The message is at times forced, Keitel's sequence towards the end is very clever cinematically but feels a bit like a sermon, but at other times we're allowed to work it out ourselves. Rodney represents the draw of selling drugs, of quick money while policemen Andre (Keith David) and Klein represent his conscience trying to get him to do the right thing - Andre and Tyrone's mother (Regina Taylor) particularly doing right by your own community. The film tries to show the forces placed on them by their situation, their role models and the few options they have in life. Strike is the 'average black man', while his protégé, Tyrone (Peewee Love) is 'black youth'. However the plot is not what this film is about - this is basically a film about the effects on drugs on the NY ghettos. The main plot is a form of crime thriller, with Keitel playing the cop trying to uncover the truth behind the murder. Klein suspects that Victor is covering for his brother and begins to put the heat on Strike for more information. Strike's brother Victor (Washington) confesses but suspicion points to Strike. When someone kills one of Rodney's enemies Detective Klein (Keitel) investigates. Strike (Phifer) works as a drug runner (clocker) in a NY ghetto for dealer Rodney (Delroy Lindo).
