Hoodlum (1997)

In this fictionalized account of the 1920s gang war between the Italian/Jewish mafia and the Black gangsters, Laurence Fishburne has recently been released from prison and comes home to Harlem where mobster Tim Roth, under the command of boss Andy Garcia, is battling local crime boss Cicely Tyson. It’s the tale of one man’s lone rise up the ranks, ignoring advice and the trail of bloodied bodies left in his wake. The Harlem setting and focusing less on the Italian community makes it unique for a 1920s gangster film. It’s a bit slow in its telling, but does have a lot of star power, especially in its largely black cast, including Loretta Devine, Vanessa Williams, Chi McBride, and Queen Latifah.