MovieChat Forums > Always Outnumbered (1998) Discussion > close to a waste of film

close to a waste of film

posted 21 years ago by shrapnel_k
18 replies | jump to latest

I agree completely with the above review. This film really just hobbles along, with no real plot. Lawrence walks into the grocery store every half an our for a one minute scene, and then leaves. This movie starts a few little stories, some of them that could have been good. Lawrence's friends discuss getting rid of a local crack head, a small beating, followed by a little chase ensue, but then the guy is forgotten. The murdered kid is not shown being found, you can only assume the mother goes there. The punks have one little fight with the kid at the end, and then there is a quick wrapped up ending, but not until a long scene about the mystery of death.
a bunch of times in this movie, you feel like Lawrence is going to do something, he's big, he's bad, someone is annoying him, he should say something witty right now....but then he doesn't. I'm refering to the scene with the car theif in the diner...
generally a boring movie. waste of time.

[–] 21 years ago

[deleted]

[–] frodo980 20 years ago

Well thank goodness for personal opinion because because to me, this film is one of the absolute best pieces of african american cinema I have ever seen and I've watched quite a few dozen. I live in LA and see guys like this all the time, I think this was an excellent film, from a very rarely seen perspective. 10/10

[–] jmac332083 19 years ago

This movie was awesome
Fishburne was great in his role

Jimmy Mac

[–] emisn0 19 years ago

this movie really blew me away. it had a bit of philosophical edge to it, to grading yourself daily, to not backing down and yet still refusing to give in to desperation. I'm really surprised more people don't know about it, and that of the few that do, some people think of it as a waste. Sure it doesn't have the action or the comedy, but it depicts real life in a way that most (including white people like myself), don't get to see.

[–] LTUM 14 years ago

Well thank goodness for personal opinion because because to me, this film is one of the absolute best pieces of african american cinema I have ever seen and I've watched quite a few dozen. I live in LA and see guys like this all the time, I think this was an excellent film, from a very rarely seen perspective. 10/10

thank you frodo980 for saying what i can't say better. this is one of teh greatest films on my life. i come back to it over and over. i think it is so important in many ways, and a perfect illustration of new age isolation and struggles felt by many in our modern times. and not just urban, either, but in general.

the op undoubtedly missed that the plot points turn on socrates' inner struggles, his inner journey. it's the characters which make this one. my hat is off to mosley, one of my writing heroes (btw).

anyone who desires mcguffins and car chases and shallow plot elements won't really get this. it's a heart piece.

(incidently, i have the same argument over on the jackie brown boards. lot of people miss the point of that film too)

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"Where.... can I put my ash?"

[–] Nmbr1Gentleman 19 years ago

about the local crack head being "forgotten" i believe it is because he moved out of town so that's why he was "forgotten." after he was hiding in the dumpster he realized he couldn't be seen around there otherwise he'd be killed so he decided to run. he wasn't so much 'forgotten' as he was 'disapeared'

[–] scorpioprince23 19 years ago

i liked the part where he was eating in the diner and that ghetto looking guy came in and startrf talking to him tghen under his layer of worn down clothes he had a mint 3 piece suit underneath i thought that was hilarious

[–] emisn0 19 years ago

It's really good in the book, the whole book is absolutely amazing, wish Mosely would write another one

[–] sing_sing 17 years ago

Yea I think I need to read the book. Forget a great piece of 'afro-american' cinema, this was just a solid *beep* movie. Lawrence Fishburn was/is amazing in this and has to be regarded as one of the best actors of his generation. The struggle, people. Life. Love it.

[–] NotButchieInstead 17 years ago

And that was a waste of a review. This is not some Matrix hero movie. If it moves slow, it's because it moves at the speed of life. The film is about heroism. What makes a man heroic? Doing something brave for one moment without thinking, or doing several little things for the people around him to make their world better. Socrates Fortlow wouldn't say anything witty to the car thief. He doesn't need to. Instead, he sees where the young man is going and pays for his meal. He pays because good black men and women have been paying for fools like that for years. What were you waiting for him to do exactly? Go into the store and shoot up the place? That's not him anymore. You should stay away from movies that make you think. Not your forte.

[–] happyhappycook 17 years ago

To the above poster.
A sequal to the book was written. It's called 'Walkin' the dog' and it's fantastic.

To the OP. This film is incredible. A great cast and well produced for a tv movie.
This film led me to the book which is better in many ways. However, the film contains elements that the book cannot, such as Fishburne's incredible acting.

[–] NotButchieInstead 17 years ago

I've read WTD, and I agree.

[–] tallpall 16 years ago

the movie had great acting but it was mostly depressing. Everything in the movie is so negative. Some of the writing didn't make much sense. I dont understand why that guy in the restaurant had all that money and all he wanted was some whole pies. And he ate them with his hands. Didn't he know they served meals there also?

[–] NotButchieInstead 16 years ago

The young man was an example of a thug who had money but did not know what to do with it. It's like this current generation who gets money and all they buy are rims and jewelry. The young man may have money, but he does not have vision. His version of "making it" was buying what his heart first desired, rather than what he needed most.

[–] tjmcmill2k 16 years ago

This is a WASTE of MESSAGE BOARD SPACE. This is a very good film, period.

[–] RobSac 15 years ago

It's called reality, shrapnel. That's why none of the scenes end with long chases and shootouts. Because that rarely happens, even in South Central Los Angeles, despite what your evening news has told you. If you were to drive down Central Ave., from the 10 freeway to the 105, you'd see at least 100 Socrates Fortlows, and people going about their business who look similar to the supporting cast in Always Outnumbered. You'd see some gang members, that look just like the punks that Darryl ran around with. Read: Some. Hence. they'd be in the minority. What you really hate about this movie is that it's mostly realistic, and doesn't meet your dramatic expectations. Not every film needs a plot. Some films rely on characters and cinematography and this is one of them. Even the grocery managers were super realistic. Take it from someone who did once manage an upscale supermarket.

[–] poserpro 15 years ago

I watched this movie 2 years ago in HBO ( or Cinemax ) for at least 3 times, I liked it that time.

Last night when I browsed the supermarket of Carrefour for DVD movies, I found the VCD of Always Outnumbered and I bought it right away without any hesitatoin, it costs me just 0.67 US Dolars. I watched it all again and I still like it a lots.

It is a good movie.

[–] keyser_soze_smokes 13 years ago

You are a slave, you need to wake up, take that pill, wait, err, wrong film...
...or is it?

What this film lacks (lol) in FX and booms it got in depth. Take a clue from the character's very name.

Glad there is still room for good movies in the explosive theater era.

(At least on tv)

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