New Jack City poster
New Jack City

Apex Mountain

Wesley Snipes; human bullet shields; New Jack swing; Chris Rock's movie career; Mario Van Peebles

In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:35Read transcript
  • Wesley Snipes: yes, because the movie's success opened doors; he had bigger moments but not greater ones, and it is his signature performance.
  • Allen Payne is left unsettled: he worked a long time after, including Jason's Lyric and The Perfect Storm, but this was his biggest deal.
  • Ice T: no.
  • Human bullet shields: yes, over Heat and The Dead Zone as the more recognizable example.
  • New Jack swing is offered as an Apex Mountain. — Logan Murdock
  • In hindsight the moment is called the height of the genre, since it got so big it made a movie title and Hollywood.
  • Guy: no; their big cameo cannot be their apex, and pressing the point draws teasing.
  • Chris Rock's movie career: yes; it is the best he has been in a movie and his most recognizable role, with Head of State jokingly floated as an Obama precursor.
  • Box haircuts: Fresh Prince might be up there, but the movie plus the 1991 playoffs may be the peak for high tops; a flat top was kept until 1994.
  • Mario Van Peebles: 100% his apex; nothing hinted he would make a $50 million movie; later came Posse and Panther and a role in Ali, and his father Melvin Van Peebles was the architect of blaxploitation.
  • Bill Nunn: no, it has to be Radio Rahim; Judd Nelson: no, with discussion deferred.
  • Color Me Bad: no, because of their 90210 episode and a number-one record.
  • Zoot suits are left unresolved, perhaps some 1940s film.