![]() ![]() By not pulling any punches, Cube allows the story to develop at its own pace, punctuated with comical interludes that are in stark contrast to the occasionally shocking, if well travelled, subject matter. Yet the script is peppered with hackneyed cliches that serve to compound the feeling that the film has too many roots in a genre suitably drained and left for dead ten years ago.īut, where this film scores highly is in its open and often disturbing portrayal of life among America's seediest levels of society. With: Bernie Mac (Dollar Bill), Monica Calhoun (Ebony), Jamie Foxx (Blue), A.J. With his trademark cussing and women-baiting clearly painted on the screen, Cube has succeded in creating a visual and aural whirlwind, supplemented by the obligatory pumping hip-hop soundtrack. Eventually Diamond, with her sights set on a life beyond the club, sets about gaining some serious payback in a shootout of John Woo proportions. When Ebony has to entertain Ronnie's younger brother, he - goaded by a sexist club patron (played by the director in a cameo) - brutally rapes her. Louis (Larry McCoy) and as a result spends the rest of the film ducking henchman of pantomine proportions.Īs Diamond sees a speck of light in her dark existence with her graduation from high school, Ebony is drawn deeper into the sleazoid underworld by fellow dancer Ronnie (Khrystale Wilson) which encompasses such down'n'dirty dealings as spanking a roomful of cops. Centred on the eponymous strip joint, the film follows the interlocking lives of the hardluck denizens who inhabit it: hooker with a heart (and single mother) Diamond (a feisty debut from LisaRaye) her younger cousin Ebony (Calhoun) who follows Diamond into the strip club as an exotic dancer club owner Dollar Bill (a fantastically over-the-top Mac) who is in trouble with local gangster St. Overall Cube may have directing skills worth watching again but lets hope his next vehicle is better than this.Having made the figure of the GWA (Gangsta With Attitude) his own in such fare as Boyz N The Hood, Friday and Trespass, Ice Cube's directorial debut doesn't see him stray too far from his well trod mean streets. ![]() The plot is episodic and lacks drive or drama and will leave you feeling bored and distracted. The plot is average at best and the performances are mostly poor. Wilson and Givens are ugly and nasty they can't act and I find it hard to believe people actually paid Wilson to get naked! This film is basically a modern blackploitation film made for black people to come and watch regardless of quality. Foxx is not bad but could have done more. Mac is terrible, not funny or believable. Calhoun is good looking and quite good but that's about it. Lisa Raye's narration is terrible but her performance is actually alright. The acting is surprisingly bad from several main sources. We are `treated' to the odd dance and fight scene but really the bits don't all come together and it just feels like everyone is swearing over nothing all the time. It's told in flashback and just seems to involve everyone swearing as our heroine tries to go her own way and move up and out etc etc. Sadly he is let down on nearly every other front. I mean the shots are nice and the camera moves around well enough. Here he takes on his directorial debut and he does OK. He does stay in the `safe' comedy roles but he has also moved on well since his debut in Boyz n'da Hood. Eventually the drama of the club gets intense and catches her up. Given the name Diamond by her boss, Diana also gets her cousin involved in the club while she also tries to look after her son and stay in school. When working in a shoe shop Diana gets met by two strippers who invite her down to try out for the Players Club where she gets taken on. When Diana gets pregnant in college she moves in her with boyfriend who soon tires of her and moves out. Chrystale Wilson and Lisa Raye as Ronnie and Diamond in The Player’s Club film I Love Old School Music spoke exclusively to Chrystale Wilson, best known for her role of Ronnie on the classic film, The Player’s Club about her work on the film and the truth behind the fight scene with Lisa Raye’s character, Diamond.
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