La carrera de The RZA es innegable, el hombre ha compuesto canciones y banda sonora para películas y series increíbles cómo recientemente una canción para "Euphoria", en sus manos estuvo la banda sonora de "Kill Bill" a la vez que tenía pequeños personajes cómo en la fantástica "Gánster Americano", él ha estado en casi todas las formas creativas de una película o las más conocidas por lo menos, y ahora en "Cut Throat City" se consolida como director. En el que a pesar de tener un trabajo algo simple, la película se sostiene por esos pequeños toques de grandeza que conforman el apartado visual. El incidente incitador de esta película es claro y siembra la problemática principal de la trama, "La ambición destructiva", que en cómo es mostrada en la película es lo que le da sentido tanto al entorno cómo a los personajes en sí. Basándose en cómo el dinero y el poder ficticio que los personajes poseen y adoptan rompe a la gente, aunque en un principio lo hayan hecho de "buena voluntad". Teniendo una crítica en cómo la gente marginada tiene que buscar sobrevivir bajo sus o las propias condiciones que les impone el ambiente en el que se desarrollan, sin ninguna ayuda externa gubernamental más allá de la pandilla que ellos llaman familia. Y eso es lo que obliga a los personajes a salir adelante a como dé lugar sin importar las reglas que puedan romper, que se profundiza más en el personaje de "Blink", planteando una paralelismo en la que intenta hacer lo correcto por su familia contrastando con el poder que la avaricia va apoderándose de él, teniendo cómo punto catártico el cómo su propia ambición fue lo que de alguna forma destruyó a todos los personajes de la historia. Para mi esta película es una crítica a cómo la sociedad se basa en dinero, teniendo como protagonistas de esta crítica a tanto la banda de Blink, los policías y los traficantes, intentando mostrar el POV de cada uno y que es lo que buscan para obtener ese poder que les dará más dinero, en el que la película se queda corta en seguir planteando este conflicto; aunque haya escenas que en la pura estética profundicen los dos últimos bandos cómo la escena de la iglesia que es un centro de dr0ga fabricada por mujeres semidesnudas, que para mí representa la doble moral e intencionalidad de las entidades que percibimos cómo "correctas", y cómo cada bando tiene más en común de lo que pensábamos aunque la narrativa social nos dictamine cual es correcta y quiénes son los malos. Pero lamentablemente la película cojea en varias cosas puntuales, cómo varios diálogos que buscan ser profundos, pero se quedan en la superficie, el conflicto no es muy claro en la narrativa principal, que para mí se salva un poquito en el epílogo de la historia, en la que el personaje de Ethan Hawke simplifica el embrollo entre el "santo" y el "primo", que es curioso que justamente un epílogo te tenga que venir a solucionar la poca profundidad que contaste en la trama principal. The RZA deslumbra con su espectacularidad visual, aunque la misma se va perdiendo en conforme avanza la trama. El montaje de la película es bueno, que se maximiza en los planos que buscan enaltecer la figura de los protagonistas, que se pierde un poco con lo sencilla que se podría percibir la dirección a primera vista, aunque por el tipo de película "callejera", funciona y hasta podría creer que se pensara así desde el comienzo; dónde, aunque la dirección se sienta limitada técnicamente hay destellos de gran calidad cómo las escenas de robos o las peleas que buscan ser sucias. La fotografía es la que le da identidad a esta película. "Cut Throad City", expone el lado de la gente marginada socialmente y cómo, aunque ellos mismos sientan que no es lo correcto ese mismo rechazo es el que los obliga a tomar caminos que solo fomenta el prejuicio y el rechazo colectivo de personas que no son capaces de ver el panorama completo.

Absolute rubbish. Two hours of my life I'll never get back.

A confusing story line where power players in the new Orleans criminal underground are not introduced nor explained who they are until the end of the movie. Cutting out the sub plots and social commentary would make this a much better movie.

For the cast and topic of the film, I'm honestly surprised at how bad it was. There were many times I had asked myself "what the hell am I watching?" and "holy crap, HE'S in this movie???" Even though the film is 2 hours long, it feels like a 3-hour movie due to how slow the plot goes. It's agony watching this film. My friends and I even joked about how bad the movie was while we were watching it. Let's start off with the good. There are few high-budget films that examine the effects Hurricane Katrina had upon New Orleans' citizens. The film promises much. Cut Throat City promises to examine a group of morally ambiguous men caught in a tight situation. Brandon Cox's cinematography works for the film. It works for a film of this nature. And the roster is astounding. This film has the likes of Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes, TI, Eiza Gonzalez, Ethan Hawke, among others. Each time one of these characters gets onscreen, I find myself visibly astounded. RZA did a great job casting. Now the bad. The plot meanders and is confusing. Nothing seems to be straightforward and the film is unnecessarily complex. It's too unfocused. There doesn't seem to be a well-defined overarching arc. Each cameo can distract the audience from the main plot. Many times one has to wonder what is going on. Blink (Shameik Moore) isn't a sympathetic protagonist. He leaves his wife and kid to commit crimes and go to strip clubs. Why even bother showing the family in the first place? Each time he has a chance to get ahead he continues to make bad decisions. He's not someone I'd expect to suddenly change for the better by the end of the film. The "twist" feels rushed as a way to bolt on a happy ending. It's too deus ex machina-y and breaks suspension of belief. And my biggest grievance is that nowhere in this film does anyone speak in a true "Nawlins" accent. Out of the large pool of potential actors from New Orleans, not one was selected. The "accents" in the film feel like one's idea of a generic Southern accent without giving it much thought. Shame, that this simple fix could have added so much more. .5/5. The first film I've seen by RZA and I'm not at all impressed.

Terrible.......................

A sad tale of poverty. Too sad to enjoy.

A story that comes together at a traditional pace. It is a heist story on the surface and underneath. It's leads do okay but the supporting cast are the real glue. The look is at times dismal and the soundtrack is soul and Hip-Hop at their most descriptive and emotional best. Rza, super producer of Hip-Hop group Wu-Tang Clan brings his A game to this, his third directorial film. I enjoyed it once it got past typical hood stuff, imto the characters of a broken reality-om both sides of the law. Interesting how the movie always us to care for the "bad guys" AND the ones who are supposed to be good. I always enjoy stories that bend that narrative and "Cut Throat City" does not disappoint. It takes place in New Orleans but it could have been any hood in the United States. See it to its heartbreaking finish.

I don't know who did the Vitiligo makeup on TI but it looked terrible.

The movie has a really good story with great acting and its very intense. The only bad thing about this movie is that its a little hard to follow because it jumps between stories quite a bit and the end is a little confusing. But other that that ya'll should def watch this.

Dumb people doing dumb things, over and over and over again.

Really good flick, enjoyed it more knowing RZA directed it. NICE WORK

The story of 4 childhood friends and brothers from New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward. When they return home after the events of Hurricane Katrina they find the communities they live in are laid to waste without any sign of assistance and no jobs the people there are own their own. Left with no alternative Blink, Miracle, Andre & Junior turn to the local gangster as the answer to their problems but this only complicates everything further as the young men are pulled into a dangerous heist in the heart of the city. The job goes bad and the ripple effect that ensues touches more hands than previously assumed and now the four are dragged into a deep seeded struggle and one none were prepared for. Now hunted by Cousin, the disgruntled gang lord convinced money was stolen from him, two relentless detectives on a path for justice & a crooked Alderman whose connections got him involved. The young men realize that the saying ‘do or die' was never more true than right at the moment of clarity. A very dark introspect in the minds of the very negatively affected residents in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina giving us a harsh look into the struggles of making ends meet living in such desolation. Laws were broken more than ever especially with the weak assistance the city received after such a tragedy. Rza has meet of sort of evolution in his films and a better budget doesn't hurt either. The plot and script certainly has it's shortcomings but is aided well with the sort of infectious energy the cast provides and I'll highlight Shameik Moore as Blink, as the emotionally grounded character he helped mesh the group. I also will say the longer runtime gets a bit stagnant at times, the end helps recover from that a bit. Overall it's a decently built action packed ride, a solid showing from RZA whose not perfect by any means but the rate he's improving he may have greater things in store for us.

Great movie! The acting was incredible and I really enjoyed the storyline.

The movie was booty.

I thought it was a decent movie but the ending was confusing

No one from New Orleans talks like this. Why make a movie about a city and hire actors that aren't even from there? The accents were forced and that caught my attention more than the things going on. Acting was little too "try hard" for me. Wouldn't recommend. The real Louisianians are angry.

Whole lot of talent, production, etc. for something that ended up being pretty bland. Would not recommend.

Heavy handed and Dull. As much as I wanted the RZA to succeed this is tough because this film is all over. For a long stretch in second act nothing really happens it’s incredibly dull . The heroes aren’t very likable. And I have no Idea what’s going on with TI face for the record. And it’s Riddled with Strange cameo scenes with a bubba gump Wesley Snipes , Ethan Hawke Mono’s in a graveyard or a barber shop quartet Terrance Howard quotes the Bible. I have no idea . Trust me I’d take a hard pass.

n Cut Throat City (Netflix), a group of friends brought together by their unlikability and general incompetence attempt a series of poorly planned crimes. Meanwhile an impressive ensemble of once famous actors show up briefly and demonstrate that any one of them would have made a better star and focus of the movie. These encounters loosely (very loosely) are connected and meander the plot forward. Every once in while a character spouts a batshit crazy theory on Hurricane Katrina, the police, or religion. The only thing you are likely to remember from the movie is that in New Orleans "walking the plank" involves people having to stick their junk in a fighting raccoon's cage....The acting is fine , the screenplay is a crime against nature. 1 1/2 star out of 5, and one star of that is for the raccoon.

I think the bad reviews are from people who don’t understand “the culture.” For those of us familiar with New Orleans, and/or ignored and downtrodden urban neighborhoods, it’s an enjoyable movie. It has similarities to early 90s “hood” movies like New Jack City and Boyz n da Hood. The ending could have been edited better (it took a Reddit thread for me to get a solid explanation) but after a second watch, it was clear. The RZA is definitely a multitalented artist/filmmaker and the actors did a great job and were perfectly cast. Outside of requiring a rewatch to understand the ending, my only other gripe is T.I.’s makeup. It was terrible! Although I understood what look they were going for, it definitely wasn’t necessary since it looked so bad. I definitely suggest people watch the movie and form their own opinion. But if you’re not familiar with N.O., Katrina, or any black hood in America, just pass so you can keep your negative reviews to yourself. 😉