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Dead Presidents (1995)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Reviews Counted: 31
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 17

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 6.3/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 5

No consensus yet.

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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 28,758

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Movie Info

Albert Hughes and his brother Allen Hughes followed their striking debut Menace II Society with this ambitious look at the social and political lives of the African-American community in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate) is a young man coming of age in the Bronx in 1968. Working two part-time jobs -- one as a milkman's helper and another for local numbers runner Kirby (Keith David) -- Anthony is torn between doing the right thing and trying to get by in a environment

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Drama

Directed By: Albert Hughes , Allen Hughes

In Theaters: Oct 6, 1995 Wide

On DVD: May 19, 1998

Cast

Larenz Tate
Anthony Curtis
Keith David
Kirby
Chris Tucker
Skip
N'Bushe Wright
Delilah Benson
Freddy Rodriguez
Jose
Rose Jackson
Juanita Benson
Frank Albanese
Mr. Gianetti
Seymour Cassel
Saul
Rik Colitti
Cabbie
Cheryl Freeman
Mrs. Barton
Clifton Collins Jr.
Betancourt
David Barry Gray
DeVaughn
Terrence Howard
Cowboy
Michael Imperioli
D'Ambrosio
Jean Claude Lamarre
Ramsuer
Jenifer Lewis
Mrs. Curtis
Robert LuPone
Attorney Salvatore Rizz...
Larry McCoy
Nicky
James Pickens Jr.
Mr. Curtis
Clifton Powell
Cutty
Tony Sirico
Officer Spinelli
Bernie Telsey
Protester #1
Carlton Wilborn
Spyder
Rodney Winfield
Mr. Warren
Bokeem Woodbine
Cleon
Jaimz Woolvett
Lt. Dugan
Martin Sheen
The Judge (uncredited)
Isaiah Washington
Edward Curtis
Ryan Williams
Young Revolutionary
Alvaleta Guess
Mrs. Benson
Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jone...
Martin
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Marisol
Monti Sharp
Officer Brown
Heather B.
Peaches
Cuc Dinh
Madame Minh
Joelle Hernandez
Sarah Juanita's Child
Jordan Hernandez
Sarah Juanita's Child
Daniel Kruse
Corporal Rob
Charles E. Lesene
Numbers Taker
Quynh Phann
Skivvie Girl
Robert Smith
Helicopter Pilot
Yen Chin Grow
Skivvie Girl
Tim Zay
Protester
Bob Smith (IV)

Critic Reviews for Dead Presidents

All Critics (31) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (17) | DVD (3)

Dead Presidents may eventually box itself into a narrative dead end, but its muscular engagement of weighty themes and explosive situations makes it a powerful drama.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Top Critic

Like those overreaching sophomore term papers we can all laugh at now, this disappointing film may free the Hughes brothers to move on to fresher, more inspired work.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Caryn James

New York Times

Top Critic

It's an overly ambitious effort that strains to work as a coming-of-age drama, a 1960s period piece and a searing comment on the way African American GIs went largely unappreciated for their war efforts.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comments (2)

Peter Stack

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

What emerges is an uneasy blend of didacticism and juiced-up bloodletting (the brothers don't know when to stop with the exploding squibs) that bury the film's message and its good intentions.

May 12, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

Made with fluid skill and a passion for storytelling, its tale of how the Vietnam War and American society affect a black Marine remains accessible while confounding expectations.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Dead Presidents is like a shotgun blast in the face: It's that powerful, that lethal, that ugly.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Top Critic

The intense and excessive climactic set piece caper scene is the only true highlight in a superficial film.

January 31, 2009 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Platoon lite with a bitter ending that doesn't work in its favor...

July 10, 2007 Comment

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Film Threat

Significant as both history and film art, this gloomy tale has no "convenient" villains and refuses to indulge in stereotypes, instead focusing on larger forces, such as racism and political apathy.

June 20, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

There are intriguing aspects to this yarn, and the brothers can choreograph a scene, but you get the impression that they learned all they know from other movies, the blood and guts is gratuitous...

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Time Out

Excellent performances, a great soundtrack, and the Hughes' technical virtuosity make it worth a look.

January 13, 2004 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Talent of Hughes brothers deserves viewer's attention even when their results don't meet such high standards.

September 23, 2003 Full Review | Comment

Dragan Antulov

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Unfortunately, the filmmakers were overzealous in trying to cover a variety of issues, leaving the story choppy and without resolution in places.

June 5, 2002 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine

| Comment

Pat Kramer

Boxoffice Magazine

All directors experience a "second-movie slump," and as far as slumps go, this one is more than honorable.

April 17, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Scouts

| Comment

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

Film Scouts

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Dead Presidents

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It was a good movie and had some good drama and action. We can see some young actors here like Chris Tucker, Larenz Tate and Terrence Howard showing there work and bringing there usual style to the movies.This action drama was the second film by the movie-making twins, Albert and Allen Hughes. The two started their

January 6, 2010

Manu Gino

Super Reviewer

a sad but powerful film about people who come home from war with nothing, and the life that awaits them. the cast was excellent, particularly woodbine, tucker, and tate. the shootout at the end is full of lasting images and the war scenes are truly effective as well. great movie.

January 25, 2007

danny d

Super Reviewer

Dead Presidents Quotes

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1. Cleon: Your junkie ass really messed up out there.
2. Skip: Don't blame me for your fuck ups.
3. Cleon: I told Anthony I didn't want nothing to do with a crazy devil filled junkie!
4. Skip: What?
5. Cleon: You listening to me? Look at him.
6. Skip: [Skip punches Cleon] Now say some more shit! I'll knock yo ass right back down. Fake ass, wannabe preacher, no members havin' motherfucker!
7. Anthony Curtis: Why don't y'all stop acting like some fucking clowns.
– Submitted by John D (3 months ago)
1. Anthony Curtis: The whole plan was fucked up! We ain't do shit right out there, man. Shit.
– Submitted by John D (3 months ago)
1. Skip: Just tell me one thing Cleon. Why the fuck you didn't grab the cop?
2. Cleon: You killed him, a young brother.
3. Skip: If you wouldn't have froze up like a bitch maybe I wouldn't have to do that shit, now wouldn't I?
4. Kirby: Would y'all shut the fuck up?
– Submitted by John D (3 months ago)

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