Hell's Kitchen (1998)

The survivors of a bungled burglary are affected in different ways by what happened; e.g. Gloria (Angelina Jolie) wants revenge, while Johnny (Mekhi Phifer) wants to move away from violence. The emotional clash of interests gives the film a solid foundation upon which to build an effective drama, but it's too piecemeal and some scenes, while admirably lengthy and well-acted, often feel staged and, therefore, don't ring true. Likewise, while the rap music used is reflective of the street culture, it intrudes rather than complements.
The Johnny and Lou (William Forsythe) story could've been a worthy tale of redemption, but the film's lack of focus makes it too messy to recommend.

2½ stupid life choices out of 5