Life Is Hot in Cracktown

The gritty, hard realities of a neighborhood, as well as the struggling, proud people who try to survive them everyday. Marybeth is a pre-op transsexual working as a prostitute and living with her lover, Benny, a small time burglar. In spite of their lines of work, they live a somewhat normal life as a married couple. Marybeth works the streets in the hopes of saving enough money for her final sex change operation, so then she and Benny can be married. Manny works two jobs: the late shift in an all night bodega surrounded by young junkies, drug dealers and prostitutes, and as a security guard in a Welfare hotel. At home his wife, Concetta, takes care of his sick infant son and makes their grimy rundown apartment as much of a home as she can. Willy, ten years old, lives in the Welfare hotel with his sister, mother and her violent boyfriend. Willy begs on the street so he and Susie can buy some fast food to eat. Romeo, a street tough, roams the streets with his gang. Upset over the murder of his younger brother, and feeling partially responsible for not being there during the shooting, he terrorizes anyone who comes in his path. These four stories come together in a powerful climax of love and salvation, showing that despite the obstacles of life in the inner-city, humanity and hope can still prevail. Based on Buddy Giovinazzo's best-selling novel, "Life is Hot in Cracktown," the vignettes show how crack cocaine has infiltrated the streets of urban America.

Cast
Evan Ross
Michael Rappaport
Kerry Washington
Victor Rasuk
Shannyn Sossamon
Vondie Curtis Hall
Lara Flynn Boyle as Betty McBain
Thomas Ian Nicholas as Chad Wesley
Mark Webber
Tony Plana
Edoardo Ballerini as Chas
Illeana Douglas
Ridge Canipe as Willy
Melissa Wilfley as Fay
Shawn McGill as Tiny Pinto
Ten Travis
Mayte Garcia as Murietta
Elena Franklin as Melody Amber
Kevin Dunigan as Sergeant
James Saxenmeyer as Guy
Omar Regan as Cremont

Detail Info
Directors Buddy Giovinazzo
Writers Buddy Giovinazzo
Producers Bill Fisch, Larry Rattner, Braxton Pope
Genres Drama and Adaptation
Running Time 1 hr. 40 min.
Release Date Jun 26th, 2009 (limited)
MPAA Rating R for strong violence, rape, drug content throughout, graphic sexuality, nudity and pervasive language.
Production Co. Lodestar Entertainment, Ithaka Entertainment, Streetwise Films, Peninsula Films
Produced in United States