Deuces Wild (2002)

Truly Dreadful Film

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Ok, it's a rumble movie. It's like LORDS OF FLATBUSH with half the soul. It's WEST SIDE STORY without the song and dance. It's THE OUTSIDERS without the literary writing. Sure, it's got a boatload of talented young faces, some already established, most semi-established when this released. But the script? Ugh. It's juvenile, simplistic, one-dimensional, mindlessly violent (though not graphic); something lifted from a 1960 "JD" message flick, but with better production values, including color. I gave it a six out of pity and because I like Stephen Dorff, but it deserves a five. And Brad Renfro? How did so many filmmakers see potential in HIM before he died not long after this? Bottomline: this is not an awful movie. It's not painful to watch. But it's a youth film that belongs in the 80s, not in 2003. And it doesn't deserve the actors it cast. From the list of actors, I'd guess this was a hot property when it was getting assembled, but subsequently, the writers and director let half the air out of its balloon and repackaged GREASE. Oh, and Norman Reedus? A disheartening case of one-note-johnny overacting in this particular effort. I gotta suspect that the director let the cast down with mediocre, uninspired directions to the actors.

When gages ruled the streets of New York City in the Brooklyn area in the late 1950's. When a tough but an good hearted young man by the name of Leon (Stephen Dorff) tries to control his younger out of control teenage brother by the name of Bobby (Brad Renfro). Since Leon is the leader of the gang called the Deuces. Deuces are the opposite of a dangerous gang, known as the Vipers. Leon tries to keep drugs off the streets that killed his brother, When the leader of the Vipers (Norman Reedus) is out of prison for being there for three years.Since he wants revenge, because someone did rat him out to the cops. Bobby falls in love with an attractive care-free older woman (Fairuza Balk)-which he dangerous no good drug addicted brother (Balthazar Getty) is part of the Vipers. When the leader of the Vipers, who wants to sell Drugs and Thigns are about to change. When the Deuces and the Vipers are starting a war against each other for fighting the peace of the streets. Keep drugs off the block, even if it's comes to Violence.This underrated film is stylish, tough, passionate and good looking brutality strong gang drama. Which it does capture the life vividly in this little seen flick. Directed by Scott Kalvert (The Basketball Diaries) did an fine job, which does have a terrific cast (Including:Max Perlich, Drea de Matteo, Vincent Pastore, Frankie Muniz, Matt Dillon, Deborah Harry, James Franco and more) with an expectational cinematography by John A. Alonzo (Star Trek:Generations, The Guardian, Scarface). Which it is sadly Alonzo's last film as Director of Photography. The movie is quite flawed at the some of the key moments (Especially uneven in one surprise moment in the film, which is never resolve in the flick) but it's strong enough to keep this film, fast moving and it's also hard to disliked.DVD has an terrific anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer (Also in Pan & Scan) with an fine-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD extras are good-including:an ingraining commentary track by the director and editor:Micheal R. Miller (Both admitting that the movie is flawed, trying their best to make it entertaining as possible), Photo Gallery and Theatrical Trailer. Do not miss this interesting small one of a kind movie. Filmmaker:Martin Scorsese is uncredited as a Executive Producer. This film was a Box Office Bomb in theaters. The film might have life on DVD. Filmed in 2000. Panavision. (*** ½/*****).

Why they have this movie listed under drama I'll never know. For the first 30 minutes I thought it was pretty funny, then I looked it up in the database only to find that it wasn't supposed to be a comedy. Ruined the rest of the picture.One of the funnest lines was a "kinder-hood" commenting one evening on the Christmas music playing in the background. "Christ, it's gotta be 115 degrees". The next day (presumably still at least 100 degrees) we see him wearing his leather jacket. Great gag! You can see why these kids are so tough, though. Why they have a chip on their shoulder. They come from a tough neighborhood - only one pool to go to. What satire!It is easily twice as good as a comedy as it is a drama. On a scale of 10* I give it a rock solid 1/2* as a comedy.

..... but I'll try.The film's about a Brooklyn gang called the Deuces, circa 1958, and centers on two people, Leon, the gang leader, and his younger brother, Bobby. A third brother died of a drug overdose years before and Leon's sworn to keep the neighborhood clean. The dealer who sold his brother the smack comes back from prison looking for revenge and partners up with the local mob boss, played inexplicably by Matt Dillon. The war is on for control of the street.The script is awful. The dialogue is right out of a comic book. And the actors do nothing to elevate the film. Fairuza Balk gets my nod for the worst performance of the year. She's ten years too old for the part of the teenage sister of a rival gang member, and her makeup and Brooklyn accent are an affront to the senses. Stephen Dourf and Brad Renfro are a couple of lightweights cast as the two brothers. Every cliché about Brooklyn street gangs is paraded in front of the viewer, right down to the Catholic priest trying to get the boys to stop fighting each other. There's even a young kid, Scooch, an angelic wannabe that looks up to Leon. I almost expected Pat O'Brien and Billy Halop to pop up any minute.This turkey belongs in the trash bin.