Watch Alphabet City
- R
- 1984
- 1 hr 25 min
-
5.2 (1,195)
Alphabet City is a 1984 crime drama film directed by Amos Poe and starring Vincent Spano, Michael Winslow, and Kate Vernon. The movie is set in the Alphabet City neighborhood of New York City, a largely Hispanic and working-class area in the Lower East Side, in the early 1980s. The film follows the story of Johnny, a young Italian-American drug dealer who works for the local street boss, and his efforts to make a deal with a Puerto Rican drug lord, which ultimately spirals out of control.
The movie depicts the gritty and dangerous world of drug dealing and organized crime in Alphabet City, where the rule of law is almost non-existent, and violence and corruption are the norm. The film's central character, Johnny, is a charismatic and ambitious young man who dreams of making it big in the underworld, but who finds himself caught in a web of betrayal, violence, and double-crossing as he tries to navigate the treacherous terrain of the drug trade.
The plot of the film follows Johnny as he tries to broker a deal with a rival drug lord named Vinnie, who is played by Michael Winslow. Johnny hopes to secure a large shipment of cocaine from Vinnie and sell it for a huge profit. However, things quickly go awry when Vinnie demands that Johnny's girlfriend, played by Kate Vernon, be included in the deal as collateral. Johnny agrees to the terms, but soon realizes that Vinnie has no intention of honoring their agreement and that he and his loved ones are in grave danger.
As the tensions between the two men escalate, Alphabet City becomes a battleground for a bitter and bloody turf war, with both sides resorting to extreme measures to gain the upper hand. Johnny finds himself increasingly isolated and unprotected, as his boss and the police turn a blind eye to his plight. He is forced to take matters into his own hands, risking everything he has in a desperate bid to survive.
The movie features intense action sequences, shootouts, and car chases, as well as a powerful and emotional soundtrack that captures the raw energy and grit of life in Alphabet City. The film's cinematography is also noteworthy, as it captures the seedy and neon-lit ambiance of the neighborhood, providing a vivid and atmospheric backdrop for the film's tense and dramatic proceedings.
Overall, Alphabet City is a gripping and intense crime drama that offers a searing portrait of life in one of New York's most dangerous and volatile neighborhoods. The film is notable for its realistic portrayal of the drug trade and its depiction of the brutal and often deadly consequences of getting involved in the underworld. It is a gritty and uncompromising film that pulls no punches and offers a stark and unflinching look at the dark side of the American Dream.
Alphabet City is a 1984 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.