Hoodlum stars Laurence Fishburne in a powerful performance as Ellsworth "Bumpy"
Johnson, the notorious Harlem gangster of the 1930s. Director Bill Duke mixes a sumptuous
visual style with a message of black empowerment. Bumpy gets out of prison and goes to work for
the Harlem numbers powerhouse known as Madam Queen (Cicely Tyson), bringing him into
conflict with the psychopathic Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth), who is trying to take over the numbers
racket in Harlem. As the blood flows through Harlem streets, those around Bumpy begin to
question his methods-- and his morals.
Directed by Bill Duke - Rated R
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