Watch Ill Gotten Gains

Ill Gotten Gains is a crime thriller from 1997 that explores the difficult lives of three individuals - one from Africa, one from America, and one from the Caribbean - who are forced to dive deep into the world of crime in order to make a living. The movie stars Djimon Hounsou, known for his work in movies like Amistad and Gladiator, as Johnny, a desperate and impoverished man from Africa who dreams of making it to the United States. His companion is Akosua Busia, who plays Amie, a woman also from Africa, who is also keen on finding a way out of their difficult living conditions.

The third lead in the movie is De'aundre Bonds, an American actor who plays a troubled young man, Darius, who has a history of drug addiction and run-ins with the law.

The movie opens with the three leads all in dire financial straits, struggling to make ends meet in their respective countries. Johnny and Amie are living in a rough neighborhood in Africa, while Darius is living with his mother in a dingy apartment in the United States.

When a chance encounter brings them all together, they decide to join forces and embark on a life of crime, starting with a small-scale heist that goes awry. From there, the movie becomes a tense and gripping exploration of their increasingly dangerous and risky criminal activities as they try to escape their desperate situations.

As the trio dive deeper into the world of crime, they find themselves dealing with dangerous criminals, corrupt law enforcement officials, and each other's insecurities and mistrust. The movie does an excellent job of delving into the psychology of the characters and the various factors that lead them into a life of crime.

One of the standout performances in the movie is Djimon Hounsou's portrayal of Johnny, who is both sympathetic and complex. Johnny is someone who is deeply frustrated with his life in Africa and longs for a better life, but he is also someone who is torn between his desire to make it in America and his loyalty to his home country.

Akosua Busia is also excellent as Amie, a character who is equally complex and fully realized. Amie is someone who is haunted by her past, and her motivations for joining the life of crime are rooted in a deep sense of desperation and hopelessness.

De'aundre Bonds also gives an impressive performance as Darius, a character who is full of contradictions and complexities. Darius is someone who is deeply troubled by his past mistakes and is trying his best to turn his life around, but he is also someone who has a self-destructive streak and is constantly battling his own demons.

Overall, Ill Gotten Gains is a tense and gripping crime thriller that explores the lives of three individuals who are forced into a life of crime by circumstance. The movie is well-acted, well-written, and does an excellent job of delving into the psychology of its characters. If you're a fan of crime thrillers or character-driven dramas, this is definitely a movie worth checking out.

Ill Gotten Gains is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.