Cut Throat City

 

Cut Throat City is a crime drama directed by RZA, set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, in New Orleans’ 9th Ward, where four friends do what they must to stay afloat.

The plot was entertaining and keeps you on the edge of your seat with unpredictable twists throughout. The editing was well thought out and kept you thinking. The themes around poverty, systemic racism and doing what you must to survive are all still very relevant and relatable.

The cast was uniquely diverse, with the more classically trained actors like Ethan Hawke, Kat Graham and Denzel Whittaker mixed with people you wouldn’t typically see on screen with them like Tyrone Woodley and TI. I hadn’t seen Wesley Snipes in anything in a while, so it was a pleasant surprise. His delivery of the recluse father, was quite impressive. New comer, Shameik Moore, did well in the lead role of Blink, the struggling artist. It was easy to connect to his character along with Kat Graham, who played his wife, as they had good chemistry together.

I would have liked a deeper dive in the character development for the rest of the cast, especially the roles of Jackson Symms played by Ethan Hawke and The Saint played by Terrance Howard. There was an interesting dynamic there that I wish RZA would have gone deeper into.

Cut Throat City is a bit raw and dark so it’s not the kind of movie that I would necessarily have a desire to watch again but it was a well-made suspenseful rollercoaster of a ride.