a5c7b9f00b A Vietnam vet adjusts to life after the war while trying to support his family, but the chance of a better life may involve crime and bloodshed. This action film, directed by the Hughes brothers, depicts a heist of old bills, retired from circulation and destined by the government to be "money to burn." However, more broadly, it addresses the issues of Black Americans' involvement in the Vietnam War and their subsequent disillusionment with progress in social issues and civil rights back home in the United States, during the 1960's. It's 1968 north east Bronx. Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate) comes from a middle class family but follows one-legged criminal mentor Kirby (Keith David). After graduation, Curtis enlists in the Marines. His friend Skip (Chris Tucker) vows to avoid the war by going to college. Skip flunks out and joins Curtis' squad. Their other friend Jose (Freddy Rodriguez) is drafted into the Army. After four harrowing years of war, Curtis tries to adjust to civilian life. He discovers his old girlfriend Juanita had their baby. With a growing family and the lost of his job, he reunites with his troubled Vietnam vet friends, Kirby and Juanita's revolutionary sister Delilah in a scheme to rob an armor truck.<br/><br/>After the impressive debut of 'Menace II Society', the Hughes brothers may have over-reached. This is too ambitious. The war movie part is surprisingly competent. It doesn't excel and may be beyond their abilities. After the war, it struggles to get the emotional tension. Like the Hughes, Larenz Tate may not be up to the challenge. The personal post-war struggle is compelling but could be much more. The final shootout doesn't have quite the thrills but has plenty of blood. I thought this was a brilliant movie with a great plot and great actors. I love the ending because it leaves a moral to the story for others to learn from. I think if every movie had a happy ending it would not give others the opportunity to experience it on a real level. This movie is more real than it could ever be proving the Hughes Brothers as good directors. Lorenz Tate plays the leading role and delivers a power performance as well as Keith David, Bokeem Woodbine, and my favorite Chris Tucker. Being a huge Chris Tucker fan it was a thrill for me to see him do a dramatic role like this and do it so well playing a war vet overcome with heroin use affected deeply by the war. This proves that Chris Tucker can act and I would like to see him in more dramatic roles.
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