Badja Djola, Danny Glover, Forest Whitaker

Jackson (Forest Whitaker) is a naïve accountant at a Harlem funeral parlor who's slightly on the pious side. But when sexy vamp Imabelle (Robin Givens) hits town with a trunk full of stolen gold,...( read more  read more... ) Jackson's world takes a spin. When Imabelle's "business partners" arrive -- hot on her heels -- Jackson desperately turns to his estranged stepbrother, Goldy (Gregory Hines), the only person who has the street smarts to get them out of the jam.

Flixster Users

53% liked it

2,609 ratings

R, 108 min.

Directed by: Bill Duke

Release Date: May 3, 1991

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: September 2, 2003

Stats: 62 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Photos


None yet... Got one?

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (62)


  • October 16, 2009
    (Includes one minor spoiler, but it's unrelated to the plot and really more of a recommendation.)

    Surprised to see so few votes and comments for A Rage in Harlem - it was a modest commercial hit in Britain, so perhaps the all-black casting and setting just didn't play Peoria.

    T...( read more)he tone of this stylish, good-looking period crime adventure swings wildly between brutal, raunchy, tragic and comic, but a clever, funny script and likeable characters - especially Gregory Hines's big-hearted wiseguy Goldy, but also several delightfully written minor roles - maintain attention and sympathy throughout what could otherwise have been a bumpy ride. It's an emotionally engaging film, much more character-driven than the average urban thriller of the 1990s.

    Its purely incidental pleasures are many, topped by a splendid musical treat in the shape of cult R 'n' B hero Screamin' Jay Hawkins, giving a no-holds-barred performance of his voodoo classic I Put a Spell on You at the Harlem Undertakers' Ball. If you have a taste for the old school of black show business, this sequence will have you holding up the rest of the picture until you've given Screamin' Jay an encore.

    Thrills, laughs, and pathos, dished up with verve and heart, make a film that many of us still remember very affectionately.
  • December 7, 2006
    Average comic thriller interesting only for it's unusual adaptation of the book upon it was based, as it concentrates on the crooks rather than the cops.
  • September 13, 2006
    Bill Duke helms this atmospheric noir film that works mainly due to great performances.
  • April 19, 2009
    Okay.Nothing to rave about.
  • January 10, 2009
    No thankyou - Not interested.
  • March 4, 2008
    saw it again this weekend. i love period pieces.
  • February 17, 2008
    if things don't work out come on back home
  • January 20, 2008
    Ooh Robin Givens is hot!! This movie was very good and funny! Also the late Gregory hines was excellent!
  • May 21, 2007
    Forest played a great part
  • March 26, 2007
    a very good movie!!!!!!

Critic Reviews


No recent reviews.

Comments


  • winstonreid1
    March 15, 2007
    one of the funniest films i have ever seen in my life.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The World According to Garp
    The World According to Garp (50%)
  • Phone Booth
    Phone Booth (29%)
  • White Nights
    White Nights (67%)
  • End of Days
    End of Days (40%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

A Rage in Harlem : Watch Free on TV


A Rage in Harlem Trivia


  • Who played a gangster in "A Rage In Harlem"?   Answer »
  • Who played a con-woman in "A Rage In Harlem"?   Answer »
  • MOVIES NOT STARRING JOHNNY DEPP Yes, there are movies Johnny Depp is not in! This movie features the following actors/actresses, but does not star Johnny Depp: Forrest Whitaker Gregory Hines Danny Glover Robin Givens John Toles-Bey  Answer »
  • Who played a gangster in "A Rage In Harlem"?   Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for A Rage in Harlem. Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?