Retro Film Review: Gridlock'd (1997)

In my part of the world people like to say that one man's dusk is always another man's dawn. Gridlock'd, 1997 black comedy, is one of such examples. It was one of the last films in brief but memorable career of Tupac Shakur, rapper who had been murdered during post-production. For Vondie Curtis-Hall, actor best known for his role on Chicago Hope, it was directorial debut.

In this film Tupac Shakur plays Spoon, Detroit jazz musician who plays in trio whose other two members - Cookie (played by Thandie Newton) and Stretch (played by Tim Roth) - share his passion for music as well as his addiction to drugs. One day Cookie overdoses and barely stays alive, and this incident is a final wake-up call for Spoon and Stretch. Two of them decide to kick the habit and the only conceivable way for them to do it is to enrol into rehab program. Being addicts and lacking willpower to do it seems minor obstacle compared with bureaucratic nightmare of Kafkean proportions that awaits them as soon as they turn to government for help. To make things even worse, they got nasty dealer D-Reper (played by Vondie Curtis-Hall) on their back and in the process they become murder suspects.

In some earlier times using such depressive subject as drug addiction in comedy would have been odd, but things like Tarantino, Danny Boyle's Trainspotting and heroin chic trends in fashion industry changed the rules in mid 1990s. Gridlock'd somehow manages to combine drugs addiction with dark humour and although Vondie Curtis-Hall is far from being Danny Boyle, this film works. The plot is good opportunity for Curtis-Hall to make some critical observations about modern society and its lack of care for the people in need. The best thing about Gridlock'd is that it avoids some cliches while doing so - here the seemingly heartless bureaucrats are those who are flipping out and start verbally abusing recipients of their services. All this is good, but it could have been even better without subplots involving homicidal dealers and few unnecessary and downright ridiculous chase scenes. Yet, despite that Gridlock'd is for the most part entertaining and very moving film; knowing the fate one of the actors helps audience in sympathising with his character.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on November 7th 2003)

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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/12489-gridlock-d
Critic: AA