This is one bitter film, and for good reason. It's supposed to make the viewer upset, black or white, because it documents what happens when enough becomes enough. Having lived in the Pico/Western area of Los Angeles near where this takes place in the 1980's, I recognized many of the locations utilized here so for me it was a trip back in time to see a bit of that area's history. This highly black neighborhood, at least the younger generation, lead by Billy Dee Williams, has had enough, even though his hard working, long suffering mother Maidie Norman, doesn't see it that way. The cops are brutal, so they find brutality in return as documented in the newspaper headlines.
There's some interesting elements throughout this film that gives hope, particularly the Jewish couple told that their car has been recovered even though they had just sold it to one of the black men, arrested for grand theft auto. The husband tells the police off for their assumption even though no stolen car report was made, revealing the cop's anti-semitism as well as his hatred of blacks.
Then there's the black cops, viewed as traitors as they drive and stand along side the white cops beating up and killing other blacks with no cause. One educated young black man is offered a job by a young European white woman who is then forced to rescind the job offer after the older white male boss sees who she's hired.
The young white supporters who join their cause are labeled as pathetic liberals by the cops, and one of the black man's white girlfriends is told by him that she'll never be able to feel his rage. The violence is unapologetic with blood spurts abound and a few brutal slayings that will leave you complete shaken up. Truly heart-wrenching at times and not a film for the faint at heart.
There's some interesting elements throughout this film that gives hope, particularly the Jewish couple told that their car has been recovered even though they had just sold it to one of the black men, arrested for grand theft auto. The husband tells the police off for their assumption even though no stolen car report was made, revealing the cop's anti-semitism as well as his hatred of blacks.
Then there's the black cops, viewed as traitors as they drive and stand along side the white cops beating up and killing other blacks with no cause. One educated young black man is offered a job by a young European white woman who is then forced to rescind the job offer after the older white male boss sees who she's hired.
The young white supporters who join their cause are labeled as pathetic liberals by the cops, and one of the black man's white girlfriends is told by him that she'll never be able to feel his rage. The violence is unapologetic with blood spurts abound and a few brutal slayings that will leave you complete shaken up. Truly heart-wrenching at times and not a film for the faint at heart.