Cut Throat City

Musician-turned-filmmaker RZA and screenwriter Paul Cuschieri team up for a blistering takedown on post-Katrina FEMA relief work in New Orleans.

This has a rich sense of place and an incredible cast of supporting actors.

I do think that Shameik Moore does a lot to ground the emotions of this film... It's fun moment-to-moment and it has a strong sense of character, but the overall piece is a little bit messy.

"Cut Throat City" is a more thoughtful and personal film, concerned with how systemic racism - and zoning ordinances - can kill more people than a gun.

A film in nonstop conversation with movie history, American history, and itself.

RZA tells this story (from a screenplay by Paul Cuschieri) with deliberation and imaginative daring. With "Cut Throat City," his third feature, he comes into his own as a director.

Cut Throat City wants to be both a heist film and a portrait of post-Katrina New Orleans, and while it’s not quite there as either one, it remains watchable thanks largely to its stacked cast and RZA’s competent direction.

As we struggle to come to terms with the sins of our country's past and present, Cut Throat City helps us to better see the sickness within our society.

Rza 3rd offering as a director, Cut Throat City, is a take on the 90's coming of age films such as Boyz in the Hood and Juice.

It tries to do a lot, but ultimately doesn't do enough.