The thing that most stuck with me after watching this film decades ago, was the bleeding ulcers, which were symbolic of the stress and inner turmoil of someone stuck in a hopeless situation. The soft-focus dream sequence at the end was redemption of that struggle, quickly followed by the jarring scene of his successor's violent end. Evolve or perish.
How do you know the pics weren’t real? I always thought they was real. A testament to Spike’s genius as a director. Clockers easily my 2nd favorite Spike Lee joint, right after Malcolm X of course
Great analysis!!! Some of those pictures at the beginning scene real!!!! There was one who I knew personally as a kid. The way the picture was posed was exactly how they found him based on what folks from the neighbor who discovered him described the scene. He was also cool with my Pops, brother and cousins who lived in that area. When I saw 'Clockers' for the first time with my dad, we both had a gasp moment as there was no doubt that was the d#ceased down to his hairstyle, face, and how he used to dress; unless homie (RIP) had a twin who posed for that picture, I'm convinced there's NO WAY it wasn't him.
This is the best analysis I’ve ever heard. (Not just for clockers- out of the two ever made.) just period. I’ve seen it a hundred times- you could skin this movie a hundred different ways. I literally studied it because it’s so convoluted in a literary way. The poetry and rhythm with the music and how they resonate and influence each other. A few of spikes nineties flicks were like that- I can’t discern if even he knows how layered some of his pieces are. (His works read like novellas one the screen. Literature in motion.) A lot of nuances and inferences seem accidental but add depth either way. Perhaps spike runs into this video and says “I didn’t even think of that” But this “identity” thing is it. I got my literature degree and taught it in high school and can guarantee I may have seen this movie more than the creator of this analysis (possibly any human on earth) so it makes me want to tip my hat instead of be jealous at how I missed this “identity” idea after 1,457 viewings. That’s it. Has to be. It’s what makes the ambiguity of the “conclusion” make the most sense. Congrats sir.
@@CheckItOutHOODREVIEWS You always do lol. Sometimes I I think about a movie and Wonder to myself If Check It Out has did an review on it. I wonder when will you get to Class Act.
Totally agree with your assessment of Rocco he only cared when he found out he was not right for placing all his energy into taking down strike when victor confessed the entire time he was the killer
I saw this movie In the movies when it first came out and always felt there was more to Strike then what he represented. Great breakdown of the characters. This film is over 25 years old yet we face the same issues today smdh.
I think what’s important to note here as it relates to the police officers is that Andre is of the community, while Rocko and the other white officers are not. Rocko reminds me of the NYC DTs (plain clothes detectives riding in unmarked cars) back in the day that used to do street sweeps a couple days a week to which they attempted to do major drug busts, targeting both dealers and others who may have “fit” the profile. Andre actually cares about his community and therefore acts in a manner to protect and nurture. I think what continues to be an ongoing issue is that police officers are placed in communities that often aren’t their own, and so there is a lack of familiarity of the community, it’s culture, and mindset. Rocko and his team are racist officers engaging in profiling. Strike also played a role in Victor killing Darryl because of the story he told Victor regarding Darryl’s attempt to sexually exploit a teenage girl and also physically assaulting her. He did that because he knew it spoke to Victor’s righteousness, and that Victor would do something about it.
I agree with you so much Queen. So should some of us from the community become cops as a way to save our own?Queen I appreciate your mind, Thanks for your support.
@@CheckItOutHOODREVIEWS Yes! Now I understand what can come with that, as there have been some news coverage within the last 10 years highlighting black and brown NYC police officers also being targeted within the police structure due to not conforming to some of the problematic practices. However, I have seen a positive example of a black police officer with locs from the community (Harlem) interacting with the neighborhood. The people she was interacting with knew her and had a great deal of respect for her. It made me smile. I realized then that positive interactions between community and police are possible when there is empathy, familiarity, and inclusion. Thank you for welcoming my perspective
@@cindyb0212 what I don't understand tho is roco help tyron lie about shooting errol Barnes, and Rocco help strike get away and why did isiah shoot Darryl if he wasn't a street guy
@@NorthPhilly-zr7xc I think is because as hard and cold as Rocco act's, he is different from the other detectives and NYC officers here. He actually does care. He just has a hard job in a tough environment. So he has to be hard to do his job. But he really cared about what happened to all of them. Notice at the end of the movie when Scientific is killed when the other cops and detectives were making fun of him getting killed and the kids killing each other in the projects being like a self cleaning oven. Rocco asked Spike Lee's character what happened, and then went straight to investigating why Scientific was killed.
I remember seeing this movie when I was little. It was an awesome movie but I guess it kind of threw people off because Spike had just came out with a family movie called called Crooklyn the year before and he did Malcom X, School Daze, Do The Right Thing, etc. But all in all Clockers was amazing because it was definitely gritty, and realistic, I thought this was better than the other hood classics
Good review and summary. It's great you watch movies with an open mind and look deeper into the story so that you can take pieces from movies and extract lessons. A movie director might have their story line, but you have a great way of finding your own lessons and messages from the movies you watch.
Wonderful review. The one thing you did not bring out was that Rocko Klein identified so-called African-Americans as the Biblical Israelites by calling them "Yo's." He referenced it many times throughout the movie. Even the black detective at the desk knew he was using it in a derogatory fashion. WE ARE THE ISRAELITES!!! And Hollywood knows it too.
Great breakdown and review my brother. In my opinion though I think that you are a little wrong about Det. Rocco. I think Rocco always cared. He cares about that community, and he cares about the kids. Even the ones he has to investigate. I think he is hard because in that environment he has to be hard to do his job. But I think that he clearly cared about all of the young men that were part of the plot. To me he confirmed it with the look he gave Strike after Strike asked him why did he care about what happened to all of them. Rocco's heart is in the right place. He just has a tough job to do.
One of the greatest movie in the 90's with sticky fingaz & fredo starr from Onyx . I have to tell that i had another one underrated and it was Fresh a nice joint to if you never check it .... you have to see it even if it was not directed by Spike Lee and take a look on He got game with Denzel and Ray Allen directed by Spike Lee this time but Fresh is really one of my favorite movie .
I saw this movie years ago when it came out...I just read the book a cpl months ago and it actually took place jn new jersey right in the area I live in which was pretty cool
I love Clockers, I liked your review because I never looked at it like that. I just get tired of the whole selling your ppl poison talk especially since it's 2024 and we're in the middle of an opioid crisis, point is ppl are goi g to indulge no matter what
@@CheckItOutHOODREVIEWS ill manors was made by a legend of the British rap / urban scene Plan B he also made the soundtrack to the film he's rarely seen nowadays making music but he made three albums two in two different genre's that smashed the mainstream he's pure quality . some top tracks by him are ill manors and playing with fire they're heavily influenced by hood politics and the riots of 2011
You got that wrong Clockers had Da Bomb beer first… and came out in ‘95 .. Bamboozled came out in 2000 bro… and had da bomb beer.. you did not do enough research my brother..
Movie was dope. Not only has an entertaining story, but also a deeper lesson
I love Clockers. It was one of those movies I watched a lot as a kid on vhs. I had no clue it was a flop back then.
That shows how good movies can come out at the wrong time.
@ check it out you should the lottery ticket movie
It wasn't a flop. At the time, many movie goers complained about paying to see Clockers and getting a different ticket for another movie. MANY.
The thing that most stuck with me after watching this film decades ago, was the bleeding ulcers, which were symbolic of the stress and inner turmoil of someone stuck in a hopeless situation. The soft-focus dream sequence at the end was redemption of that struggle, quickly followed by the jarring scene of his successor's violent end. Evolve or perish.
This movie gave me nightmares when I was a kid. The dead bodies had me shook
I worked on this film. I read the book before working on the film. This is the most precise review of the film, in my opinion, ever made. Word.
How do you know the pics weren’t real? I always thought they was real. A testament to Spike’s genius as a director. Clockers easily my 2nd favorite Spike Lee joint, right after Malcolm X of course
Spike said in an interview that the pictures were recreated from the real images he was shown by NY detectives while he was filming the movie.
@@lwandogiyose7617shit was so powerful.
Thank you for reviewing an underrated spike Lee joint.
No problem Fam.
This amd fresh were classics. Underrated
The train scene at the end was the perfect way to end it
Need more black film reviewers. Glad I stumbled across this channel! You’re much needed
This is one of my favorite spike lee movies.. great analytical review of the movie 🎥
Thanks fam.
“criminology is a metric of manhood!”
#Bars
this film was a instant classic where i grew up at in the bronx amd end the movies of glorifying black men killing drug dealers
💯
Great analysis!!! Some of those pictures at the beginning scene real!!!! There was one who I knew personally as a kid. The way the picture was posed was exactly how they found him based on what folks from the neighbor who discovered him described the scene. He was also cool with my Pops, brother and cousins who lived in that area. When I saw 'Clockers' for the first time with my dad, we both had a gasp moment as there was no doubt that was the d#ceased down to his hairstyle, face, and how he used to dress; unless homie (RIP) had a twin who posed for that picture, I'm convinced there's NO WAY it wasn't him.
This is the best analysis I’ve ever heard. (Not just for clockers- out of the two ever made.) just period. I’ve seen it a hundred times- you could skin this movie a hundred different ways. I literally studied it because it’s so convoluted in a literary way. The poetry and rhythm with the music and how they resonate and influence each other. A few of spikes nineties flicks were like that- I can’t discern if even he knows how layered some of his pieces are. (His works read like novellas one the screen. Literature in motion.) A lot of nuances and inferences seem accidental but add depth either way. Perhaps spike runs into this video and says “I didn’t even think of that”
But this “identity” thing is it. I got my literature degree and taught it in high school and can guarantee I may have seen this movie more than the creator of this analysis (possibly any human on earth) so it makes me want to tip my hat instead of be jealous at how I missed this “identity” idea after 1,457 viewings. That’s it. Has to be. It’s what makes the ambiguity of the “conclusion” make the most sense. Congrats sir.
GREAT analysis brotha…appreciate your videos and already subscribed ‼️
Thank you for reviewing this hidden 💎. Can we please get reviews on other hidden gems 💎 such as In Too Deep, Sugar Hill, & Bluehill Avenue???
Yes! You've finally gotten to Clockers!
You know I got you.
@@CheckItOutHOODREVIEWS You always do lol. Sometimes I I think about a movie and Wonder to myself If Check It Out has did an review on it. I wonder when will you get to Class Act.
Totally agree with your assessment of Rocco he only cared when he found out he was not right for placing all his energy into taking down strike when victor confessed the entire time he was the killer
This was really good one of the few actual analysis of the film and it's themes from a legitimate perspective.
I appreciate you for saying that fam, and for the support 💯
I'm glad I caught this 😊
I'm surprise that u didn't mention Sticky Fingaz & Fredro Starr of "Onyx" were members of Strike's crew.
Facts
Hassan Johnson (Wee Bey from The Wire) was part of the crew as well.
Elvis Nolasco was part of the crew as well.
@@therealmarlonbellamy So was Hassan "Wee-bey" Johnson.
@@rhazmel Yep. He appeared on New York Undercover as well
Great content bra 👊🏽
Appreciate it fam
I saw this movie In the movies when it first came out and always felt there was more to Strike then what he represented. Great breakdown of the characters. This film is over 25 years old yet we face the same issues today smdh.
My hope is once we see better, and it's explained better, we can do better. Fingers crossed 🤞🏾Appreciate you Fam.
Read the book. You’ll get to know more about strike
Mekhi Phifer appeared on New York Undercover prior to this movie.
My generation when I lived in Chicago living that life glad I left that life but had to leave the city in order to make it out
Me too Fam, 62nd & Eberhart. a part of me still miss it.
I think what’s important to note here as it relates to the police officers is that Andre is of the community, while Rocko and the other white officers are not. Rocko reminds me of the NYC DTs (plain clothes detectives riding in unmarked cars) back in the day that used to do street sweeps a couple days a week to which they attempted to do major drug busts, targeting both dealers and others who may have “fit” the profile. Andre actually cares about his community and therefore acts in a manner to protect and nurture. I think what continues to be an ongoing issue is that police officers are placed in communities that often aren’t their own, and so there is a lack of familiarity of the community, it’s culture, and mindset. Rocko and his team are racist officers engaging in profiling. Strike also played a role in Victor killing Darryl because of the story he told Victor regarding Darryl’s attempt to sexually exploit a teenage girl and also physically assaulting her. He did that because he knew it spoke to Victor’s righteousness, and that Victor would do something about it.
I agree with you so much Queen. So should some of us from the community become cops as a way to save our own?Queen I appreciate your mind, Thanks for your support.
@@CheckItOutHOODREVIEWS Yes! Now I understand what can come with that, as there have been some news coverage within the last 10 years highlighting black and brown NYC police officers also being targeted within the police structure due to not conforming to some of the problematic practices. However, I have seen a positive example of a black police officer with locs from the community (Harlem) interacting with the neighborhood. The people she was interacting with knew her and had a great deal of respect for her. It made me smile. I realized then that positive interactions between community and police are possible when there is empathy, familiarity, and inclusion. Thank you for welcoming my perspective
@@cindyb0212 what I don't understand tho is roco help tyron lie about shooting errol Barnes, and Rocco help strike get away and why did isiah shoot Darryl if he wasn't a street guy
@@NorthPhilly-zr7xc I think is because as hard and cold as Rocco act's, he is different from the other detectives and NYC officers here. He actually does care. He just has a hard job in a tough environment. So he has to be hard to do his job. But he really cared about what happened to all of them. Notice at the end of the movie when Scientific is killed when the other cops and detectives were making fun of him getting killed and the kids killing each other in the projects being like a self cleaning oven. Rocco asked Spike Lee's character what happened, and then went straight to investigating why Scientific was killed.
Read the comment your responding to. To understand why Isuah killed Darryl the answer is literally there @NorthPhilly-zr7xc
I remember seeing this movie when I was little. It was an awesome movie but I guess it kind of threw people off because Spike had just came out with a family movie called called Crooklyn the year before and he did Malcom X, School Daze, Do The Right Thing, etc. But all in all Clockers was amazing because it was definitely gritty, and realistic, I thought this was better than the other hood classics
Good review and summary. It's great you watch movies with an open mind and look deeper into the story so that you can take pieces from movies and extract lessons. A movie director might have their story line, but you have a great way of finding your own lessons and messages from the movies you watch.
I thank you for peeping that, appreciate your support. 💯
Your content is awesome,Keep up the Amazing work.
No doubt
This was an excellent review!
Appreciate the support Fam.
Weebay and Bird Hilton from that HBO series The Wire are in this movie
This movie inspired the wire
Dope video!
Excellent take
An ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure.
This film is classic!! It needs to be respected
How can you say Rocco had no compassion , everything he did was out of compassion for Victor, also helped Tyrone get out of jail
No it wasn't. He was mad that they played with him about the murder. He tool it personal that they lied to him.
@@dcw3483facts
@@dcw3483they didn’t play him and they didn’t lie. He assumed Spike was the real shooter but he got it wrong.
Spike also had a little kid play a violent video game in 'Inside Man'
You hit everything on the nose OG my favorite movie of all time luv frm Flatbush Brooklyn
Thanks fam, appreciate you being a Hood Figure.💯
@@CheckItOutHOODREVIEWS do Never Die Alone
Wonderful review. The one thing you did not bring out was that Rocko Klein identified so-called African-Americans as the Biblical Israelites by calling them "Yo's." He referenced it many times throughout the movie. Even the black detective at the desk knew he was using it in a derogatory fashion. WE ARE THE ISRAELITES!!! And Hollywood knows it too.
Kan. Shalawam Ach!!
@benjamintribe4652 Shalawam, Fam!!! All roads lead back, don't they?
I thought this whole time Strike set up his brother, Victor to shoot 🤔
Clockers is my shit and your breakdown Is MASTERFUL!!!!
I appreciate you Fam
@@CheckItOutHOODREVIEWS no doubt
Great breakdown and review my brother. In my opinion though I think that you are a little wrong about Det. Rocco. I think Rocco always cared. He cares about that community, and he cares about the kids. Even the ones he has to investigate. I think he is hard because in that environment he has to be hard to do his job. But I think that he clearly cared about all of the young men that were part of the plot. To me he confirmed it with the look he gave Strike after Strike asked him why did he care about what happened to all of them. Rocco's heart is in the right place. He just has a tough job to do.
One of the greatest movie in the 90's with sticky fingaz & fredo starr from Onyx . I have to tell that i had another one underrated and it was Fresh a nice joint to if you never check it .... you have to see it even if it was not directed by Spike Lee and take a look on He got game with Denzel and Ray Allen directed by Spike Lee this time but Fresh is really one of my favorite movie .
You should do the movie in Too Deep @check it out
I saw this movie years ago when it came out...I just read the book a cpl months ago and it actually took place jn new jersey right in the area I live in which was pretty cool
He got game and The Landlord
I love Clockers, I liked your review because I never looked at it like that. I just get tired of the whole selling your ppl poison talk especially since it's 2024 and we're in the middle of an opioid crisis, point is ppl are goi g to indulge no matter what
is that money making mitch as strike
And you know it! Looking young af
Yes. It was Mekhi Phifer’s first movie. He also appeared on New York Undercover.
Nah that's future
Another Classic film
The ending always confused me.... guess it really was a left in the open thing for the viewer to conclude themselves.
Good stuff 👍
Ever seen any UK hood films ?
Ill manor's
Kidulthood
Adulthood
Shooters Liverpool crime film
Bullet Boy
I'ma look into these, appreciate you Fam.
@@CheckItOutHOODREVIEWS ill manors was made by a legend of the British rap / urban scene Plan B he also made the soundtrack to the film he's rarely seen nowadays making music but he made three albums two in two different genre's that smashed the mainstream he's pure quality .
some top tracks by him are ill manors and playing with fire they're heavily influenced by hood politics and the riots of 2011
Of all the Spike Lee films this one here is the most bleak. This is damn near a horror film.
Dope movie
I always felt Errol shot Darryl.
Do tales from the hood 💯
You should do the movie doing hard Time @check it out
I like how you think.....
I seen this opening weekend I had to be 6 years old. shell shocked, what’s crazy I wanted to see dead presidents
I got that for you too King
Who killed darryl?
Victor
My G... u should ask for a like and a subscribe instead of going to the chashapp straight away..... just sayin...
💯
wee-bay reppin
The book is always better than the movie..
Rodney was the neighborhood Dope Man not the homie..
You got that wrong Clockers had Da Bomb beer first… and came out in ‘95 .. Bamboozled came out in 2000 bro… and had da bomb beer.. you did not do enough research my brother..
Wasn’t roonie shooting dope after me caught that body that’s why he was getting sick ??
Are you single. Lol
Naw, I'm married to a Black Queen🤴🏾👸🏿