This is a well studied cautionary tale about the potential perils of car crime. Newark in New Jersey had a reputation in the mid-90s for all kinds of car crimes including carjacking at gunpoint and this film cleverly taps into that era. There was talk about lines being crossed by Newark police officers back then and the movie takes a look at that also. I found it difficult sometimes to decide where to place my sympathies. Yes, the car crime itself is mindless and destructive as anyone who has had their car stolen will know but in the movie, the police often come off looking no better than the criminals they are pursuing.
Gabriel Casseus and Sharron Corley give very impressive performances as Midget and Jason respectively. If you're a car enthusiast like me and, like me, you didn't see this movie when it first came out back in 1995, you might feel the cars (which are important characters in this movie as well) date it somewhat but it's not overwhelming. The best thing about this movie for me though is that although it doesn't preach or moralise, it shows very clearly that for young black men, a life of crime can only lead to a limited number of conclusions. That said, when tragedy inevitably ensues, it's still very sad.
Props to director Nick Gomez - he often gets us right into the cars and takes us along for the joyrides - and props to Spike Lee and his 40 Acres & A Mule filmworks for executive producing the movie. I'll be watching this one again and again.
Banging soundtrack as well, by the way. I might actually get it on CD...
April 27, 2007I purchased this movie for my teenager son, hoping he could see the harsh reality of what could happen to him following the wrong crowd. This movie showed all the basics and then some.
March 9, 2006This is about urban life ever made. Nick Gomez carefully winds his tale into car thieves almost into greek tradgy. In the lead role as Jason, Shannon Corley shows great leading staus. Jason is played as a character who wants a better life but is caught up with the street life.
October 27, 2005If your IQ is under 25, or you want to be a crackhead, this movie is for you!
August 12, 2005 |  | It's not just a film,but Reality for those who live in NJ! |  |
BIG UPS TO BRICK CITY & ALL OF JERSEY! NICK GOMEZ HAS DONE THE PROPER RESEARCH 2 CREATE "NEW JERSEY DRIVE"! EVERY 20 SECONDS SOMEONE WOULD BE A VICTIM OF A CAR JACKING ESPECIALLY FROM 90-98! IT'S NOTHING 2 GLORIFY, BUT IT'S "FACTUAL"!!!! IF YOU DROVE THROUGH THE CITY WITH AN EXSPENSIVE RIDE THEN "YOU WILL FALL VICTIM"! **IT'S A COMPELLING ROLE DONE BY JASON/"SHARON CORLEY"... I'M NOT SURE WHERE HE'S FROM BUT HE'S WELCOME 2 MY BLOCK ON "G.T" ANYTIME! ON N.J. DRIVE YOU'LL BE ABLE 2 TELL THE REAL COPS THAT STIVE 2 CLEAN-UP THE STREETS FROM THE BEAST WHO ARE CORRUPTED & ADD COMMITS CRIMES DAILY!!!! THE CORRUPTED BEAST WOULD HARRASS JASON/S. CORLEY & HIS' CREW ON A REGUALR BASIS...SO MIDGET/GABRIEL CASSEUS OPT 2 BUCK SHOTS AT THEIR SQUAD CAR (GOOD)! **(KNOW YOUR RIGHTS)** JASON & MIDGET WERE LIKE BROTHERS... DAY-IN & DAY-OUT A MEMBER OF THEIR CREW WOULD BE KILLED OR INJURED. JASONS' & MIDGETS' FRIENDSHIP BEGAN 2 CRUMBLE AFTER MIDGET LEFT JASON IN THE PARKING LOT WITHOUT NOTICE JUST 2 STEAL A CAR! OFFICER ROSCOE WAS THE HEAD-RAT OF THE PACK, HE ATTACKED JASON & OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS' CREW...ROSCOE WAS ARROGANT & A DAMN IDIOT 4 THINKING THAT HE WOULD WALK DAMN-FREE AFTER HE SHOT RONALD LAMBS & BRUTALLY BEATEN OTHER BLACK TEENS!! RITCHIE WAS MIDGETS' COUSIN, RITCHIE RAN HIS' MOUTH AROUND THE HOOD SAYING THAT HIM, JASON & MIDGET TOOK A COPS' CAR SO TENSIONS AROSE... JASONS' SISTER JACKIE WAS THE RATIONALE 4 JASON & RITCHIE 2 START BEEFING...JASON TOLD JACKIE THAT HE DON'T WANT HER IN ANY STOLEN CARS & RITCHIE INTERVENED THEN HITS JASON... SO JASON HAD 2 REPRESENT & BEAT HIS' ASS THEN MIDGET BROKE IT UP. BEING THAT RITCHIE LOST HE MADE A BITCH MOVE & SHOT AT JASON (JASON DODGE IT OF COURSE)! I STRONGLY FELT THAT RITCHIE SHOULD'VE BEEN KILLED RATHER THAN TINY/FAISON, OR PEANUT! "THEIR LAST HOORAH", IS THE DAY PEANUT DIED, MIDGET RAN & JASON STOP RUNNING... JASON DID HIS' TIME CAME OUT & DECIDED 2 DO RIGHT! AFTER WITNESSING HIS' RIGHT-HAND MAN MIDGET DEATH ON THE NEWS HE SHED TEARS THEN DID A 360 TURN & WENT BACK 2 SCHOOL! ****"AS FOR RON BRICE,HE PLAYED TIKO MIDGETS' OLDER BROTHER HE NEEDED 2 HAVE A MUCH BIGGER ROLE" I'LL KEEP SAYING THAT!!!! (DON'T HATE ON THAT MAN) HA! THANKS 2 NICK GOMEZ FOR NOT ASSASSINATING CORLEYS' CHARACTER JASON IT WAS WORTH IT!** FOR ME N.J. DRIVE HAD A GOOD ENDING. ***IF ANYONE WANTS A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT "JERSEY" IS LIKE THEN GET "NEW JERSEY DRIVE" ON DVD! THE SOUNDTRACK WAS TOO HOTTT AS WELL IT HAS FRANKIE BEVERLY, ILL AL SCRATCH, REDMAN, THE LORDS OF THE UNDERGROUND & MY GIRL "QUEEN LATIFAH" ETC... HEAVY D WAS COOL HE HAD A FEW LINES... I WAS EXPECTING FOR QUEEN LATIFAH & REDMAN 2 HAVE PARTS BEING THAT THEY ARE ORIGINALLY FROM "BRICK-CITY,JERSEY" (YOU KNOW)!!!!
May 30, 2005More reviews at Amazon.com ...
Daily Birthdays
(22 reviews)