I have some disagreements. I never saw this movie as a hesit movie. Ever. It just so happens that there's a hesit in it. This movie has always been about desperation and survival. And how each character deals with it. Also the pit falls of untreated PTSD. The ill planned heist was only an response to their desperation and why needed it to survive.
That is how I seen it. I don’t I think I ever heard anyone call this a heist movie until this podcast. The movie is dead Presidents because just about every decision, the consequences and motives of every character, dead Presidents was the determining factor
@@ThatGuy-zt6poLike that shit was so fucked up to say. The Vietnam war a lot of soldiers lost their life and friends in that shit. Blood on that battlefield will never be erased from some of their minds gtfoh 🗣! That real war that judge was talking they probably wasn’t even in real danger 💯
My Pops went to Vietnam fresh 17 1/2 yrs old came home couldn't find a job ran the streets got locked up ..by time i was born in the 80's ..He was a great Father great provider... I love how this movie captured our parents lives during this time !!❤💙💙
This was not a heist movie. It was a movie about choices and consequences. I think Juanita was no longer “with” Cutty but she still let him hit and come around from time to time before Anthony came home. I think maybe you could cut 5-8 minutes out of the the war section. Definitely needed a lil more of Anthony with his fam. Also needed more on maybe being denied GI job training or maybe denied his Gi bill rights on top of not being able find a job in the hood. Great movie but could use an extra half hour to make it even greater.
Exactly! A extra 30 mins i feel would’ve made a big difference! But what if Juanita didn’t let him fuck and he was just there chilling with her before Anthony came in the building? But I hate to admit that it might be true she let him fuck before he exit out cause dude was feeling himself laughing. I don’t even think he looked up and saw Anthony before doing that shit. When he saw him he like “Hey Youngblood!” And Anthony was looking at what direction he was coming from
@mafiosotruely YES! Me too! Sam Cooke had many hits back in the day esp Change Is Gonna Come. But just like you hearing that song I always think of Malcolm X! 👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿
As a USAF vet and retired, with exposure to a "lot", PTSD has many visible and invisible wounds. I love this film, but folks need to understand that military people are people. We go through the same, if not more, than the general public. Much respect to my fellow veterans across the nation.
Yo when at the end, the Judge says" I served in WW2 a real war i might add", how disrespectful is that?.. I felt offended for him, Maybe he means it was a conflict, that we joined in, but i don't see how a Vet would Not have Comradery with another, especially when you've been in the shit for real,.. is that a Realistic thing? even among different branches.
I always wondered if Chris Tucker’s character Skip OD’d on purpose to avoid prison time. Like he said to himself that he was going to go out on his own terms
I don’t think too much time was spent in Vietnam. When you look at how Vets are treated this is sooooooo important and till this day I haven’t seen anything that depicts the reality of what they come home to. We needed to see what happened in the war to get the message or else the nightmares and the drugs etc don’t really matter it would’ve been a rush job
I have a theory about the three men as veterans. You say Kirby came home ready to take on the world-even with one leg (WWII) Pops was subdued. He was quiet and reserved but broken and still carried on with life the way Americans did when the vets got home (Korean War "The forgotten war") Anthony came home with guilt, demons, questions about his purpose, and was treated like crap by everyone. (Vietnam War) Look at the history. Their ages also seem to align that way.
I agree! When Kirby lost a leg 🦵 he probably had a motive and that’s take on the world and use that anger as his weapon. Anthony’s father I do believe was broken cause he barely had a voice and spoke up. He said that being in the army made a man out of him but it didn’t sadly cause if that’s the case why he looked depressed? We only have three scenes with him. He didn’t seem talkative only his wife which is wild and he’s the man of the house. Anthony was full of anger with demons and questions his purpose after the army so you are correct on that as well. Cause it look like to him the army wasn’t enough and nobody looked at him as a hero. His mother didn’t look at him as one definitely 😞.
@@91Definitemen get depressed to, it made him a broken man. I'm not disagreeing this was tough. His father was a man who didn't love life anymore. He was living without a soul, he was a tragic site to see. War does different things to different people but 100% it does something to you.
This was one of my favorite movies growing up. I think I was 14 when I saw on VHS, a rental from Blockbuster😂😂😂. But you guys talked about Kleon with the head in his pack and didn’t understand why that was necessary. I haven’t finished the episode so you guys may address this, but I wanted to comment before I forget. The only reason why Kleon took the head was because his Platoon leader grabbed the souvenir off the Officer he killed and Kleon wanted a “Souvenir” as well. Then he looked at it as a good luck charm. Because after the Sarge made him bury it, he said we just buried our luck and shortly after the Sarge got killed.
Yea I was kinda sad the sergeant got killed after Skip said cover him but didn’t smh. I’m pretty sure that shit haunted him going back to the Bronx. Sergeant in the next scene was just dead sitting like a toy soldier on the ground while the explosions were going on and shit. Cleon blamed him for that for years just not personal to him about it. Skip shouldn’t have been out there. Imagine if Skip dropout of College and his life went downhill? Maybe he was meant to be on drugs or something. Though I would hate that if that’s the case. You see some people you knew from high school down the road got strung out on drugs 😞
This movie is actually based on a true story. Its based off of a short story out of a book called "Bloods". The book was a compilation of stories by black Vietnam vets. I read it in african american history class almost 30 years ago before the movie came out. So it was awesome when i saw it brought to the big screen....
The movie was promoted as a heist movie because the studio wanted cash in on hood stuff but movie really about the struggles of a black man who unfortunately went that route. The robbery was him just try to survive
A lot of the traumatic scenes from Vietnam was necessary in order for the interaction with why I need a later or to hit harder because we’re actually seeing it from his perspective.
I think the purpose of the head is to show Cleon personality. He only chopped the head after the lead lieutenant found the star buckle. The jealousy of it, which played out between him and skip at the robbery.
Yeah I think that whole sequence is there to serve as how it changed them from Boys to men, It's not a Heist movie per se, as it's derived from a Collection of soldiers stories, it's a Guys Life, he told these stories as a Vet who actually did the Robbery. Cleon was a Preachers son, who knows how Repressed he was or "Touched" or maybe he was the kid who was never Told no, and displayed it on the Battlefield.
I never saw it as a full heist OR war film. To me, it’s two different coming of age stories for the same man. He reaches maturation with the choice to go to war, and throws his end of life death rattle temper tantrum in court. Y’all said war can make you a different person, so it makes sense that it was two COA stories to me. It has all the elements, including the evaporating friend group and the conclusion being found in being alone in some way. I would have either made two films, or told the story in a nonlinear way like Tarantino did with reservoir dogs, and connect all the common themes by mixing the past and present together.
My Biggest Question I have NOW I never noticed, WHERE WAS KIRBY? Did he get a Separate Court date? Did he get less time and snitched? How much time did Cleon get for telling? They should have had Anthony Narration as he's riding on the bus of what went down after he's off to jail.
Great review fellas, I'm sure the next review will be just as good as this. BTW, personally I think this movie was about both PTSD and veteran struggles after discharge. This was not a heist movie
I love y’all show, but you are missing the point of this movie. It’s NOT a heist movie. This is an ode to the Black men of the 60’s/70’s. The Vets who served in Nam and what they came home too. This was our version and response to Apocalypse Now. And all the Vietnam movies that came out in the 80’s/90’s. I think if you stop looking at it as a heist movie you’d get the better understanding of it all. Cause this is a classic from start to finish. Plus visually perfectly shot. The shame of the Awards shows is that this movie and subject matter would’ve won everything if it had a white cast.
This is my favorite movie because it is so many things at once . It's a war movie , it's a heist movie , it's a crime drama and it's a period piece . Whenever I hear what black people can't do in film , I think of this movie .
Why he went and got cleon to be apart of the heist still bugs me to this day. And as said the whole thing itself was poorly planned. Got the girl sister killed. half the money burned. Now as an adult that whole thing was a head scratcher
My Dad couldn't stand Cutty. Some villains just too damn good at being convincing in that role. "Big bad Marine." I must have watched this movie minimum 10x's gonna have to watch it again before Monday. Classic dark ending movie.
Yea it was a dark ending but he should’ve just calm down cause shit 15 years to life sounds bad but you might have a chance to be released on good behavior who knows. Cutty was a thorn in my ass, if he loved Juanita that much why didn’t he marry her 🤷🏾♂️?!
So this movie is all dependent upon how you’re trying to see this film. It wasn’t a heist film…. It was a story about how Vietnam destroyed the lives of Black veterans. If you look at it from that perspective I think your depiction of the movie changes. Main character was a good kid that came home and didn’t get a hero’s welcome. Skip was a good kid that wanted to go to college…. Came back a junkie. Cleon was a monster in the military and came home gave his life to god and lost his soul.
Skip wanted to be a pimp so bad that pushed him further down being a junkie. Imagine being a junkie doing anything to get that hit 🤔? He would’ve been the one doing shit for it 💯🤷🏾♂️
Outside of Da5Bloods by Spike Lee we don’t have many movies about Black Veteran experiences. It’s been over 50 years since Vietnam and most Black Veterans still don’t wanna talk about what they went through. Great conversation.
Trauma has always been a factor in Black person life ,combat, struggle to take care of family with minimal resources, Civil Rights, and the most violent time in American history 1968 what a hell of a time.
Cutty was foul If you pay attention it look like he just smashed how he was walking down hall and how his clothes looked. So I think he was rubbing it in Anthony face but disguising it as IM GONE it was straight disrespect . But I do agree he didn’t shoot him because it was personal
Not just personal that’s the daughters father as well. He love Juanita, but the thing is if he love her that much why tf he ain’t quit wtf he was doing and ride in the sunset with her 🤣!? Like he’s a pimp for Christ sake even Anthony knew that shit from a mile away 🤷🏾♂️! You can’t front on him Juanita ain’t shit 💯
Maaaaaaaan, I have been waiting for you guys to do this movie, and this has turned out to be my least favorite. I ❤❤❤ this movie, and I think you guys missed so much. FINALLY, at the end, you guys realized it WAS NOT a heist movie. The title is about them trying to survive in a world that hates us, even when we are doing our best. That’s why the Vietnam portion was so long. All throughout the movie they mention trying to get by. That’s from the opening scene. Anthony doesn’t go to the war because of Cowboy, and the heist was Kirby’s idea, so he didn’t do it because of what Cutty did to him. You guys were on point about Delilah’s fine ass and her loving Anthony. The first place he went, after choking Juanita was to see Delilah. A couple things were off, story wise, but this is still ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 on a bad day. Juanita missed Anthony’s PTSD and was trash for that. Delilah understood. I love the show, though. Y’all just missed on this one.
Wanted to correct myself on something. The heist was Anthony’s idea. He told Delilah that he had an idea on how to make some money; however, it was because he had to take care of Sarah, not because of anything Cutty had done.
Idk how the movie became wobbly to tone but I respect his opinion. But to me, everything in the movie was needed. Especially that scene of dude in the jungle. Cause it came back at the end. He literally watched his Conrads die in the heist the same way he watched his marine friends die. See how he did the closing of the eyes of the Latino homie, who he knew from the marines. He closed his heart to those situations for “dead presidents” 🤔. That’s why I say the title was perfect. Cause look what we’ll do for some dead presidents. To quote Kanye “and for that paper, look how low we’ll stoop”. That’s just my opinion though. This movie really turned me off to joining the military. Even though my pops and granddad were in the military, watching this made me say f-- all that 😂.
Right! He can be cool if he wanted to it depends on what you say to him that can tick you off. Example Cowboy! Cowboy deserved that shit it was long overdue, I bet you he never bullied nobody again after that shit
The movie is an insight into the impact of vietnam on black men from the hood (not a damn heist movie). When yall both said the Vietnam scenes were too long, I knew yall definitely missed the point of the movie.😂😂😂 The Vietnam war was the villain of the whole film. The poorly planned heist was the perfect way to drive home the desparation, anger and frustration of our main character, who was arguably the least mentally messed up of the soldiers we get to see come home. The plan was so terrible for all of the reasons yall pointed out, and it represented him hitting a rock bottom. The cold reality that a lot of our black Vietnam vets faced coming home. (Not specifically robbing banks, but drug addiction, ptsd, stranger in your own home, wife resenting you, no respect, cant find a decent job, feeling like you're owed more than what you ultimately end up with) Still a great breakdown of a lot of the elements in the film.
Hey, Brody...you all have GOT to do longer shows so you can talk about more details of a movie. Ill be watching yall just KNOWING yall gonna talk about a specific thing and you never do because you cant get to it in time. Lol plus, longer discussions help with my grave yard shift lol
Cleon and the head was a few things. Him showing hes tough, competition to sergeant and the smelly head is what somewhat disguised their location. Notice once he buried it things got bad
I thought for years I was the only one questioning the purpose of this movie. I always wondered what genre this movie fell under. Once again you guys break this down effortlessly! The Vietnam scenes gave me nightmares as a child.
Juanita was wrong and had Cutty all up in the crib after Anthony came back, straight THOT. And she had the nerve to put pressure on Anthony. Most men would not let that slide, watching a man come out they house!
Im telling you! Imagine if that woman was ya friend and just a friend and her boyfriend or husband sees you coming out they place? You better make sure you can defend yourself 💯! Most men with women are crazy out here when it comes to relationships with somebody you can be cool with
First time listener. This is gold fellas. I loved every minute of this review. I almost agreed with abt wcerything yall said. Totally agree with yall abt stretching the Vietnam scenes at the expense of the post vietnam & hiest build. But cant agree on a better ending is delilah living & her & curtis getting together. Thats a "Hollywood" that is supposed to l3ave the viewer "happy". I applaud the directors for going for the haunting ending of curtis losing it in the courtroom (prolly die to PTSD) & us seeing him headed upstate to do the bid. That ending is like a punch in the gut & totally opposite of Hollywood ending. Moving on to watch some of the other vids yall posted.....after i smash them like, subscribe & notify buttons. 😂
✊🏿 ✊🏿 ✊🏿 ✊🏿 ✊🏿 for me all day. This is one of my favorite black movies of all time. It has a great story of the struggles of the black man and war vets. It was shot fanatically, and the soundtrack was just magnificent to say the least.
I love this podcast. Skip got out the early on a medical release that's why he Anthony he get a extra check for medical. You on as many tours that they have for your 4 year contract. My friend went to Iraq twice
What’s going on, just subscribed, watching the Dead President review, deep on the break down, I just want to mention, I must be a little older than y’all, but those cars seat 6, 3 in front and three in the back
Bro I been seeing and hearing about this podcast thru yo instagram. THIS podcast is great! Being that I’m a writer and an actor. I’m from daygo and a movie buff myself. I’m putting together a film rn and I hope I can get you to review my movie someday. Don’t stop this podcast big dog. Fr. I would love to connect and maybe we can be apart of each others projects and films champ.
I do 🤣! In the great rap lines from the great Sean Price (RIP): “Called up my girl and the bitch is not with tha, Long ass bid so no longer Rock with ya, Man I'm locked up ain't no fuckin stoppin her Late night hangin niggas bangin cock in her” So long story short she seeing Cutty again 🤣
I feel it was a black Vietnam veteran movie, how the soldiers dealt with a lot and came back to virtually nothing. And the heist was a black veteran's last straw. Black veterans come back with the least and go through the most. I'm saying this as a veteran who comes from a line of veterans. But that heist scene was thin, I agree.
I'm still waiting for someone to acknowledge that both of Larenz Tate's characters O-Dog and Anthony, end up in prison at the end of both Hughes Brothers films.
@Villeins09 wrong my guy. Kaine says cops looking for him after Chauncey mails tape. O-Dog stay at different spots looking to murk Chauncey if cops don’t get him first. No way he would be in that last shoot out scene if he was arrested, especially if it was based off him deading someone clear as day on video.
I have learned my lesson those that heal my children and break a Generational Curse after 2019 born before 2019. What book controls files and folders when it relates to Romans 12:2 and Revelation 5:5 in Synchronize time
A great review. I love your brothers passion for this movie. However, you brothers forgot the most dope part of the movie. This crucial and entertaining part of the movie. The MUSIC. Back in the mid-90s, this movie had one of the best soundtracks. You had Isaac Hayes, James Brown and Ms Aretha Franklin to name a few. The soundtrack had two volumes Overall I loved the review. But all slept on the music.
No shit! But Cutty was the boss man above Cowboy he worked for him but Nicky Barnes was Cutty’s boss. That’s obviously the reason why Anthony left Cutty alone after that shit that happened on the stairs and and shit. He knew better to not fuck with him despite him saying “Staying the fuck away from my family”
The movie wasn’t about a heist it was about the struggle and the things young black kids would do for money(dead presidents) and the final draw was they so desperate…they willing to rob a armored truck!!
Dead presidents is more of a period piece than heist movie. The heist was put together poorly because they were desperate because of their situations and decided to make a move instead of riding the tough period.
Kirby had a say in the heist, skip was cleon lookout and could of just walked off playing the bum. Talking to Nita would of made things worse, she never mentioned cuddy until he showed up.
I love this movie. I love the music, the dept that they show and how we grow with the characters. To say it’s not a ‘Heist movie’ is kinda of discrediting the movie. It’s much deeper and better than just a cheesy action movie. It’s a time piece about what n words go through. Life, struggle, pain and obstacles of life. 🔥🎞️🎥
Dead Presidents is one of my favorite movies & it hits different for me being retired military. Anthony should have gotten with Delilah instead of Juanita or wrote Delilah and put their daughter down as a dependent and sent money to them while he was in Vietnam. When i saw Cutty pull up i said there goes the happy ending. Anthony shouldn’t have gotten. Cleon involved in the heist. Fun Facts: Anthony’s brother was played by Isiah Washington. Him & Larenz Tate were also in Love Jones & Isiah Washington & Jennifer Lewis were also in Girl 6. Larenz Tate, Terrance Howard, Bokeem Woodbine & Clifton Powell were in Ray, & Rose Jackson also played a two timing character in Fear Of A Black Hat. Get we please get breakdowns on the following movies: A Soldier’s Story The Tuskgee Airmen The Walking Dead (Not the AMC Series) Men Of Honor Red Tails
It’s not a heist movie it’s about a young dude who went to the Vietnam War became a war hero and came back to no appreciation from his country cause at the end when he get life he goes off and say” all I did for this country and y’all gone give me life “
Dead presidents is a Classic , I must point its a Very layered story compared to most Hood Flicks ,it transitioned from the hood to the Vietnam war , to a high stakes bank hiest gone terribly wrong !
He saw Kirby, as being more"FREE". Not bound to the ideals of the,"system". The difference between Delilah and her sister was that, Delilah did not have any of the responsibilities, as her older sister.
I read the book that this movie was based on, and it was mostly about the horrors of the Vietnam War. The movie was meant to be more of a war movie, and how the vets were screwed over by the US Government when they came home.
I think that using your ‘day ones’ for the heist wasn’t a bad idea. Those were Anthony’s friends who he played and fought alongside of all his life. I do agree that Cleon was a bad choice to bring into it and Delilah as well but all the rest were people Anthony could totally trust.
It's not voluntary, and Skip came back because he caught something shooting up in Vietnam. One of my favorite movies of all time. Agree with you when he said all the shit I did for this country was wild. 😂😂😂
I think they spent so much time showing war scenes was summed up by their camaraderie when they left war and took those pics. That explained why they brought the old war gang back together.
Look at it now and even back then, it was more of a life movie with the particular time. You got the adjustment to a Black vets dealing with ptsd, hard dope, limited job opportunities and how the world was so different when they came back home.
The War segment wouldn't have felt too long had they spent an extra 15 minutes into the ending. It all felt rushed after he lost his job at the butcher shop.
I think it could have been better if it would have been explained why Cutty kept trying to Son Anthony ; because he beat down Cowboy they lost street cred & slowed Cutty's street business up
I have some disagreements. I never saw this movie as a hesit movie. Ever. It just so happens that there's a hesit in it. This movie has always been about desperation and survival. And how each character deals with it. Also the pit falls of untreated PTSD. The ill planned heist was only an response to their desperation and why needed it to survive.
I totally agree, I even said that in 95. The studio ( Disney) promoted it as a heist but thats not what it was
That is how I seen it. I don’t I think I ever heard anyone call this a heist movie until this podcast. The movie is dead Presidents because just about every decision, the consequences and motives of every character, dead Presidents was the determining factor
You took the words right out of my mouth. No way this movie was about a heist. The heist is the by product of what each character was going through.
100%
This was like "Set It Off". The heist is a character in the film, not the reason.
Saw it in the theater TWICE. At the end where he threw the chair at Martin Sheen 👏🏽. That movie took you through it. Top 5 all-time soundtrack too.
Martin Sheen was nasty as that Judge. He served in a real war. I wanted to throw my chair at the tv.😂
Saw this at the theater too. It was a quiet, somber ride home that night
@@ThatGuy-zt6poLike that shit was so fucked up to say. The Vietnam war a lot of soldiers lost their life and friends in that shit. Blood on that battlefield will never be erased from some of their minds gtfoh 🗣! That real war that judge was talking they probably wasn’t even in real danger 💯
@SurfDUI Spot on about the Soundtrack
My Pops went to Vietnam fresh 17 1/2 yrs old came home couldn't find a job ran the streets got locked up ..by time i was born in the 80's ..He was a great Father great provider... I love how this movie captured our parents lives during this time !!❤💙💙
This was not a heist movie. It was a movie about choices and consequences. I think Juanita was no longer “with” Cutty but she still let him hit and come around from time to time before Anthony came home. I think maybe you could cut 5-8 minutes out of the the war section. Definitely needed a lil more of Anthony with his fam. Also needed more on maybe being denied GI job training or maybe denied his Gi bill rights on top of not being able find a job in the hood. Great movie but could use an extra half hour to make it even greater.
Exactly! A extra 30 mins i feel would’ve made a big difference! But what if Juanita didn’t let him fuck and he was just there chilling with her before Anthony came in the building? But I hate to admit that it might be true she let him fuck before he exit out cause dude was feeling himself laughing. I don’t even think he looked up and saw Anthony before doing that shit. When he saw him he like “Hey Youngblood!” And Anthony was looking at what direction he was coming from
Always have this shivering feeling whenever I hear Isaac Hayes' "Walk On By" intro bc of Dead Presidents. Great film.
i have that same feelin when I hear Al Green "I'm So tired of bein alone" All I just see is Chris Tucker death scene So Chilling
@@theeorehekchannelhaunting asf 💯🥺
Same for me when I hear Sam Cooks - Change gon come in Malcolm X's film after the death threats leading to the death scene. Chills!
And the background u can hear his alibs saying don’t go which was kinda referring to larenz Tate character when he was thinking about the robbery
@mafiosotruely YES! Me too! Sam Cooke had many hits back in the day esp Change Is Gonna Come. But just like you hearing that song I always think of Malcolm X! 👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿
As a USAF vet and retired, with exposure to a "lot", PTSD has many visible and invisible wounds. I love this film, but folks need to understand that military people are people. We go through the same, if not more, than the general public. Much respect to my fellow veterans across the nation.
22yrs USN word to that!
Chair force . Please relax
@@staymadloser7754 dumbass you relax.
Yo when at the end, the Judge says" I served in WW2 a real war i might add", how disrespectful is that?.. I felt offended for him, Maybe he means it was a conflict, that we joined in, but i don't see how a Vet would Not have Comradery with another, especially when you've been in the shit for real,.. is that a Realistic thing? even among different branches.
I always wondered if Chris Tucker’s character Skip OD’d on purpose to avoid prison time. Like he said to himself that he was going to go out on his own terms
I don’t think too much time was spent in Vietnam. When you look at how Vets are treated this is sooooooo important and till this day I haven’t seen anything that depicts the reality of what they come home to.
We needed to see what happened in the war to get the message or else the nightmares and the drugs etc don’t really matter it would’ve been a rush job
PTSD at its peak...coming from a combat veteran 🪖
💯 Facts
🫡🫡🫡
I have a theory about the three men as veterans. You say Kirby came home ready to take on the world-even with one leg (WWII) Pops was subdued. He was quiet and reserved but broken and still carried on with life the way Americans did when the vets got home (Korean War "The forgotten war") Anthony came home with guilt, demons, questions about his purpose, and was treated like crap by everyone. (Vietnam War) Look at the history. Their ages also seem to align that way.
I agree! When Kirby lost a leg 🦵 he probably had a motive and that’s take on the world and use that anger as his weapon. Anthony’s father I do believe was broken cause he barely had a voice and spoke up. He said that being in the army made a man out of him but it didn’t sadly cause if that’s the case why he looked depressed? We only have three scenes with him. He didn’t seem talkative only his wife which is wild and he’s the man of the house. Anthony was full of anger with demons and questions his purpose after the army so you are correct on that as well. Cause it look like to him the army wasn’t enough and nobody looked at him as a hero. His mother didn’t look at him as one definitely 😞.
A marine speaking on this is great 🫡
Absolutely short and sweet perspective 💪🏿Bravo zulu
@@91Definitemen get depressed to, it made him a broken man. I'm not disagreeing this was tough. His father was a man who didn't love life anymore. He was living without a soul, he was a tragic site to see. War does different things to different people but 100% it does something to you.
@@atownshawtypimp1true and that’s why I never joined the army
This was one of my favorite movies growing up. I think I was 14 when I saw on VHS, a rental from Blockbuster😂😂😂. But you guys talked about Kleon with the head in his pack and didn’t understand why that was necessary. I haven’t finished the episode so you guys may address this, but I wanted to comment before I forget. The only reason why Kleon took the head was because his Platoon leader grabbed the souvenir off the Officer he killed and Kleon wanted a “Souvenir” as well. Then he looked at it as a good luck charm. Because after the Sarge made him bury it, he said we just buried our luck and shortly after the Sarge got killed.
Yea I was kinda sad the sergeant got killed after Skip said cover him but didn’t smh. I’m pretty sure that shit haunted him going back to the Bronx. Sergeant in the next scene was just dead sitting like a toy soldier on the ground while the explosions were going on and shit. Cleon blamed him for that for years just not personal to him about it. Skip shouldn’t have been out there. Imagine if Skip dropout of College and his life went downhill? Maybe he was meant to be on drugs or something. Though I would hate that if that’s the case. You see some people you knew from high school down the road got strung out on drugs 😞
This movie is actually based on a true story. Its based off of a short story out of a book called "Bloods". The book was a compilation of stories by black Vietnam vets. I read it in african american history class almost 30 years ago before the movie came out. So it was awesome when i saw it brought to the big screen....
The movie was promoted as a heist movie because the studio wanted cash in on hood stuff but movie really about the struggles of a black man who unfortunately went that route. The robbery was him just try to survive
A lot of the traumatic scenes from Vietnam was necessary in order for the interaction with why I need a later or to hit harder because we’re actually seeing it from his perspective.
I think the purpose of the head is to show Cleon personality. He only chopped the head after the lead lieutenant found the star buckle. The jealousy of it, which played out between him and skip at the robbery.
Exactly! He felt left out he ain’t get a souvenir from killing the Vietnams so he decide he make his own which is severing one of their heads 🤦🏾♂️
Yeah I think that whole sequence is there to serve as how it changed them from Boys to men, It's not a Heist movie per se, as it's derived from a Collection of soldiers stories, it's a Guys Life, he told these stories as a Vet who actually did the Robbery. Cleon was a Preachers son, who knows how Repressed he was or "Touched" or maybe he was the kid who was never Told no, and displayed it on the Battlefield.
I never saw it as a full heist OR war film. To me, it’s two different coming of age stories for the same man. He reaches maturation with the choice to go to war, and throws his end of life death rattle temper tantrum in court. Y’all said war can make you a different person, so it makes sense that it was two COA stories to me. It has all the elements, including the evaporating friend group and the conclusion being found in being alone in some way. I would have either made two films, or told the story in a nonlinear way like Tarantino did with reservoir dogs, and connect all the common themes by mixing the past and present together.
My Biggest Question I have NOW I never noticed, WHERE WAS KIRBY? Did he get a Separate Court date? Did he get less time and snitched? How much time did Cleon get for telling? They should have had Anthony Narration as he's riding on the bus of what went down after he's off to jail.
I think they let Cleon go away free, and Kirby probably got a lot of time since he been paying off the cops breaking money off to them on the low
Keith David should have been nominated for an Oscar.
Great review fellas, I'm sure the next review will be just as good as this.
BTW, personally I think this movie was about both PTSD and veteran struggles after discharge. This was not a heist movie
I love y’all show, but you are missing the point of this movie. It’s NOT a heist movie. This is an ode to the Black men of the 60’s/70’s. The Vets who served in Nam and what they came home too. This was our version and response to Apocalypse Now. And all the Vietnam movies that came out in the 80’s/90’s. I think if you stop looking at it as a heist movie you’d get the better understanding of it all. Cause this is a classic from start to finish. Plus visually perfectly shot. The shame of the Awards shows is that this movie and subject matter would’ve won everything if it had a white cast.
Couldnt agree more
Was That CUTTY Baby Or Was That Anthonys 😂
The second child might’ve been cause remember Anthony wasn’t fucking her like that when he came home. Cutty was more in the guts than Anthony 🤣
This is my favorite movie because it is so many things at once . It's a war movie , it's a heist movie , it's a crime drama and it's a period piece . Whenever I hear what black people can't do in film , I think of this movie .
I’m too excited! This movie was 🔥 and so was the soundtrack!
Chris tuckers death scene gets me til this day
Why he went and got cleon to be apart of the heist still bugs me to this day. And as said the whole thing itself was poorly planned. Got the girl sister killed. half the money burned. Now as an adult that whole thing was a head scratcher
Cleon was a no nonsense kind of guy in the war, why wouldn't you want somebody like that on your team to commit a robbery.
My Dad couldn't stand Cutty. Some villains just too damn good at being convincing in that role. "Big bad Marine." I must have watched this movie minimum 10x's gonna have to watch it again before Monday. Classic dark ending movie.
Yea it was a dark ending but he should’ve just calm down cause shit 15 years to life sounds bad but you might have a chance to be released on good behavior who knows. Cutty was a thorn in my ass, if he loved Juanita that much why didn’t he marry her 🤷🏾♂️?!
@@91Definite better yet if he loved her so much he would of took her out that raggedy roach infested apt
@@antoineemory6772I believe he would’ve if Anthony wasn’t around 😂
So this movie is all dependent upon how you’re trying to see this film. It wasn’t a heist film…. It was a story about how Vietnam destroyed the lives of Black veterans. If you look at it from that perspective I think your depiction of the movie changes.
Main character was a good kid that came home and didn’t get a hero’s welcome.
Skip was a good kid that wanted to go to college…. Came back a junkie.
Cleon was a monster in the military and came home gave his life to god and lost his soul.
Coming from a Navy veteran.
This movie isn’t an action film it’s a dramatic depiction of life post war.
Skip wanted to be a pimp so bad that pushed him further down being a junkie. Imagine being a junkie doing anything to get that hit 🤔? He would’ve been the one doing shit for it 💯🤷🏾♂️
Outside of Da5Bloods by Spike Lee we don’t have many movies about Black Veteran experiences. It’s been over 50 years since Vietnam and most Black Veterans still don’t wanna talk about what they went through.
Great conversation.
MVP is Skip for me.
LVP definitely Jose…..
LVP runner up could’ve been Cleon but he did such a crazy job in Vietnam.
Trauma has always been a factor in Black person life ,combat, struggle to take care of family with minimal resources, Civil Rights, and the most violent time in American history 1968 what a hell of a time.
Cutty was foul
If you pay attention it look like he just smashed how he was walking down hall and how his clothes looked. So I think he was rubbing it in Anthony face but disguising it as IM GONE it was straight disrespect . But I do agree he didn’t shoot him because it was personal
Not just personal that’s the daughters father as well. He love Juanita, but the thing is if he love her that much why tf he ain’t quit wtf he was doing and ride in the sunset with her 🤣!? Like he’s a pimp for Christ sake even Anthony knew that shit from a mile away 🤷🏾♂️! You can’t front on him Juanita ain’t shit 💯
Maaaaaaaan, I have been waiting for you guys to do this movie, and this has turned out to be my least favorite. I ❤❤❤ this movie, and I think you guys missed so much. FINALLY, at the end, you guys realized it WAS NOT a heist movie. The title is about them trying to survive in a world that hates us, even when we are doing our best. That’s why the Vietnam portion was so long. All throughout the movie they mention trying to get by. That’s from the opening scene. Anthony doesn’t go to the war because of Cowboy, and the heist was Kirby’s idea, so he didn’t do it because of what Cutty did to him. You guys were on point about Delilah’s fine ass and her loving Anthony. The first place he went, after choking Juanita was to see Delilah. A couple things were off, story wise, but this is still ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 on a bad day. Juanita missed Anthony’s PTSD and was trash for that. Delilah understood. I love the show, though. Y’all just missed on this one.
Wanted to correct myself on something. The heist was Anthony’s idea. He told Delilah that he had an idea on how to make some money; however, it was because he had to take care of Sarah, not because of anything Cutty had done.
Idk how the movie became wobbly to tone but I respect his opinion. But to me, everything in the movie was needed. Especially that scene of dude in the jungle. Cause it came back at the end. He literally watched his Conrads die in the heist the same way he watched his marine friends die. See how he did the closing of the eyes of the Latino homie, who he knew from the marines. He closed his heart to those situations for “dead presidents” 🤔. That’s why I say the title was perfect. Cause look what we’ll do for some dead presidents. To quote Kanye “and for that paper, look how low we’ll stoop”. That’s just my opinion though. This movie really turned me off to joining the military. Even though my pops and granddad were in the military, watching this made me say f-- all that 😂.
Love yall show but Anthony had a mental breakdown, it wasn’t to show he was some type of hero but a defeated man who no longer think logically
Right! He can be cool if he wanted to it depends on what you say to him that can tick you off. Example Cowboy! Cowboy deserved that shit it was long overdue, I bet you he never bullied nobody again after that shit
Oh Man, about time with this one. In my top 5 movie of all time!
Dope idea. Remember you can show clips of movies without getting in trouble, as long as you are reviewing them like you are doing.
The movie is an insight into the impact of vietnam on black men from the hood (not a damn heist movie). When yall both said the Vietnam scenes were too long, I knew yall definitely missed the point of the movie.😂😂😂 The Vietnam war was the villain of the whole film.
The poorly planned heist was the perfect way to drive home the desparation, anger and frustration of our main character, who was arguably the least mentally messed up of the soldiers we get to see come home. The plan was so terrible for all of the reasons yall pointed out, and it represented him hitting a rock bottom. The cold reality that a lot of our black Vietnam vets faced coming home. (Not specifically robbing banks, but drug addiction, ptsd, stranger in your own home, wife resenting you, no respect, cant find a decent job, feeling like you're owed more than what you ultimately end up with)
Still a great breakdown of a lot of the elements in the film.
Facts they missed the point
Hey, Brody...you all have GOT to do longer shows so you can talk about more details of a movie. Ill be watching yall just KNOWING yall gonna talk about a specific thing and you never do because you cant get to it in time. Lol plus, longer discussions help with my grave yard shift lol
they prolly paying for studio time
@@MrBmick79damn, i aint think about that
Love this movie! Underrated by mainstream critics (what a shock), but still a powerful movie with a great cast. Glad you did this review.👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽
Cleon and the head was a few things. Him showing hes tough, competition to sergeant and the smelly head is what somewhat disguised their location. Notice once he buried it things got bad
Damn you right 🤔
Great episode but when the hell are y’all going to do Life and Friday ?????????
I’m waiting for those
I thought for years I was the only one questioning the purpose of this movie. I always wondered what genre this movie fell under. Once again you guys break this down effortlessly! The Vietnam scenes gave me nightmares as a child.
The title comes from everything that leads up to the heist. All of the characters situations collide into the ‘explosion’ of that scene.
I would have liked to see what Kirby's advice would have been to Anthony about the Cutty situation? Wonder what Kirby thoughts were.
They should've had a short scene of Marisol with all her kids looking hopeless and then Cutty pulls up with his signature Lollipop.
What does Cutty have to do with what happened to Jose’?
Juanita was wrong and had Cutty all up in the crib after Anthony came back, straight THOT. And she had the nerve to put pressure on Anthony. Most men would not let that slide, watching a man come out they house!
Im telling you! Imagine if that woman was ya friend and just a friend and her boyfriend or husband sees you coming out they place? You better make sure you can defend yourself 💯! Most men with women are crazy out here when it comes to relationships with somebody you can be cool with
First time listener. This is gold fellas. I loved every minute of this review. I almost agreed with abt wcerything yall said. Totally agree with yall abt stretching the Vietnam scenes at the expense of the post vietnam & hiest build. But cant agree on a better ending is delilah living & her & curtis getting together. Thats a "Hollywood" that is supposed to l3ave the viewer "happy". I applaud the directors for going for the haunting ending of curtis losing it in the courtroom (prolly die to PTSD) & us seeing him headed upstate to do the bid. That ending is like a punch in the gut & totally opposite of Hollywood ending. Moving on to watch some of the other vids yall posted.....after i smash them like, subscribe & notify buttons. 😂
✊🏿 ✊🏿 ✊🏿 ✊🏿 ✊🏿 for me all day. This is one of my favorite black movies of all time. It has a great story of the struggles of the black man and war vets. It was shot fanatically, and the soundtrack was just magnificent to say the least.
I love this podcast. Skip got out the early on a medical release that's why he Anthony he get a extra check for medical. You on as many tours that they have for your 4 year contract. My friend went to Iraq twice
Next Movie To Break Down! Why Do Fools Fall In Love. It would be dope to see you guys discuss that movie
Top 10 movie of all time for me. If Dead Presidents was made today, it would have been a Oscar nominee
Larry Mccoy
He was St Louis in players club he was not in In Too Deep
Finally this is my favorite movie of all time I seen this movie for the first time at 14 years old in 2008
What’s going on, just subscribed, watching the Dead President review, deep on the break down, I just want to mention, I must be a little older than y’all, but those cars seat 6, 3 in front and three in the back
Yoooooo I didn't know you doin movie reviews now! Dope!
I disagree on vietnam
To me all of that was important to explain his actions later
Me and Kirby baby
Bro I been seeing and hearing about this podcast thru yo instagram. THIS podcast is great! Being that I’m a writer and an actor. I’m from daygo and a movie buff myself. I’m putting together a film rn and I hope I can get you to review my movie someday. Don’t stop this podcast big dog. Fr. I would love to connect and maybe we can be apart of each others projects and films champ.
Great review. Y’all gonna do Baby Boy soon
Anthony plan wasn’t bad it was not knowing his team wasn’t really prepared
I can't wait for you two to review The Mack..
Kirby is the MVP he served as a father figure for Anthony and tried to let him get away as well
When Clifton Powell punched him on the steps that was epic
anyone else think Cutty just slid on up in there after ole boy went off to do his bid?
I do 🤣! In the great rap lines from the great Sean Price (RIP):
“Called up my girl and the bitch is not with tha, Long ass bid so no longer Rock with ya, Man I'm locked up ain't no fuckin stoppin her
Late night hangin niggas
bangin cock in her”
So long story short she seeing Cutty again 🤣
I feel it was a black Vietnam veteran movie, how the soldiers dealt with a lot and came back to virtually nothing. And the heist was a black veteran's last straw. Black veterans come back with the least and go through the most. I'm saying this as a veteran who comes from a line of veterans. But that heist scene was thin, I agree.
This was not a heist film. It's a movie with a heist in it. Great review though guys!
Great film killer soundtrack!
I'm still waiting for someone to acknowledge that both of Larenz Tate's characters O-Dog and Anthony, end up in prison at the end of both Hughes Brothers films.
We never see O-Dog in jail at end of M2S.
@stylnprfyl We don't see him in prison, but we definitely see him get arrested after Chauncey mailed in a copy of the robbery tape.
@Villeins09 wrong my guy. Kaine says cops looking for him after Chauncey mails tape. O-Dog stay at different spots looking to murk Chauncey if cops don’t get him first. No way he would be in that last shoot out scene if he was arrested, especially if it was based off him deading someone clear as day on video.
I have learned my lesson those that heal my children and break a Generational Curse after 2019 born before 2019. What book controls files and folders when it relates to Romans 12:2 and Revelation 5:5 in Synchronize time
Anthony is the obvious MVP……for obvious reasons 😁😁😁
One of my favorite movies
A great review. I love your brothers passion for this movie. However, you brothers forgot the most dope part of the movie. This crucial and entertaining part of the movie. The MUSIC. Back in the mid-90s, this movie had one of the best soundtracks. You had Isaac Hayes, James Brown and Ms Aretha Franklin to name a few. The soundtrack had two volumes Overall I loved the review. But all slept on the music.
Cutty was a doe boy that was working for Nicky Barnes Cowboy explained that that's who Cowboy worked for
No shit! But Cutty was the boss man above Cowboy he worked for him but Nicky Barnes was Cutty’s boss. That’s obviously the reason why Anthony left Cutty alone after that shit that happened on the stairs and and shit. He knew better to not fuck with him despite him saying “Staying the fuck away from my family”
y'all should do the Walking Dead next
Dope ass review guys frfr you should do Belly nxt fa sho
The movie wasn’t about a heist it was about the struggle and the things young black kids would do for money(dead presidents) and the final draw was they so desperate…they willing to rob a armored truck!!
Seems like that’s more safer than robbing a bank with security though it’s security in this situation too
Dead presidents is more of a period piece than heist movie. The heist was put together poorly because they were desperate because of their situations and decided to make a move instead of riding the tough period.
Kirby had a say in the heist, skip was cleon lookout and could of just walked off playing the bum. Talking to Nita would of made things worse, she never mentioned cuddy until he showed up.
I love this movie. I love the music, the dept that they show and how we grow with the characters. To say it’s not a ‘Heist movie’ is kinda of discrediting the movie.
It’s much deeper and better than just a cheesy action movie. It’s a time piece about what n words go through. Life, struggle, pain and obstacles of life. 🔥🎞️🎥
Dead Presidents is one of my favorite movies & it hits different for me being retired military. Anthony should have gotten with Delilah instead of Juanita or wrote Delilah and put their daughter down as a dependent and sent money to them while he was in Vietnam. When i saw Cutty pull up i said there goes the happy ending. Anthony shouldn’t have gotten. Cleon involved in the heist. Fun Facts: Anthony’s brother was played by Isiah Washington. Him & Larenz Tate were also in Love Jones & Isiah Washington & Jennifer Lewis were also in Girl 6. Larenz Tate, Terrance Howard, Bokeem Woodbine & Clifton Powell were in Ray, & Rose Jackson also played a two timing character in Fear Of A Black Hat. Get we please get breakdowns on the following movies:
A Soldier’s Story
The Tuskgee Airmen
The Walking Dead (Not the AMC Series)
Men Of Honor
Red Tails
@Bigjah you got to do q video in scene analysis for us writer and critics .
It’s not a heist movie it’s about a young dude who went to the Vietnam War became a war hero and came back to no appreciation from his country cause at the end when he get life he goes off and say” all I did for this country and y’all gone give me life “
It’s a 4 for me fosho. I’ve always felt like something was missing from the movie but I love it
Dead presidents is a Classic , I must point its a Very layered story compared to most Hood Flicks ,it transitioned from the hood to the Vietnam war , to a high stakes bank hiest gone terribly wrong !
Review" Walking Dead" with Allen Payne and Eddie Griffin
One of the greatest movies ever
He saw Kirby, as being more"FREE". Not bound to the ideals of the,"system". The difference between Delilah and her sister was that, Delilah did not have any of the responsibilities, as her older sister.
I read the book that this movie was based on, and it was mostly about the horrors of the Vietnam War. The movie was meant to be more of a war movie, and how the vets were screwed over by the US Government when they came home.
I think that using your ‘day ones’ for the heist wasn’t a bad idea.
Those were Anthony’s friends who he played and fought alongside of all his life.
I do agree that Cleon was a bad choice to bring into it and Delilah as well but all the rest were people Anthony could totally trust.
I feel like this isn't a heist movie as much as it is a black inner city version of Rambo
It's not voluntary, and Skip came back because he caught something shooting up in Vietnam. One of my favorite movies of all time. Agree with you when he said all the shit I did for this country was wild. 😂😂😂
This movie had a great sound track.
It was really heartbreaking seeing how Anthony was treated by his woman when he came back, but thats reality for alot of dudes in the service
This go be a good one
Been waiting on this
You gotta do “Booty Call”
I saw this movie three times when it came out this was the bomb
Hope Tony Baker on this episode. Fingers crossed 🤞🏽
I think they spent so much time showing war scenes was summed up by their camaraderie when they left war and took those pics. That explained why they brought the old war gang back together.
"The wash" or deep cover should be next
Look at it now and even back then, it was more of a life movie with the particular time. You got the adjustment to a Black vets dealing with ptsd, hard dope, limited job opportunities and how the world was so different when they came back home.
The War segment wouldn't have felt too long had they spent an extra 15 minutes into the ending. It all felt rushed after he lost his job at the butcher shop.
Jah the reason I say yams now 😅😅😅😂😂😂
I think it could have been better if it would have been explained why Cutty kept trying to Son Anthony ; because he beat down Cowboy they lost street cred & slowed Cutty's street business up