Black Caesar (1973)

Rating: *
Director: Larry Cohen
Music: James Brown
Cast: Fred Williamson, Gloria Hendry

A social reform film parading as a blaxploitation flick. Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson) is a young black man who has big plans for taking over Harlem and cleaning it up. Of course, he has to fight Whitey all the way, and his ruthless lust for power eventually leads his black brethren to sell him out to The Man. Light on action and heavy on racial friction, this has far more social commentary than I'm generally interested in. Perhaps one star is a bit harsh since the film is competently made, but it's rather boring and often times unnecessarily confusing.