New Orleans serves as the backdrop of this film. But in a very refreshing and welcomed twist, it doesn’t focus on the French Quarter or Bourbon Street. It spotlights the “forgotten areas” of New Orleans, the areas that were destroyed and neglected about for months (even years) after the devastation of Katrina. There’s a lot New Orleans history thrown into this movie if you are paying attention that adds even greater depth to this story.
RZA, and writer Paul Cuschieri, took what could have been a very cliche and stereotypical “hood movie,” and instead created a very thought-provoking piece. Emphasizing how the government has abandoned the characters, the movie forces the audience to ask: What would I do in that same situation? I also appreciated how realistically the jeopardy felt, and by the end, it doesn’t let anybody off the hook. Everyone has to pay for their sins. One particular scene with Terrence Howard and T.I. was so strong it was reminiscent of De Niro and Pacino in Heat.
“…appreciated how realistically the jeopardy felt, and by the end, it doesn’t let anybody off the hook.”
Overall, it’s obvious that Cut Throat City struck the right chord with me. There are a few pacing problems in the film. It lags in some spots where this scene or that moment didn’t need that much room to breathe. And the ending might leave the audience confused as to what actually happened to Blink and his crew. But it’s nothing that takes away from the overall story.
This movie serves as a love-letter to the city, and most importantly, the people, of New Orleans.
"…a love-letter to the city, and most importantly, the people, of New Orleans."
