"Dead Presidents" is a classic in my book. I could suffice with that statement but I'll add a bit more. It was a well acted and well directed drama that seemed to be funny when it needed to be (thank you Chris Tucker),dramatic when it needed to be, and even violent when it needed to be. Some of, if not most of the violence was pretty graphic--that can be taken as a positive or negative. I'm not perturbed by it, but I can see how some are.

I loved the story. It was simple yet complex. It was really about five years in the life of a young Black man from New York spanning from 1968 to 1973. From his high school years on the streets of the Bronx, to his years in Vietnam, to his return to a family and struggling with life in the world. I think "Dead Presidents" was an excellent production that didn't short change us at all in any aspect.

It's 1968 north east Bronx. Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate) comes from a middle class family but follows one-legged criminal mentor Kirby (Keith David). After graduation, Curtis enlists in the Marines. His friend Skip (Chris Tucker) vows to avoid the war by going to college. Skip flunks out and joins Curtis' squad. Their other friend Jose (Freddy Rodriguez) is drafted into the Army. After four harrowing years of war, Curtis tries to adjust to civilian life. He discovers his old girlfriend Juanita had their baby. With a growing family and the lost of his job, he reunites with his troubled Vietnam vet friends, Kirby and Juanita's revolutionary sister Delilah in a scheme to rob an armor truck.

After the impressive debut of 'Menace II Society', the Hughes brothers may have over-reached. This is too ambitious. The war movie part is surprisingly competent. It doesn't excel and may be beyond their abilities. After the war, it struggles to get the emotional tension. Like the Hughes, Larenz Tate may not be up to the challenge. The personal post-war struggle is compelling but could be much more. The final shootout doesn't have quite the thrills but has plenty of blood.

Opening in 1969, in the South Bronx, we are introduced to protagonist Anthony Curtis and his friends who are talking about what they will do after they finish school. Anthony decides to sign up for service in the US Marines. While there he fights alongside some of his old friends and makes new ones. After four years serving his country he returns home and discovers life isn't easy for a young black man during an economic downturn. He gets a job but it doesn't pay much; his girlfriend, and mother of his child, is getting money from a pimp and his girlfriend's sister is in a radical militant group. When he loses his job he and his friends work with a local criminal to make one big score... to rob an armoured car taking used currency to be incinerated.

When I sat down to watch this I was expecting a fairly conventional heist movie; that is certainly what the DVD box implied... in fact that is only a very small part of the film. Rather than the conventional heist movie where the first half is the planning before the execution this is about the events that led a promising young man to turn crime. The early scenes serve to introduce us to Anthony and his friends; he clearly isn't a saint as we see him working for a local crook but he still volunteers and ends up fighting in Vietnam where he sees some very unpleasant things. The scenes set during the war are in turns exciting and disturbing but not entirely without humour. Back in the US the film captures the poverty of Bronx where there are few real opportunities for most people; and while not justifying it explains why some turn to crime or radicalism. When we finally get to the robbery it is well handled; exciting without being glamourous. The cast does a fine job; most notably Larenz Tate who excels as Anthony and Chris Tucker who brings humour to the proceedings, as his friend Skip, without going too far and feeling out of place. Overall I'd definitely recommend this; just don't expect a traditional crime/heist movie.