Director: Spike Lee
Screenplay: Spike Lee and Richard Price, based on the novel Clockers by Richard Price
Starring: Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lindo, Mekhi Phifer, Isaiah Washington, Keith David, Pee Wee Love
Running Time: 128 minutes
Genre: Thriller, crime drama
Brooklyn, New York City: Nineteen year old Strike (Phifer) is a "Clocker", a street level drug dealer, working for local drug dealer Rodney Little (Lindo). When a rival dealer, who Little claims ripped him off, turns up dead, Strike's brother, Victor (Washington) confesses to the murder. However, Victor is an honest, upstanding member of the community. A hard-working family man who has never been in trouble with the law, and has no reason to commit murder. Homicide detective Rocco Klein (Keitel) is convinced that Victor is innocent and taking the fall for Strike.
Based on an acclaimed 1992 novel by Richard Price, which later served as inspiration for the TV series The Wire (2002-2008), this is an angry, stylish urban thriller. It moves from gritty documentary-style realism, to stylish flamboyance, with Lee showcasing his trademark visual flair. He also shows his skill with actors getting some great performances from a talented cast. The characters are not just one dimensional, Klein is technically the hero, and does care about seeing justice done, but is also quite racist, at least in his language. Strike is a dealer, but has moments of compassion and kindness. Rodney Little is an avuncular father figure, and also a violent crime boss. However the film is really about communities being ripped apart by drugs and violence, where casual murder is an everyday reality. The film was not a success when it was first released, and seems to be an overlooked film in Lee's oeuvre, which is a real shame because it deserves a lot better and, sadly, is as relevant in 2020 as it was in 1995.
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