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Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Cory Booker, Sharpe James, Pablo Fonseca ... see more see more... , Rich McGrath , Jim McGreevey

A hotly contested political race generates a wealth of drama in this documentary from filmmaker Marshall Curry. Sharpe James is a veteran politician who has been mayor of Newark, NJ, since 1986; by th... read more read more...e admission of his own spokespeople, James is a "machine" politician who uses muscle and influence to get things done, and while he's enjoyed the fruits of his success, his administration has been accused of having a long history of corruption. In 2002, Cory Booker, a lawyer who was a member of the Newark City Council, announced he was running for mayor, and it didn't take long for the contest to get ugly. Booker was a graduate of Yale Law School, a Rhodes Scholar, and an advocate of more open and honest government, and James and his staff wasted no time in attacking his qualifications and personality in public. While both candidates were African-American, James chose to play the race card, questioning if Booker was "black" enough and suggesting the church-going Baptist was actually a Jew. James' campaign staff didn't stop at verbal attacks, and as Marshall Curry began covering the James and Booker campaigns, he found himself frequently attacked by James' supporters (with his camera running and in full view of other reporters), and a number of local businessmen stated for the record that they were supporting James for fear of reprisals later on. The film that resulted from Curry's efforts, Street Fight, received a 2005 Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

86% liked it

2,755 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

22 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: Marshall Curry

Release Date: January 1, 2005

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DVD Release Date: January 9, 2007

Stats: 188 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (188)

  • dhetteix
    April 12, 2008
    dhetteix
    A well spun, if moralized and occasionally amateur, tale on the inequities of city-level politiking.

    The films subject matter is engaging, and is more than enough to carry the film, and this is lucky, because the actual skill behind the documentary is lackluster, however honest ... read moreand diligent it may be.
  • gator681
    June 26, 2007
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]"Street Fight" is an enlightening documentary about the 2002 Newark, New Jersey mayoral election between four-time incumbent Sharpe James and challenger Cory Booker, a first-term city councilman, originally from the suburbs, who moved to Newark to make a diff... read moreerence, living in the low-income housing project, Brick Towers. By focusing on this municipal election, the documentary shines a light on elections in general and asks some very important questions about democracy. For example, when Booker is not spending a good deal of time simply raising funds, he has to deflect some of the sillier attacks against him, including his being Jewish and Republican.(Both candidates are black and Democrats. Newark is predominantly black.) All of which leaves little time for Booker to address the serious issues of reform that drew him to Newark in the first place.[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]The filmmaker is banned repeatedly from Sharpe James' campaign appearances while also being deeply ensonced in Cory Booker's campaign. So, "Street Fight" does come to side with Cory Booker and this does seem strange for a documentary about an election where some objectivity would be expected. Plus, the movie's New York City release date was rather close to the 2006 Newark mayoral election. [/font]
  • keith222
    November 5, 2009
    keith222
    Great Documentary that takes you deep into the crazy world of New Jersey politics. NJ is one of the most corrupt states in the United States and has been for a long time. You probably can't mow your lawn without a permit in some towns. This film takes place in the largest and als... read moreo its worst city, Newark, during the 2002 mayor race. The film focuses around Cory Booker's campaign. it really shows you all the ups and downs that he had to go through to get where he is today.

    To get a little politcal, Cory Booker has really turned around Newark and brought life back into a city that looked to never survive again. I love Obama, but later on history might show that Booker was really the chosen one. This would be a great time to make a Star Wars Reference, like Booker is Luke and Obama is.....well lets hope Obama doesn't turn to be that guy.
  • iamthethinman
    February 15, 2010
    iamthethinman
    I didn?t see this movie recently, which is when I usually review these things. But I remembered to return this to my cousin, so I?ll write it now. (SPOILER, for as much as a documentary about politics can be spoiled) The thing about this movie was that I watched it thinking it wa... read mores the election he won. I guess it took a long time to edit and get it released.

    This was a well done documentary that really shows the underdog story and is cleverly edited and benefits from being in the right place and the right time. This movie could have been a cruise control kind like Murder on a Sunday Morning, but it eases of the history, shows dynamic action in the present, walks you through linearly with suspense and tries hard to make sure the oppressed production gets to tell the whole story. So, for that, 4 stars.
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 21, 2009
    dukeakasmudge
    Great documentary.Its funny.....Last I heard Sharpe James & his sexetary
    got busted for embezzling or something.Karmas A.........
  • maroonaggie99
    March 3, 2007
    maroonaggie99
    Two individual running for mayor. One wants to run a dignified campaign. The other? Dirty street politics is the way he plays the game. Who is caught up in the crossfire? The citizens of Newark. The winner? Watch and find out. Recommended.
  • threepunchstuff
    February 18, 2007
    threepunchstuff
    The most watchable political documentary since War Room. A great movie for anyone who thinks that elections don't matter or that all politicians are equally distasteful.

View All Street Fight Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
April 21, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's utterly fascinating, and if you don't follow New Jersey politics, you will be kept in the dark about the outcome of this 2002 race almost to the end. Full Review

Steven Rea
March 3, 2006
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

[Marshall] Curry's picture is must-see fare for any and every observer of the curious world of American politics.

Sam Allis
March 3, 2006
Sam Allis, Boston Globe

The documentary is simple and strong and small. Its grit lifts it above its mechanical shortcomings. Full Review

Peter Rainer
March 2, 2006
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

If you didn't already realize that politics can be a dirty business, then Marshall Curry's Oscar-nominated documentary will set you straight. Full Review

David Denby
February 28, 2006
David Denby, New Yorker

In brief, Marshall Curry, the young director of Street Fight, has hit the documentary jackpot.

Jack Mathews
February 24, 2006
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

James is his own worst enemy in the documentary, behaving in public as a near caricature of Boss Tweed. But he won and is now serving out his fifth term. Full Review

Kevin Crust
February 24, 2006
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

The story that first-time feature filmmaker Curry tells is extremely compelling, but where he really scores is in addressing politics and race in a way that allows events to speak for themselves. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
February 22, 2006
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

[An] unpretentious and absorbing video doc. Full Review

John Anderson
February 22, 2006
John Anderson, Variety

It's a hard, fast film that needs airing now, or at least before the Newark elections of 2006. Full Review

Jan Stuart
February 22, 2006
Jan Stuart, Newsday

Street Fight sputters with anger and despair at the durability of dumb-cluck demagoguery in American politics. Full Review

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