5/5 THE REALISM OF HOODLUM URBAN EXPERIENCE
  by Edward Taylor (MARYLAND)
TO ANYONE WITH A NEGATIVE OPINION ON THIS MOVIE, MY THOUGHTS TO YOU ARE THAT YOU CAN NOT RELATE TO IT!!! THIS MOVIE REMINDED ME SO MUCH OF MY YOUTH IN BUFFALO AND QUEENS, NEW YORK DURING THE 90'S. THE WAY THEY WERE INTO CARS WAS THE WAY I WAS INTO GUNS. WITHOUT BOASTING I HAVE SHOT 4 PEOPLE BY THE AGE OF 17. BY THE AGE OF 21 I HAD A TOTAL OF 5 1/2 YEARS OF INCARCERATION IN THE JUVENILE AND ADULT PRISON SYSTEM. I TURNED MY LIFE AROUND IN PRISON AND SAW THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT THAT LIFE WAS REALLY ABOUT.I AM NOW 30 YEARS OF AGE AND I HAVE NOT RETURNED TO THE STREETS OR TO PRISON. I HAVE A SUN, AGE 2 AND I WILL DEFINITELY SHOW THIS MOVIE TO HIM WHEN THAT TIME COMES. WHATEVER MORAL MESSEGE THAT IS LACKING IN THE MOVIE I WILL ENLIGHTEN HIM. IF YOU HAVE NOT LIVED THE URBAN EXPERIENCE YOU WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND THIS MOVIE SO PLEASE LEAVE THE NEGATIVE CRITICS IN YOUR HEAD. NEW JERSEY DRIVE IS A GREAT FILM.

5/5 Well worth a look!
  by Olukayode Balogun (Leeds, England)
This is a well studied cautionary tale about the potential perils of car crime. Newark in New Jersey had a reputation in the mid-90s for all kinds of car crimes including carjacking at gunpoint and this film cleverly taps into that era. There was talk about lines being crossed by Newark police officers back then and the movie takes a look at that also. I found it difficult sometimes to decide where to place my sympathies. Yes, the car crime itself is mindless and destructive as anyone who has had their car stolen will know but in the movie, the police often come off looking no better than the criminals they are pursuing.

Gabriel Casseus and Sharron Corley give very impressive performances as Midget and Jason respectively. If you're a car enthusiast like me and, like me, you didn't see this movie when it first came out back in 1995, you might feel the cars (which are important characters in this movie as well) date it somewhat but it's not overwhelming. The best thing about this movie for me though is that although it doesn't preach or moralise, it shows very clearly that for young black men, a life of crime can only lead to a limited number of conclusions. That said, when tragedy inevitably ensues, it's still very sad.

Props to director Nick Gomez - he often gets us right into the cars and takes us along for the joyrides - and props to Spike Lee and his 40 Acres & A Mule filmworks for executive producing the movie. I'll be watching this one again and again.

Banging soundtrack as well, by the way. I might actually get it on CD...




5/5 Very Helpful
  by Erica Burkett (Grandview, MO)
I purchased this movie for my teenager son, hoping he could see the harsh reality of what could happen to him following the wrong crowd. This movie showed all the basics and then some.

5/5 True to life flick
  by Ronnie Clay (Winnsboro, Louisiana)
This is about urban life ever made. Nick Gomez carefully winds his tale into car thieves almost into greek tradgy. In the lead role as Jason, Shannon Corley shows great leading staus. Jason is played as a character who wants a better life but is caught up with the street life.

1/5 New Jersey jive!
  by earth1 (Lawrenceville N.J.)
If your IQ is under 25, or you want to be a crackhead, this movie is for you!