The ideas and ambition outweigh some of the skill here (and surely production value/budget) but it’s a very solid Blaxploitation film and indie film
The Curtis Mayfield score can’t be overstated. “Pusher man” and title track. “Pusher Man” is stunning and repeated twice. It’s also an excellent film score outside of the songs included
Debut film for Parks
Almost like a rough draft with some of the flubs– crude
Uses 1972 NYC as sort of like a post WW2 Rome or Berlin neorealism film with some of the abandoned buildings and decay
Film could be titled “Get Out” with Priest (Ron O’Neal) trying to escape from this fucked up and bastardized version of the American dream
The score shapes the action- sympathy and tenderness at times
Priest is complex as a character- he’s both grateful to and angry with the guy who got him into the drug trafficking
O’Neal isn’t an overly great actor but I love his glare- he has that down
Not sure it’s in the archives without Mayfield
Slo-mo softcore-like sex scene
Social statement- white cops with brass knuckles
Ambitious in stylistic intentions (still photography sections, camera movement, slow-mo sequences) but doesn’t stick landing in execution
The bag of money switch-a-roo feels like it was borrowed for Jackie Brown
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