Foxy Brown (1974)

So, many of you have read enough of my reviews (hopefully) that you’re getting a feel for the exploitation genre as a whole (hell, I hit enough subgenres anyway), and sometimes it may feel as if the women are just in the films to add some breasts and get killed. That’s not (always) the case. No, no. In fact, Jack Hill (Coffy, Spider Baby) had one of his most well known films with blaxploitation goddess Pam Grier (Coffy, Black Mama, White Mama, Scream Blacula Scream) called Foxy Brown. If you haven’t heard of this flick before, or haven’t ever seen a blaxploitation, this (or, Coffy) would be an excellent place to start.

Rating:

Foxy Brown shares many similarities to its predecessor, Coffy (in fact, it was supposed to be a sequel, but the studio didn’t want to make a sequel, even though Coffy had been a huge hit). This can be seen in the very similar storyline of Pam Grier (Foxy Brown) taking revenge for all those around her that were wronged by drug pushers and pimps. In fact, the film sometimes feels like an alternate version of Coffy, altogether. Where in Coffy, Grier’s character was a nurse, in Foxy Brown her occupation is not given. All we do know is that her boyfriend is killed and her brother is caught between drugs and the drug pushers. Soon Foxy Brown is dragged into the underworld where she has to fight back and end the madness before the cartel is able to silence her, permanently.

One of the (many) really cool things about blaxploitation films is their soundtrack. Yes, before I get into the story, acting, etc. I just have to point out that the music to Foxy Brown is awesome. It’s not very often that the audience wants to groove along as bumbling hit men hunt down two beautiful women. Seriously, the opening credits alone are supported by a song that makes you want to dance. It’s kind of like in slasher films when you know the killer is about to cut someone up because the music changes. Well, the same thing happens here. You know some crazy shit’s about to drop, because the funk starts and it don’t stop ‘til Foxy Brown’s kicked some drug-pushing ass.

The acting in Foxy Brown ranges from passing to terrible. Grier does an excellent job as Foxy Brown. She’s really got the whole “revenge chick” thing down really well. She’s totally believable and not bad to look at either. On the other hand the bad guys are pretty terrible actors. The two bumbling hit men were just that (so, I guess that’s a good thing), but the lead bad girl, Miss Katherine (Katheryn Loder) was either so bad that she looked like a robot, or so calculating that she terrified me (still can’t decide which one it was so, I’ll go with the latter). Everyone else was just there to keep the story going, except Foxy’s brother, Link (Antonio Fargas). He was very believable as a doped out loser who couldn’t get his life together. In fact, I felt Foxy’s pain when he double-crossed her, but didn’t find it to be a plot contrivance, because he WAS that addicted.

The story was great. The music was awesome. The acting passed. Foxy Brown rises above other blaxploitation flicks with ease (even though I do find Coffy to be a more satisfying film). Watch out for the ending though. It’s enough to make the manliest man squirm in his chair.

QUOTES!!!!

Bobbie: Listen skinny, before you start talking tough, I’d better warn you I’ve got a black belt in karate. So why don’t you get out of here quietly, while you still got some teeth left in that ugly face?
[Foxy knocks her down with a barstool]
Foxy Brown: And I’ve got MY black belt in barstools!

Foxy Brown: You pink-ass corrupt honky judge, take your little wet noodle outta here and if you see a man anywhere send him in because I do need a MAN!

Dawes: What do you really want?
Foxy Brown: Justice.
Dawes: For who, your brother?
Foxy Brown: And why not? It could be your brother too, or your sister, or your children. I want justice for all of them. And I want justice for all the people whose lives are bought and sold, so that a few big shots can climb up on their backs, and laugh at the law, and laugh at human decency. But most of all, I want justice for a man, this man had love in his heart, and he died because he went out of his neighborhood to do what he thought was right.
Dawes: Sister, I think what you’re looking for is revenge.
Foxy Brown: You just handle the justice, and I’ll handle the revenge myself.

Foxy Brown: [to Link] Now I only got so much control, and you’d better tell me who they are, or I’m liable to put one of these between your eyes, no matter what mama’d say.

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