Summary - Good 3.0

The “Cotton Club” is one and and a half performances away from being a very good for great movie, but as they say “If my grandma had wheels, she’d have a trolley”. Well that’s not quite accurate but overall it is a very appealing, ambitious movie that is marred by a very over the top performance by James Remar as Dutch Schultz and some business that’s a little too “Godfathery”.Also Richard Gere stars off a little shakey but when he’s given less to do, he gets better. If that makes any sense. So maybe it’s Coppola’s fault for not knowing how to use his actors.

Acting - Very Good 3.5

This might seem like a contradiction to my overall review, but let me explain myself. James Remar is very over the top as Dutch Shultz, a major character. So much so he almost ruins the movie. But the rest of cast is quite marvelous. It’s a star studded cast that includes everybody from Gregory Hines to Bob Hoskins and even Fred Gwynne(Herman Munster) who not only plays a gangster type but is quite good.

Film - Very Good 3.5

The production values are quite exquisite. The best part of the movie are the reproductions of the acts that the white only audience go to see. And the set designs and costumes are very good indeed.

Edge - Risqué 1.8

Pretty tame for now but for a costume drama set in the Depression era and made in 1984, fairly violent. Especially the scene where Dutch Shultz murders a rival gangster over a buffet just after the two made peace.

Reality - Natural 1.0

4 Comments

• BrettHarrison May 5, 2013 10:59AM

  Regarding BrettHarrison’s Review
  He’s amazing in “48 Hours”. I agree.

• Wick May 5, 2013 7:29AM

  Regarding BrettHarrison’s Review
  Remar’s a fave of mine also, starting with his stone cold killer in 48 Hours. I also flagged him for praise in Django Unchained.

• BrettHarrison May 4, 2013 9:26PM

  Regarding BrettHarrison’s Review
  Thanks Wick. First time for me. I forgot to say Cage was excellent too as Gere’s brother. And, btw, I love Remar as an actor but he’s out of his depth here.

• Wick May 4, 2013 9:19PM

  Regarding BrettHarrison’s Review
  Helpful and entertaining review. Been a long time since I’ve seen Cotton Club, but your take comports with my memory.

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