gridoon2024 Review of Bucktown

Bucktown (1975)

Violent but surprisingly thoughtful blaxploitation star vehicle

[6/10 · 31 March 2012]

Although it's not quite as much fun as its dynamite star combo (Fred Williamson - Pam Grier) prepares you for, "Bucktown" offers a thoughtful examination of the link between power and corruption. Countering the charges of reverse-racism that have often been made against the blaxploitation genre as a whole, "Bucktown" suggests that corruption is color-blind. But don't worry, the film still has enough violence and jive talk to satisfy the more undemanding fans of the genre. The stunning Pam Grier gives one of her finest performances in an atypical (for the era) non-action role; it's also interesting to see Carl Weathers in a fairly prominent supporting role, just one year before he hit the big time as Apollo Creed in "Rocky". **1/2 out of 4.