Hoodlum
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: August 27, 1997 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
50
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
5
Negative:
3
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Duke is a superb director of actors, and, as in "Deep Cover", Fishburne manages to suggest a lot with a deft economy of means. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
While Chris Brancato's script doesn't reveal anything new or surprising (students of history and fans of "The Cotton Club" already know how this film ends), it's a competent piece of storytelling that incorporates elements of human interest with the threat of escalating violence. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Duke and his screenwriter, Chris Brancato, don't make Hoodlum into a violent action film, though it has its bloody shoot-outs, but into more of a character study. Read full review
75
San Francisco ExaminerBarbara Shulgasser
It is familiarly old-fashioned, complete with montages of newspaper clippings fluttering past and calendar days slipping by. The sets, costumes, old cars and general atmosphere all beautifully recall moviemaking of a bygone era. And for that, hats off to Duke. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
The director, Bill Duke ("A Rage in Harlem"), stages all of this with proficient confidence, yet he never truly summons the operatic power of the genre -- the pulp tragedy of ambition built on (and drowned in) blood. Read full review
75
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
The Sting-like ending with its crosses and double-crosses could have been better handled, but there are plenty of other payoffs in Hoodlum. [27Aug1995 Pg02.D]
70
L.A. WeeklyErnest Hardy
Too long by about 20 minutes, the film drags a bit, but the acting--fine throughout--carries the whole thing. Read full review
70
VarietyLeonard Klady
Director Bill Duke renders the period saga with passion, but lacks the sort of fluid, organic style the material requires; the film falls short of its aim for mythic proportion. Still, there's a vibrancy that's engrossing, if uneven. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
Duke rarely operates at more than a TV movie-of-the-week level of originality, but Hoodlum is still an easy movie to enjoy. Read full review
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