Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

zetes Francis Ford Coppola reunites with Mario Puzo to deliver another gangster film, this one revolving around the infamous Cotton Club in Harlem starting in the year 1928. To those hoping for another Godfather, it must have been somewhat disappointing - this is just not another Godfather movie, despite the similar milieu. The script isn't nearly as tight, and the all-star cast, despite being mostly good, isn't anywhere near as good as the Godfather ensemble. Personally, I'd take it over at least the third Godfather film any day of the week (that one was nominated for Best Picture; this film must have had similar aspirations, getting released near Christmas of 1984, but it only garnered two noms, for art direction and editing). The film is kind of Altman-esque with the way it follows multiple story lines (my first thought was "I wonder what Altman could have done with it?" but then I remember his own film of a similar vein, Kansas City, was a dud). None of them are particularly fantastic, truth be told, but all are serviceable. Richard Gere is the closest thing we have to a protagonist, as a cornet player who becomes a right-hand man to a gangster (James Remar). Diane Lane becomes romantically entangled with the both of them, but ends up with the gangster. Another plot line follows dancer Gregory Hines' romantic pursuit of the light skinned singer Lonette McKee. Bob Hoskins and Fred Gwynne play gangsters who co-own the Cotton Club. Nicolas Cage plays Gere's brother, who also becomes a gangster. The real worth of the film, though, is just the wonderful milieu and the awesome musical and dance numbers. Near the end of the film, Cab Calloway becomes the Cotton Club's premier musical talent (he's played by Larry Marshall). Perhaps this isn't great, but it's definitely worthwhile.

cardinalcall Although the script is not the best that could have been written, who cares when you have so many talented dancers, actors, actresses, and performers in a film with lavish costumes and sets. The movie transports the viewer back in time to the Prohibition Era, when gangsters ruled, booze flowed, musicians jammed, and dancers tapped.Don't try to follow the plot: it's not worth the bother. There is something for everyone in this movie: music, dance, violence... even titillating lingerie and costumes for those with fetishes.My favorite scene is that in the Hoofer Club. Filming those old timers dancing was a glorious tribute to their talent, and well worth preserving for future generations. Needless to say, the dance sequences with the Hines brothers were excellent.Try to get past the limitations of the script and enjoy the ambiance of the Jazz Era, gone long ago, leaving us now only with rappers--whom I cannot even understand, thank goodness, and who have no talent in comparison to those performing in this film--and country singers, who are anything but country folk.

utgard14 Shallow uninvolving story about a 1930s jazz club and the broad caricatures who frequent it. Looks good but didn't grip me at all. I was checking the clock constantly due to the slow pace and scattered story. Despite the film's stylish period look and some nice jazz music, it doesn't feel authentic. The characters often seem like parodies of characters from 1930s films rather than wholly formed characters of their own who actually lived in that time. I hesitate to blame this on the actors, who I know are good from other works. This is most likely something that should be blamed on Coppola, who wanted these performances for whatever reason. Sorry I know it has a legendary director attached to it but that by itself doesn't make it a good film. Even the greats have misfires and Coppola had his share. This is one of them.

thinker1691 The 1930's was a turbulent time in America. Gangs of one sort or another tried their best to run, dominate or at least influence the bustling town. This enjoyable film is from a novel written by Jim Haskins and credits' Francis ford Coppola of 'The Godfather' fame as screenwriter and Director. Although, the basic story revolves around the power of Major Gangsters like Dutch Schultz (James Remar, Superior acting), Ellsworth 'Bumpy" Rhodes (Laurence Fishburburne) 'Lucky Luciano (Dalles Andro) Vincent 'Mad Dog' Coll (Nicolas Cage) and his brother, Dixie Dwyer, (Richard Gere), the inner story is of the famous Harlem night spot, called "The Cotton Club." Assembling the two timely ingredients together, Directer Francis Coppola blends a cavalcade of famous and infamous Hollywood Stars with historical events. The result is a fascinating, excursion through the Jazz age, complete with colorful dance routines, Tap dancing duos and orchestral classics such as Cab Calloways' (Larry Marshals) 'Minnie the Moocher.' In addition, two love stories flow neatly in between dance numbers and Machine gun bursts. Gregory Hines, Bob Hoskins and Fred Gwynne enhance the magical rhythm of this incredible journey into yester-year. Easily Recogmended. ****