Streetwise (1998 film)
| Streetwise | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Bruce Brown |
| Music by | Boris Elkis |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Streetwise is a 1998 American action/crime film about drug dealers and gangsters vying for power on the streets of Washington, DC. It was directed by Bruce Brown. In 2004, a sequel was released, called Divided City.
The movie, filmed in 1994, debuted in '98, and released on DVD through Maverick Home Entertainment around 2004, is set mainly in SouthEast Washington, DC in the mid 1990s. The film deals with many social issues that plagued the African-American community in that decade, including the scourge of crack-cocaine, the ruthlessness of those who dealt in its trade, and the drastic rise in new HIV infections.
Although Brown chose fictional characters, DC residents who know the story can draw comparison to the "tenure" of Rayful Edmond III, a legend amongst DC drug dealers who many agree was as ruthless in real life as the movie's antagonist, appropriately named "Raymond". However, in reality, Edmond's successful run in the '90s was abated by prison instead of death.
Cast (in alphabetical order)
- James Funk
- Sheila Hayes — Alex
- Taraji P. Henson; This movie is believed to be her debut role
- DJ Kool — Himself
- Kurt Matthews — Dante
- David Jason Orr — Tom Tom
- Kim Person — Mercedes
- DC Scorpio — Loco
- Edmond Rodgers Shorty B AKA Sugar Bear 1130's Partner
- Paco Lopez — Himself