Back in the Day (2005 film)
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| Back in the Day | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | James Hunter |
| Written by | James Hunter Michael Raffanello |
| Produced by | Kip Konwiser, Stephen Baldwin, Donald A. Barton, Van Burrows |
| Starring | Ja Rule Ving Rhames |
| Cinematography | Donald M. Morgan |
| Edited by | Chris Holmes |
| Music by | Robert Folk |
| Distributed by | First Look Home Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Back in the Day is a 2005 crime drama[1] starring Ja Rule and Ving Rhames and directed by James Hunter.[2][3][4] The film premiered on BET on May 13, 2005.
Plot
[edit]Reggie Cooper is a young man who lives with his father in order to avoid the violent gang activity that almost claimed his life when he was a teenager. However, when his recently paroled mentor, J-Bone reconnects with Reggie, and when his father is murdered, Reggie slips back into a life of crime. Reggie murders a local preacher, whose daughter later develops a relationship with him.
Cast
[edit]- Ja Rule as Reggie Cooper
- Ving Rhames as Joseph "J-Bone" Brown
- Tatyana Ali as Alicia Packer
- Giancarlo Esposito as Benson Cooper
- Joe Morton as Reverend James Packer
- Pam Grier as Mrs. Cooper
- Frank Langella as Lieutenant Bill Hudson
- Lahmard Tate as Jamal
- Tia Carrere as Loot
- Al Sapienza as Detective Kline
- Davetta Sherwood as Tasha
- Kaly Cordova as Police Officer
Production and reception
[edit]In early 2003 Ja Rule announced that he was to act in a film alongside Ving Rhames.[5] Filming was slated to take place in Puerto Rico during September of the same year.[6] The film was written by James Hunter and Michael Raffanello, directed by Hunter, and scored by composer Robert Folk.[7] The film was primarily produced by DEJ Productions, at the time its most expensive to date, with budget estimates of $5 to $10 million to over $10 million.[8][9] Filming ended in 2004,[10][11] and by April DEJ was preparing a potential theatrical release.[9] Back in the Day premiered on BET on May 13, 2005, and was released to DVD on May 24.[12]
Reviewer Ed Huls called it conceptually similar to several other urban crime dramas, but noted the cast and production values made it a high-end release in the genre, and compared it to classic gangster films: "one could easily picture Cagney or Bogart in the Rhames role."[13]
David Kronke of the Los Angeles Daily News wrote: "No original gangstas in this movie, but plenty of unoriginal ones... How did such a ridiculous script lure so many talented actors?"[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Gates, Anita (May 13, 2005). "What's on Tonight". The New York Times.
- ^ "Ja Rule Joins Rhames' Film Gang". Billboard. August 28, 2003. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014.
- ^ Film Review. W.H. Allen. 2006. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-905287-28-4.
- ^ "Hard Work Pays Off: Meet Successful Entrepreneur James Hunter (press release)". AP News. Accesswire. September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Ja Rule to star in films alongside feisty actresses". The Springfield News-Leader. February 1, 2003.
- ^ "Short Cuts". The News Journal. August 31, 2003.
- ^ Berry, S. Torriano; Berry, Venise T. (2015). Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-4422-4702-4.
- ^ Netherby, Jennifer (March 26, 2004). "Blockbuster eyeing big score on 'Monster' DVD". Daily Variety. Vol. 282, no. 65.
- ^ a b Kipnis, Jill (April 17, 2004). "'Monster' deal". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 16. p. 54.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (January 5, 2005). "Ja Rule Learns From Fish, Gets To Do His First Sex Scene In Latest Film Projects". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (April 1, 2004). "Ja Rule Getting Pointers From Ving Rhames, Laurence Fishburne". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Stars Ving Rhames and Ja Rule Put New Spin on Classic Tale With Explosive Urban Drama 'Back In The Day' (Press release)". Top40-Charts.com. PR Newswire. May 7, 2005.
- ^ Huls, Ed (April 18, 2005). "Back in the Day". Video Business. Vol. 25, no. 16. Reed Business Information. p. 16. ISSN 0279-571X – via Gale General OneFile.
- ^ Kronke, David (May 14, 2005). "BET Fills The 'Hood With Unoriginal Gangstas". Sun-Sentinel.
External links
[edit]
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