Love and a Bullet (2002)

I greatly enjoyed this film. It was highly entertaining, and easy to follow. It got me involved immediately with the characters and what was happening with them.It was kind of a crime, action, thriller with a bit of comedy and romance thrown in - all of which kept it lively. It is very well paced, and moves along at a good rhythm.It you like well built black men, you can definitely feast your eyes in this film. I don't remember when I have seen such a fine variety of good looking black actors. They all looked as if they worked out at the gym, also well-groomed, and wearing some really nice threads.The film revolves around a young black man named Malik Bishop, played quite well by Anthony "Treach" Criss. I'm not familiar with him, but understand he is a rapper, and I think this may be his first acting role.Malik has grown up under some rough circumstances and he is now a hit-man who works for an older white man named Damien Wiles (Charles Guardino), who has illusions that he is some kind of white Martin Luther King, when in reality he's a low life scumbag.Damien has a young black woman who is his girlfriend, but he is concerned she is cheating on him and wants Malik to take her out.The summary here at the website, regarding this film led me to believe that the hit-man was in love with Cynda, the kingpin's girlfriend, but Malik has his own girlfriend, Hylene. However, Cynda comes to influence Malik in making a major decision in his life.Hylene, played by Shireen Crutchfield, is very pretty. She is a hit-woman, so she and Malik actually have a lot in common.There's lots of shooting, but no gore, and in the version I saw on BET, there was no rough language at all either.The dialog is breezy and fun, and the shoot-outs and action scenes are frequently done with tongue in cheek, for example Malik is looking straight ahead, but holding out his arm with the gun and shooting--and still hits the guy. So this film is also kind of a parody of the guns and hit men kind of films that are out there.9 Stars

Love and a Bullet is a confused movie. At times it seems like a comedy with the use of the MF word more times in a sentence than any other word. But other times with its blood and violence it want to be a film trying to shock. All the while filled with philosophy that doesn't make sense to anyone and they note it. As love story starts to form, you feel small moments. You feel for Bishop on thanksgiving but then it becomes a comedy of errors again. This movie could have been better if it decided what it was before it decided who should die.

"Love and a Bullet" adds nothing really new to the hitman genre but its a fun movie all the same. There are some really funny parts such as how Pretty Nate's crew gets down...but as mentioned before the last twenty minutes are horrible. Like a video game where you have to beat a boss w/ some special capability.Also the whole, "I'm a professional" statements got old quick. Treach like Ice Cube can handle acting and his charisma carries over from music to screen.6/10

Once I heard the news that Treach was going to be cast in his first starring role, I was thrilled. He has been featured in other roles in films like "Juice", "Who's the Man?" and "The Meteor Man" (all the which are small roles) but was given the chance to prove himself in the classic film "Jason's Lyric". Other roles that followed became important and supporting like his guest starring appearances in "New York Undercover" and "Soul Food". I bought this movie this week and I have enjoyed it. Treach is definitely a good actor who derserves the phrase "Rapper-turned-Actor" that many musical artists can't quite imitate. He chooses roles that are brilliant and exciting. This movie reminds me of "The Big Hit" (which is also created by the same people of this film). Treach stars as a contract killer who has been assigned to assassinate the girlfriend because he assumes she is being unfaithful. The action is intense and is mixed with comedic humor. If you haven't purchased this movie yet, then you are missing out on a good movie.