- published: 25 Jan 2008
- views: 4565172
Crooklyn is a 1994 semi-autobiographical film co-written and directed by Spike Lee. The film takes place in Brooklyn, New York and the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant during the summer of 1973. Its primary focus is a young girl, Troy (played by Zelda Harris), and her family. Throughout the film, Troy learns life lessons through her four rowdy brothers, her loving but strict mother (Alfre Woodard), and her naive, struggling father (Delroy Lindo).
A distinctive characteristic of Crooklyn is its soundtrack, composed completely of music from the 1970s, except the hit single "Crooklyn" by the Crooklyn Dodgers, a rap crew composed of Buckshot, Masta Ace and Special Ed. A two-volume release of the soundtrack became available on CD along with the release of the film.
Similarly to School Daze, Do the Right Thing and She's Gotta Have It, Spike Lee appears in Crooklyn. He plays a bully and drug addict named Snuffy.
Crooklyn is one of only two films directed by Spike Lee to earn a PG-13 rating in the USA, the other being 1992's Malcolm X.
Keywords: 1970s, affection, african-american, brooklyn-new-york-city, child's-point-of-view, dog, domineering-mother, dream, dysfunctional-family, family-relationships
Carolyn Carmichael: Wendell, PLEASE close your mouth when you chew!::Wendell: Why can't you let me eat in peace for once?::Carolyn Carmichael: Because you disturbing the peace! You eat like a pig and chew like a cow!
Nate: May I PLEASE be excused?::Carolyn Carmichael: No you will not. You're gonna sit there until you eat every black eyed pea on that plate! [to the kids] And when I come home tonight, I want this kitchen clean.::Clinton: [the kids groan] See what you started, Nate? Shoot!::Nate: I HATE Black-eyed peas!::Carolyn Carmichael: Yeah, that's right! There's no reason why your father and I should have to run around here cleaning up after you shifty Negroes!::Clinton: Daddy don't make us clean up, don't you, Daddy?::Woody Carmichael: [Pouring lemonade in glass] I ain't in this. Leave me out of this.::Carolyn Carmichael: Your daddy may not mind but your momma do. I'm going with your father to a gig tonight and when I come home, this house BET-TER be clean. I'll be goddamed if I should have to do anything when I come home from work but sleep and relax!
Carolyn Carmichael: Damn it, Woody, you bounced another check.::Woody Carmichael: I thought we had it covered. I'll get some money.::Carolyn Carmichael: When?::Woody Carmichael: When? What do you think I'm doing right here? Gem, Let me just finish this music.::Carolyn Carmichael: That's what I've always done. The problem is your music's not bringing anything into the house but music.::Woody Carmichael: Gem, the money will come.::Carolyn Carmichael: I'm waiting. I'm back teaching school again, and I am waiting, Woody.::Woody Carmichael: Just keep doing what you're doing, Gem. Now you know it wasn't always like this. I made money before. I'll make money again.::Carolyn Carmichael: I trust you, but you have got to realize we are on a limited budget. I am trying to balance everything and when you go and write checks and you don't tell me about it, it makes it extremely difficult.::Woody Carmichael: As God is my witness, I want the best for you and the children. But I have got to do it in my own way. [He gets up from his piano] Lookit [He gives her a hug] Cool?::Carolyn Carmichael: Cool. I went out and opened a separate back account.::Woody Carmichael: [He backs away] That's supposed to get some kind of reaction from me? What is that supposed to prove?::Carolyn Carmichael: I don't know what it proves. I'm interested in putting food on the table and keeping a roof over our kids' heads.::Woody Carmichael: [Woody goes to the far end of the living room and sits in a small chair] Boy! You know, you really kill me. I mean, on the one hand, you come down here telling me about yet another mistake Woody done made. But when I'm sitting at that piano trying to do my work, trying to concentrate, you won't let me do that either. You got a beef with that. I don't know what to do.::Carolyn Carmichael: You can get up off my chair. [He gets up and walks about] I don't want to hear about your mistakes, You keep track of those. I don't have time. All I ask you to do is to write down when you spend the money I am making.::Woody Carmichael: I told you it was a legitimate mistake::Carolyn Carmichael: I appreciate that, but you have made that mistake five times this month. I just want you to change the pattern.::Woody Carmichael: I don't need no lecture from you about how to conduct myself in this house!::Carolyn Carmichael: I'm not giving you a lecture. I am asking you to help me conduct the business affairs of this family! You're an adult::Woody Carmichael: What the HELL DO YOU THINK I'M TRYING TO DO?::Carolyn Carmichael: I don't know what you're doing!::Woody Carmichael: I know you don't. Well, let me tell you, I got to be like a thief in the night in this house every time I want to get some privacy to do my work!::Carolyn Carmichael: You selfish child! Don't tell me about privacy!::Woody Carmichael: Selfish nothing! Selfish nothing!::Carolyn Carmichael: Yes, you are selfish! I can't even take a piss without six people hanging off my tits!
Woody Carmichael: You're a big saint around here and I ain't shit, is that it?::Carolyn Carmichael: You can call yourself what you want to. I just asked you to write down the check!::Woody Carmichael: I wrote the check, right? [Woody sits back down at the piano] I wrote the stupid thing. [He gets up some music charts]::Carolyn Carmichael: I think you can do two things at once: make music and write.::Woody Carmichael: [Writing] Woody... wrote... a... bum... check. [Gives her the sheet] Here.::Carolyn Carmichael: That's very cute. You remember to write it down before it bounces next time.::Woody Carmichael: You know, you seem to forget I'm the one used to pay for you and the children to go to Bloomingdales and Lord & Taylor to get what you wanted when you wanted. You ain't the only one contributed to this family, Gem! You got to remember that!
"Here comes the pitch .. and it comes in wide.
And the count now is one and one to Jackie Robinson.
Billy Martin.. "
[Buckshot] "Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
[Guru] "Never takin shorts, cause Brooklyn's the borough"
[Special Ed]
Panic, as another manic depressive
adolescent, stares at death, now what's left
When there ain't no God, and a whole lot of pride
It might be a homicide; so let the drama, slide
We don't want no problems B
Get your name in the obituary column sheet
Cause life is too short, and it just gets shorter
I wish I had a quarter for all my people they slaughtered
last year alone, in the Dead Zone
Walk straight, but don't walk late
Cause I'm comin with a hate only made, from what it made me
Cause nobody ever played me
Now it's, only gettin worse, Buckshot and Ase
in the land of the waste, kickin you in your face
[Masta Ase]
We be doin it up Crooklyn STYYYYYYLE
What does it take to get you WILLLLLLD
My mentality is gettin iller, killer
instinct that's tryin to infiltrate, but wait
I know you wanna enter but I can't let you in
My mindstate's the maddest, I'm Gone With the Wind
Because it is, survival of the fittest
when the shit hits the fan I got my shank in my hand
Black man with the permanent tan
I come from the 'Ville and never ran, damn
[Buckshot]
I'm feelin another part of reality
Hit me when I represent the F.A.P.
Straight from the 'Ville, Tilden played the building
I mean literally when I say I make a killing
for my cypher, see I'm feenin to bust a piper
Original Headz represent the Brooklyn all nighter
Do or die, I'm sayin it's you and I
Bring your click, so we can get Stone like Family Sly
Peace to C.I. and the Bush
Might even see Ruck and the Rock givin the push
[Buckshot] "Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
[Guru] "Never takin shorts, cause Brooklyn's the borough"
[Buckshot] "Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
[Guru] "Never takin shorts, cause Brooklyn's the borough"
[Masta Ase]
We did it like that, and now we do it like this
We did it like that, and now we do it like this
Go inside your mind and find a time that you miss
And just, think about the steel in your fist
It's just an extension of your arm, it's that ghetto type of charm
that makes all the homeboys swarm
Can I drop the bomb? Oh yes I can
Move with the groove, smooth like Geechie Dan
Who is the man? That kid there
Who is the chick with the pick in her hair?
Angela, uhh Davis, and we roll like Avis
Rent-a-Car kid, there you are
[Special Ed]
You know where to find me, whenever you need me
If you know the Ave., follow the path
to the land of the aftermath
but don't frolic in the midst, crazy ass Crooklyn kids
Cause they always throwin a body on my lawn
I'm gettin a Rott-weiler, without a collar
Get off my block boy and give me a dollar
for the trouble, or get blown up, like a bubble
[Buckshot]
Let's take a sec to think back, the year of the seven-oh
When Brooklyn was the place to go
Flow, on a journey up to Crown Heights
Ebbets Field, feel the reel to reel on your life
Trife, individuals live in the PJ's
Dee Evil, check my DJ
Hey, play what I wanna play in the day
But in the night, I feel the right took a left
Bucktown, Brooklyn break it down
Heads from state to state, travel as I unravel the rate
How it, tapped Scott and Sutter
I remember way back in the days playin hot peas and butter
Brother, if you want another lesson, Crooklyn, session
Take it back, Black Smif-N-Wessun
[Special Ed]
Press your luck, you get stuck by Buck
for your bucks, Masta Ase, has the taste
for ducks, and duck sauce, so tell Lord Digga
Dig a grave for the bones, sticks and stones
While I kick some ancient poems, through your domes
'Act went back, to attack your homes
So Tip, can I flip? (Yes you can)
I'm in the World War, with Muhammad my man
[Masta Ase]
Feels so good to be a Crooklyn Dodger
Uh-huh, what's happenin, to ReRun and Roger?
I think I seen em wearin Timberlands and runnin down the block
from D'Wayne and D'Wayne had a glock
Cause he be sellin rock for the Partridge Family
And Ruben Kincaid drives a 300-E
And he be pimpin Chrissy from Three's Company
Plus he stuck Mr. T for all his jewelry
This is a 70's thing from the days
when kids didn't act so crazed, in Crooklyn
[Buckshot] "Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
[Guru] "Never takin shorts, cause Brooklyn's the borough"
[Buckshot] "Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
[Guru] "Never takin shorts, cause Brooklyn's the borough"
[repeats as sports dialogue fades in]
"Robinson waits, here comes the pitch..
And there goes a line drive to left field
Waters? after it, he leaps and it's over his head
Against the wall.. and ? scores
Brooklyn wins! Brooklyn wins! Brooklyn wins!"