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Movies / On DVD / A Rage in Harlem
A Rage in Harlem

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A Rage in Harlem (1991)

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Reviews Counted:10

Fresh:9

Rotten:1

Average Rating:7.1/10

Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Director Bill Duke made his feature debut with this superbly entertaining film. Robin Givens vamps impressively as Imabelle, who flees from Natchez to Harlem to fence the gold ore her vicious... Director Bill Duke made his feature debut with this superbly entertaining film. Robin Givens vamps impressively as Imabelle, who flees from Natchez to Harlem to fence the gold ore her vicious boyfriend, Slim (the impressively menacing Badja Djola), stole. Forest Whitaker gives a deft comic performance as Jackson, a devout Christian who works at a Harlem mortuary. Imabelle takes the naive Jackson for an easy mark but soon finds herself touched by his sweetness and won over by his devotion to her. When Slim shows up in Harlem, Jackson and Imabelle turn to Jackson's estranged stepbrother, Goldy (Gregory Hines), a numbers runner, and Goldy's best friend, Big Kathy (Zakes Mokae), a transvestite who runs the local brothel. Slim wants Imabelle back, and the four find their lives in danger as they try to sell the stolen gold to Easy Money (Danny Glover), the crime kingpin of Harlem. Duke captures the irreverent tone of Chester Himes's novel and creates a memorable vision of Harlem in the 1950s, filled with interesting and sometimes dangerous characters. Givens and Whitaker are touching and believable as the unlikely lovers, lending the wild tale a surprising emotional weight. [More]

Starring: Forest Whitaker, Gregory Hines, Robin Givens, Danny Glover

Starring: Forest Whitaker, Gregory Hines, Robin Givens, Danny Glover, Willard Pugh

Director: Bill Duke

Director: Bill Duke

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Release:

Sep 2, 2003

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • A Rage In Harlem
  • Sultry Robin Givens (HEAD OF STATE) heats up the screen with Forest Whitaker (PHONE BOOTH), Gregory Hines (ONCE IN THE LIFE), and Danny Glover (THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS) in this cool, sexy thriller about a gangster's girlfriend and the trouble she stirs for the fellas in her life! When Imabelle (Givens) hits Harlem with a trunkload of stolen gold, she's on the run and looking for a place to hide. So when shy and naive Jackson (Whitaker) appears, Imabelle thinks she's met the perfect patsy ... but she forgets to protect her heart! As the chase again takes off and the intrigue mounts, you'll find that unexpected twists are all the rage in this stylish thriller!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
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    Reviews for A Rage in Harlem

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    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    03/26/09
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It's hard to believe but this film offered the first to feature a black glamorous woman--Robin Givens--since Diana Ross's ill-fated Mahogany.

    Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
    10/31/06
    Emanuel Levy
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Geoff Andrew
    Geoff Andrew
    Time Out

    Strong adaptation of Chester Himes' pulp thriller

    comment Comment
    01/26/05
    Daniel Eagan
    Daniel Eagan
    Film Journal International
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
    08/30/04
    Vincent Canby
    Vincent Canby
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/26/04
    Carol Cling
    Carol Cling
    Las Vegas Review-Journal
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
    05/24/03
    Channel 4 Film
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Forgoes good taste in the name of exuberant entertainment.

    Full Review Source: All Movie Guide | comment Comment
    02/16/03
    Josh Ralske
    Josh Ralske
    All Movie Guide

    Surprisingly funny

    comment Comment
    07/30/02
    Ken Hanke
    Ken Hanke
    Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/30/02
    Philip Martin
    Philip Martin
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/26/02
    David Poland
    David Poland
    Hot Button

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/26/02
    Scott Weinberg
    Scott Weinberg
    eFilmCritic.com
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Deseret News, Salt Lake City
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    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Desson Thomson
    Desson Thomson
    Washington Post
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    Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Marjorie Baumgarten
    Marjorie Baumgarten
    Austin Chronicle
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Rita Kempley
    Rita Kempley
    Washington Post
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    Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Roger Ebert
    Roger Ebert
    Chicago Sun-Times
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