Clockers MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -4

Strike (Mekhi Phifer) leads a gang of teenage clockers, a slang term for drug dealers. His boss, Rodney (Delroy Lindo), tells Strike that he must take care of a drug dealer who left Rodney. When the drug dealer is killed, Rodney's brother Victor (Isaiah Washington) pleads guilty. But Detective Rocco Klein (Harvey Keitel) thinks the confession is too good to be true. Rocco thinks Victor is protecting Strike. Rocco and his partner Larry (John Turturro) begin to put pressure on Strike that makes Rodney think Strike may be a problem, too. But who really killed the drug dealer Victor, Strike, Rodney, or someone else? And how long can Strike dodge both Rocco and Rodney? The answer to all these questions makes for a tense detective mystery but the investigation drags too much to have much entertainment appeal.

Violence, or at least the aftermath of violence, and extensive obscene language dominate the film. During the opening credits are numerous shots of dead, bloody bodies with the camera lingering on the bullet holes in various parts of the anatomy. The scene then moves to a park where young clockers are talking, waiting for drug buyers and watching for cops. The teens' conversation consists mostly of filthy obscenities, obscuring any worthwhile dialogue. When police raid the park, viewers witness them checking the teens' bodies for hidden drugs, exposing most of their buttocks. All aspects of dealing drugs are shown, including the often violent, deadly consequences. However, there are conflicting drug messages in the film. Rodney is smart enough not to use drugs, but neither he nor the other gang members have any qualms about profiting from others' addictions. Religious comments bring a little humor when a Hispanic prefers to be called Jesus rather than the Spanish pronunciation "Hay-soos'." Rocco has a hard time calling him Jesus, but his friends have little problem using the name as profanity. Drugs, profanity, violence and almost 300 obscenities may be realistic for the ghetto world, but many good films have worked without them. Don't spend your time on CLOCKERS.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Universal Pictures, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608