marx-68442 There's only a few things that are a little bumpy in the plot. Otherwise, this movie is very clever. For instance, a real gangster would've took revenge for killing his girl. And I'm pretty sure there weren't any black cops in the 1930's. But aside from these and a few others, there are no major holes in the story. It flows just fine contrary to what some critics say, and Eddie did an above average job directing it. Critics are really criticizing Eddie for writing, directing, and starring in his own movie. All they see is the vanity. You'll notice that they always go on to mention some other movies of his that flopped. Only someone more interested in the man than the movie would do that. Real critics would talk only about the movie at hand. They did the same thing to Prince when he directed Under the Cherry Moon which was also a pretty good movie. Eddie did not receive a fair shake on this one and shame on those critics to give this movie with great imagination and costumes and comedy a 4.8 rating then you give a movie like Juno which was one of the most bland and plain comedies about something as common as teenage pregnancy a 7.5? Really? This is a blatant example of not being judged by peers. Who are these so called critics?

robert-macc The only reason you should see this movie is if you want to laugh at how dumb it is. But watch it online, don't waste your money on it. It tries to be like "Seinfeld" (yes "Seinfeld" did premiere a few months before this movie premiered). This movie is one of the most crappiest pieces of crap I've seen, and people wonder why they avoid black movies. All there is also, in addition, pure hatred of whites. This type of movie would make Al Sharpton and many like him proud. There movie glorifies the worst garbage I've seen. Stupid, dumb nonsense. It's a ripoff of many classic movies from the 1930s like "Public Enemy" and "Scarface" (the original). Avoid this movie, unless you're in the mood to laugh at how dumb these clowns are.

blazesnakes9 Eddie Murphy has a enormous talent that has been shown in big blockbuster comedies like Trading Places, 48 HRS., and Beverly Hills Cop. Those three movies jump-started his career in the movie business. Whether playing a streetwise hustler or a wise-cracking convict, Murphy does the job well. But, in 1989, Murphy wrote and directed a movie called Harlem Nights. My only question is since when did Eddie Murphy choose to direct? Well, to start off, let me explained to you what Harlem Nights is all about. The movie takes place in the 1930's in Harlem, where Murphy plays a nightclub owner and his guardian, played by Richard Pryor, who also owned the nightclub as well, deals with some gangsters that we've seen hundreds of times in period pictures. It's no wonder why great period movies that involved gangsters in the story are true to its own right. Harlem Nights doesn't match any great period picture that I've seen. One thing I will say is that Eddie Murphy, who is responsible for this movie, can't direct. Here is a actor, who is talented and has a very good sense of humor. But, why did he pick this project? Obviously enough, he didn't really care about directing this movie. All he wanted to know is where is the next party going to be. Another reason why Harlem Nights is not a good movie is the characters don't talk in 1930's language. Instead, they drop 4-letter words and 12-letter words and act very cruel to women. Even racism is even brought up in this movie. I think you can say that Harlem Nights put Eddie Murphy into a slump after his other film, The Golden Child, which I found interesting and fun, and that slump only lasted 7 years. After 7 years, he starred in The Nutty Professor, which got him out of his slump. Harlem Nights is probably one of the worst movies of 1989. It's unbearable and not funny. And one other thing, Richard Pryor is in the wrong movie. Redd Foxx also shouldn't be in this movie either. He and Pryor shouldn't even been in this mess. ★ 1 star.

Michael Rae This is the first movie i remember with the brothers actually don't die early and come out on top. its quite funny and my favorite line is at the end when cantone says to quick i cant for the life of me figure out why you want to make a withdrawal from a bank closed for 5 years and quick responds not making a withdrawal but making a deposit You. and cantone says not much air and quick says if you take short breaths you may last an hour or two. It is one of my top 5 behind shawshank redemption, dirty harry, the good bad and ugly and the longest yard (original). this movie is too funny. and Bennie (red foxx) needs some glasses. della reece is good also with arsenio hall crying and shooting his brother in the back of the head. then that one shot pistol.