial gangster. He gets the best lines *and* the best monologue.
Of course, *everyone* in SUGAR HILL gets a monologue. Which is the problem.
Barry Michael Cooper's script is way too talky. Yap yap yap and everyone keeps talking. Here's a first: a gangster film with more speeches than murders! Don't look to director Leon Ichaso--he doesn't know when cut his characters off. So every scene d-r-a-g-s. *Then* come the flashbacks, which stop the film cold.
The intrusive soundtrack doesn't know when to quit, either.
But there are *some* rewards to the overdone drama. In addition to the acting, the photography is handsome, the humor is rich, and the message is frank. Not a bad balance for a "butt bruiser."
Bottom line: SUGAR HILL is a downbeat drug drama that's too talky
for its own good. Excellent actors and high production
values can't disguise this long-sit.
Grade: C+
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