BAD Decisions Shattered the Lives of Everyone | Dead Presidents

Join Heit & Cheri as they perform a complete movie breakdown and analysis of the 1995 film, "Dead Presidents"!
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AXIOM AMNESIA RETAINS 100% OWNERSHIP OF THIS VIDEO AS A COMPLETE ORIGINAL COPYRIGHTED WORK:
All of the music in this video consists of the original productions of Axiom Amnesia, the animations were created by Axiom Amnesia, and the voices are that of Axiom Amnesia hosts giving commentary throughout. This video was produced in its entirety by Axiom Amnesia, including all graphics, logos, music, sound effects and video (unless otherwise designated).
Film Clip Credits:
Albert Hughes/Allen Hughes (Directors). (1995). Dead Presidents [Film]. Hollywood Pictures.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Delilah and Joe (Jose) died in the robbery. Is it fair that the crew planned to give Joe's wife his share of the money and kept Delilah's cut for themselves? Couldn't they have given Delilah's cut to her sister (Juanita)? Tell us why or why not in the comments!

[@terrencerhodes6403]

Juanita wasn't getting nothing that's why he was gonna get his daughter before the cops come

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Terrence, he said he might send for her once he got to Mexico, but we all know Juanita wasn't gonna send a child to a fugitive in Mexico. c'mon 😆

[@StylzGTNT]

Nah, Cutty got Juanita covered 😅

[@curtis75black]

Juanita wasn’t getting a DIME !!! Fuck her. It’s all about his children by then.

[@kaleahcollins4567]

@@AxiomAmnesia that's a fact

[@attitudeproblem6462]

This is one of the saddest movies ever. Everyone starts out so happy and idealistic… and then everything starts to go downhill for everyone. In a BIG way.

[@therealmarlonbellamy]

As soon as i saw Cutty pull up i said there goes the happy ending.

[@kevinmalone3210]

Ghetto life will do that.

[@marquishaile8]

Idk about that. I think prison song takes the cake for saddest movie ever

[@Black_Patriot-Veteran-1970]

Yeah, like Skip.....That dude woulda blown up on the comedy circuit rivaling Richard Pryor if he didn't OD.

[@ccmcgaming327]

its not though anthony could have went to college he choose the military everybody else wasnt destined for good things but anthony had options. Also the first day back not even 24 hours of being back Anthony was compaing about a job when he hadnt looked yet. he didnt have to make the choices he made his family wasnt a bunch of thugs.

[@FlashPointStudiosX]

The scene where he gets caught kills me everytime, would’ve been cool to see him and Kirby make it out the trenches

[@RecordStoreDeva]

This film is such an underrated film. My dad served in the army during the Vietnam war. He came back home, but he wasn’t quite the same. My parents eventually divorced , and we really didn’t have a close relationship. One of my best friends wasn’t as fortunate, her father died in Nam right before she was born. She never got to know her father. The Vietnam War ruined so many lives. Black men were sent to slaughter. And if you were fortunate to make home, America treated you like crap.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

War in and of itself is disturbing, but Vietnam was just brutal. And to think that for a large part of the conflict, they excused the rich and middle class in favor of sending people of color and poor whites to fight and die. Then, those who were lucky enough to make it home were treated like trash. It's sad...

[@businessman8114]

My dad, who was a Vietnam veteran, told me that out of all the Vietnam movies he saw, this was the most genuine in terms of what the reality was truly like. He experienced all of those things, such as the head getting chopped off for good luck, friends getting blown up, the letters of “black man go home” and the disrespect when he got back home.

[@kevinmalone3210]

That was pretty sickening for that one guy, the one who became the preacher, kept carrying that chopped off head.

[@vikkidc3859]

Skip may have been the comedic relief turned addict, but he was the realest trying to get Anthony to not buy into the propaganda and pay close attention to certain people

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Facts!

[@devantejackson5085]

💯 it's crazy how the comedian was the one making the most sense in the beginning

[@КГБКолДжорджКостанца]

The sad part is there are veterans from Vietnam who fought brutal and when they came back, some had to cope with taking drugs, heroin of course, some of them were called GI Junkies

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Yes that is truly sad!

[@tremekawilson9238]

I like Kirby's character, he showed Anthony in the end that he really cared about him. He told Anthony to run as though he could tackle all of those policemen.

[@cybertek3188]

Well Anthony considered Kirby to be like another father figure to him.

[@ccmcgaming327]

@@cybertek3188 and he shouldnt have kirby wasnt a good role model why would you look up to a small time hustler when you had a father at home who bust his ass for his family remember anthony was supposed to go to college but choose the military

[@naturalista74]

This movie holds a special place in my heart. The Vietnam War was before my time. I had two cousins who served. One came back as a heroin addict. He was able to get clean, but he would die decades later from an overdose. Both of them developed Agent Orange complications. One of my cousins is still alive. I respect the vision that the Hughes Brothers had for this film.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Vietnam had such an impact on our community in so many ways, and how the vets were done was totally wrong.

[@BS10258]

My father served in Vietnam. He was from Macon, GA, where black people were still getting hung. He always said Vietnam was tough, but the atrocities he saw in his hometown were tougher.

[@SlimShotGaming]

My grandfather served in Vietnam, and it still affects till this day…

[@thebettingpublicsportsshow]

Larenz performance is the best we have in all of black cinema. Larenz plays essentially three characters in the same movie. These are three different versions of Anthony in less than 10 years.

[@eastsidereviews727]

Anthony and Juanita are a perfect example of why you probably shouldn't marry the first person you fall in love with, take time to grow and meet other folk. These two were young and made a lot of mistakes. Such a complicated dynamic.

[@melissaawesome9403]

My Dad was drafted and told me it was the worst feeling of dread that he has ever felt, a frozen fear

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Wow Melissa. I cannot imagine what that was like. It's heartbreaking really.

[@goodlife8044]

@@AxiomAmnesia it really is heartbreaking especially when the rich politician’s children could avoid the draft like former President Bush.

[@67psychout]

Bush also went AWOL which was covered up. Got his relatives and friends to stop a recount of votes for Florida. Then deliberately got us to invade Iraq over made-up bs just like Vietnam. So it goes and so it goes

[@sekhmetsheart]

Even though Delilah has the same name as Samson and Delilah, I think Juanita is more of Sampson’s Delilah than her younger sister. Anthony probably would have never went for the bank robbery if Juanita wasn’t coming out of pocket and taking advantage of Cuddy’s advances. Had Anthony been with the sister Delilah instead, she would’ve uplifted him and together they would’ve figured it out without the robbery. It seems as if Delilah loved Anthony for who he was while Juanita was infatuated with the image she created of him. Also it kind of shows who was really down for him right from the beginning of the movie, Delilah knew Anthony was coming to deliver the milk and she was at the door ready to chat it up with him while Juanita didn’t even bother to leave her room. She yelled down to him from the window. I think everything would’ve played out differently if Anthony chose Delilah instead of her sister. Juanita was the delilah to Anthony’s sampson.

[@kingzeetv6535]

I concur

[@goodlife8044]

Hmmm, interesting 🤔

[@valenciawilson1414]

Love him for him? As a grown ass man your supposed to provide and protect only black women says stupid shit like uplift a dam man even though he's not displayed manhood

[@kengrant3227]

​@Valencia Wilson yes ,your right but your missing the point .

[@sekhmetsheart]

@@kengrant3227 Thank you.

[@crencottrell7849]

This movie was insightful to how people, especially our melanated people, can serve in the army/navy/military to "protect" a country that still discriminates against them.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Yes Cren!

[@hassanburton669]

Chris Tucker Was Pretty Intense in This Film 🎥. The Part where a Syringe 💉 was Stuck in his Arm and The Cops Came Busting in To Find skip who O.D’d and Al Green On Soul Train.

[@DOEGrindz]

Man I feel like a kid after being read a great story. The way yall broke down skipp and his death, tying it in with the AL Green song... him being alone, fronting the whole movie... that phrase heit used... "being a puppet to your decisions". That felt like a bar. Like I made the stink face to that 1. Love how yall break down movies. Yall made me gain a bit more respect for the Hughes Bros skill at their craft. "Boirn the Money"

[@AxiomAmnesia]

D.O.E., thanks so much for watching to the end! We are so glad that you can appreciate our perspective on these films. There are so many details that we could still discuss on this movie, and I can't wait to talk about some of them!

[@TheMassiveGamer]

Anthony should've gotten out of Dodge AS SOON as heard Cleon giving out money. Should've skipped packing bags and artifacts, took his money, and INSTANTLY dip (you can buy clothes and stuff on the way to Mexico); this would've kept him ahead of the law, whether or not if someone snitched. Then he could've sent back for his daughter. In fact, he really should've bounced as soon as he peeped Cleon feeling guilty while they were counting the money, that or "dealt" with him right then and there.

[@shawbrothers18]

Yes

[@TheSpannReport]

How well could Cutty really be taking "care" of Juanita and Sarah considering the living conditions they were in when Anthony got back from the War? Cutty was looking to turn Juanita out. He had no real investment in her or Sarah.

[@Eastsid3]

Good point. In other videos comments romanticize Cutty but he isn't some to be trusted. He didn't get to where he was being charitable and nice.

[@mercermercepanama6334]

One of the reasons I like Dead Presidents is because it is set in the Bronx, New York and that is where I live. Dead Presidents also has an awesome soundtrack that is definitely worth listening to. This movie is also a commentary about how veterans were treated by the government once they came home.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Mercer, being from Chicago originally, I understand what you mean. There's something about watching a film that includes familiar places that makes it that much better! Thanks for watching!

[@bphlatsax75]

Yeah the soundtrack was absolute Fiyaahh!! I bought both CD's to it. I absolutely love N'bushe Wright as well! 😉😉

[@terencethomas7485]

In the end Delilah was down for Anthony , more so than Juanita even though they had children together , Delilah was Sexy Af with that afro and revolutionary attire !

[@reneedennis2011]

Skip is high, but he is also suffering from Agent Orange.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

That seems completely plausible. It's is so disturbing that so many vets came back with illnesses and addictions and the government didn't care. They really were given no answers.

[@reneedennis2011]

@@AxiomAmnesia Yup, you're right.

[@melissaawesome9403]

I was thinking it might be Hep C as well

[@isaakfrmla]

@@melissaawesome9403 I always thought it was aids from either needle sharing or his promiscuity in Vietnam

[@freestateofgrizzy1937]

Exactly him being on Heroin helps him "cope" from what he has experienced and saw!

[@Vello223]

That scene with Skip scared me on my first viewing. I’m use to seeing Chris Tucker being the funny character and he was in this movie as well, but to see him die was shocking and I’m not use to seeing him play such a deep role like this. “Boin the Money”

[@Vello223]

Especially the way his eyes glossed over. It’s crazy how the Vietnam war could be seen as a catalyst for drugs getting in America. Like you guys were saying, people were bringing drugs back from Vietnam and some African Americans were either selling drugs to provide for their family, or doing the drugs to cope with the pain of things like fighting in a war like Vietnam. It’s just crazy.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thanks for hanging with us to the end!

[@ThatGuy-zt6po]

deep scene, and almost like a I can finally be at peace now. Truly be at peace.

[@jsmacks11]

Probably one of Chris best roles. He was still comic relief but this role carried alot of intensity compared to other roles.

[@McFly_95Tv]

Juanita definitely called cutty over there to get something out of him. Anthony was back home for a while without a single word from cutty other than when they first met in the car… all of a sudden he coming down the stairs after she ruined their family moment barking at him about more money. She shouldn’t have been at court and fasho shouldn’t have been crying like that when hearing his sentence, especially knowing she played a strong role in him doing what he did for that money.

[@melissaawesome9403]

This movie shows that in life its not always one BIG decision that can change it all. It’s usually a series of small decisions that add up. Smalls signs that will tell you to turn around. Was just him joining the military, no. It was joining and then taking himself completely out of the “world”. That caused a riff with his family and his gf. If he would of stayed in contact who know who would of been looking out for him to help transition back into life a home. He made so many bad decisions that added up to a HUGE MISTAKE. He still could of turned around after each wrong step. It was like he was just compelled

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Yes Melissa!!!!

[@didyallseethat499]

Cowboy didn’t get drafted more than likely because he had prior dangerous convictions or was already in prison. Before 1975 most felonies excluded you from service, however, as they began to get more hard up for bodies, some judges allowed young men to choose between prison or the Armed Forces.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

I think that's a good assumption--especially considering that Cowboy worked for Cutty. When you think about it, it's wild that the people who weren't convicted of crimes were targeted to have their lives ruined by the war first.

[@didyallseethat499]

@@AxiomAmnesia my brother, who’s been in the army for about 15 years now told me the reason why they don’t want seasoned criminals is because the army teaches them tactics and strategies that would be devastating if they were used on a civilian population. The last thing they want is street gangs with state of the art tactical training 😳

[@AxiomAmnesia]

That makes sense.

[@oliverjones1845]

@@didyallseethat499 like the Mexico gangs. They were trained and operated like shoulders.

[@CLC407]

I haven't seen anyone else mention this, but this story was actually based on the real-life experience of a black Vietnam veteran. So it's kind of a true story. It's documented in the book "Bloods". Boin the Money!

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thanks for watching and yes, it's been mentioned that the story is loosely based on a few real life people and their experiences.

[@Eastsid3]

Do you know the author of that book?

[@CLC407]

@@Eastsid3 Wallace Terry is the author

[@brandihennington4704]

Because a lot of people don't know it

[@leonardbrown1725]

Personally after the robbery I wouldn’t be posted up NOWHERE I would try my best to get outta dodge IMMEDIATELY.

[@tyraharris2090]

Exactly, before cleon told on them.

[@mercermercepanama6334]

Yes, after the robbery, Anthony, Kirby, and Skip should have left New York immediately!

[@bigbabysld]

Hell yeah, they stayed in the Bronx, remember a couple of cops were killed

[@rafprice1]

My favorite part is when Anthony is floating in Kirby's after Vietnam. I felt the same way when I came home from Iraq. "The Big Payback" scene has never left my head since 11 years old. You 2 nailed it with this review.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thank you and thanks so much for watching!!

[@Solodolo84]

One of my uncles was in Nam. When I was a kid, back in the late 80s, I would always look at his military pictures, knowing the trauma, but always saw him with a smile. I know he was harboring some real mental issues. I still think about Mill and his stories, whenever he was sober enough to tell em to me 🙏

[@reneedennis2011]

This movie is a 90s classic! Thank you for the deep analysis!

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thanks Renee! We hope you enjoy! 😊

[@j.mad414]

i was 12/13 when i saw this movie, to poor to actually rent it from Blockbuster, i got it from my local library! good movie man

[@vikkidc3859]

If Juanita wasn't doing sexual favors why was Cuddy giving her money? Dudes like that are not giving money for nothing, she doing something. I get she had to learn how to survive and grow up too quick, but she was doing some type of dirt and trying to put her shame on Anthony not providing enough so she wouldn't have to do her dirt. I don't hate Juanita, but she was moving foul and Anthony told her she could move on, but she insisted they be together only to put him down throughout the relationship.

[@kengrant3227]

Maybe he liked the kid. He's older . That money is free anyways.

[@vincentharris2259]

​@@kengrant3227 She Was Definitely Giving It Up

[@Eastsid3]

​@@vincentharris2259it's probably a sad truth. Even Cowboy taunted him about it.

[@doowopsoprano9867]

Anthony took Dalilah's cut & bought the Christmas presents for the kids. That's where it went because she was that type of generous person. Anthony knew that.

[@Eastsid3]

Never thought of that. In another breakdown they were criticizing Anthony for that, but it makes sense.

[@squarebear619]

My father was drafted at 19 and it killed his youthful dreams for his life. As a Historian there are things that I ask him but there are things that I will not. He has a photo scrapbook of his time over there as a squad leader. He has told me about how heavy dead bodies are among other malaise of war. He has "lost" the medals he received from his time there. I just asked him about possibly coming with me on a trip to Vietnam so that he can see the incredible difference and for me I'm curious about a POW Vietcong that he spotted that he got one of the medals for , he has a rather violent looking picture of the man. I've never asked him about what happened to him because I can more or less guess but I'd like to find his family and his story. Plus I think that my father could perhaps find some healing through it. This movie greatly reminds me of my father, he was a gambling man and he became the Milk Man which led him to be the first Black man in management in the Dairy industry in California. People are surprised that I, who am in my 30s, have parents who are a Nam vet and a mother who marched during the Civil Rights Movement and went to jail as a teen in Birmingham, AL in the Children's March that finally made the US government and JFK pay attention to and pass the Civil Rights Act, etc.

[@HMZ-Letstalkaboutit]

You guys missed it when Anthony and Juanita were in the kitchen when she was pregnant and Anthony rubbed her belly saying she was going to have a boy. She “rolled” her eyes knowing that it wasn’t his baby but Cutty’s. When Cutty later came out of their appt when Anthony lost his job, Cutty had given her money and I believe that confirmed to Anthony that she was “still” sleeping with him. I believe that was the significance of when the song “Smiling Faces” was playing when Anthony and Juanita first got back together and Cutty pulled up. She was the smiling face that lies and don’t tell the truth…

[@tyroneaugustine229]

She had a toothy smile and funky feet.

[@MissSimone02]

MMMMMM...Now that makes a lot of sense because watching the scene I was confused on how she was pregnant so soon. That's definitely Cutty's baby.

[@cybertek3188]

Yeah he wouldn't be just giving her money for no reason.

[@Magiccityconfidential]

Faaaacts 🙋🏾‍♂️

[@kengrant3227]

​@@cybertek3188 dudes actually do that .

[@ej5662]

Anthony and his baby mother really didn't know each other also. So even outside of cuddy

[@OdoggnoMenace]

My grandfather was in the Korean War and my Step Grandfather was in Vietnam. Once you have a conversation about what they went through you can’t do anything but shake your head as you watch this film. When I was younger I used to watch waiting for the face paint and robbery scene but it’s a different movie as an adult.

[@BadTV1993]

My dad went to Vietnam..he was fortunate to be in finance, he would fly from base to base to pay the soldiers wages at the post(cant go to a bank when youre fighting a war), so he didnt see any combat, only faced danger from the "enemy" when they would attack the posts from time to time or shoot at the copters....but being the only black man in his finance crew came with it's own set of issues( aka he dealt w/ a lot of racism from his own fellow soldiers)

[@user-by4ut5ug5o]

Alot of people don't know but the guy that Anthony "put out of his misery" was Michael Imperioli, "Christopher," from "The Sopranos" aswell as the lead cop that comes to get an OD'd "Skippy" is Tony Sirico, "Paulie Walnuts, also from "The Sopranos." The movie also was inspired by "The Deer Hunter." The Hughes Brothers saw that film an were inspired to create an African-American take on that story. 🎥

[@Eastsid3]

Thank you! I saw his name in the opening credits, but I missed him actual movie.

[@kevinmalone3210]

Anthony and Juanita eventually broke up. So by the time of the robbery, their relationship was pretty much gone, so think that's why they didn't give any of the money to Juanita, on behalf of Delia's sister. The reason why milk use to be delivered to people's houses was because it use to have a shorter shelf life, before homogenization was invented. I think the practice continued after it was no longer needed, for the convenience.

[@Eastsid3]

Yeah I had neighbors who had milk delivered just because and that was late 90's.

[@WestsidePiFF]

Glad you two dropped a full analysis of my favorite movie. Glad you mentioned Cooley High. A breakdown or a theory video would be great for that. Good job.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thanks so much for watching and we hope you find it enjoyable!

[@josiahgreen242]

The difference between Anthony and Jose is that Anthony was going to the marine corps and Jose was drafted into Army infantry. Marine Corps missions were a bit more intense at that time Anthony knew that because of his father and Kirby being marines. He was more worried about his chances then Jose

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Anthony was in Recon though. Also, Joe was in demolitions so I'm not sure that was infantry. Most importantly, anybody in Vietnam was worried about their chances of survival. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts! :-)

[@josiahgreen242]

True indeed. Most of the time those are squads you have to try out for so I imagine that Anthony and Jose applied for those roles after some time in their regular units.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

@@josiahgreen242 That's possible, although it seems like Skip got on the recon squad simply by requesting it.

[@josiahgreen242]

@@AxiomAmnesia yeah true, skippy isn’t exactly what you would think of when you’re looking at candidates for elite units lol. Plus the rules were different back then especially in the latter end of the war. My guess is Anthony’s recommendation helped plus skippy was smart enough to get into hunter college so he probably did well on the tests. Skippy was smart but just a clown

[@isaakfrmla]

As a Marine Vet it does feel like you’re out of place when you come back home. Life moved on without you. I had lots of friends before I left now I rarely hangout with one. This movie shows the vet experience but obviously the vet experience of that time period vets have it better than back then thankfully

[@markmcfarland2579]

The movie is severaly underrated. Should be talked about the same way they talk about Goodfellas

[@janeekeaton2028]

I thought it was interesting how when Anthony was putting the milk in the container on Deliliah's porch and they are talking about her hearing his truck, it's showing how much she knows his routine and it is a foreshadowing of how she ends up agreeing to the heist as she did it more out of her infatuation for him. The switching of milk, to me symbolizes the switching of the guards taking the money and the container itself symbolizes her future death when she is shot and killed in the trash can. On another note, I am so happy i discovered your channel as it helps me to think outside the box and to have fun with different theories, Thank you!

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Hey Janee!!! Thanks so much for watching! I never considered the possible symbolism of the milk bottles. Interesting...

[@cybertek3188]

I'm coming to the conclusion that cutty is tied to the heroin business because skip might be one of cowboy's customers and cowboy might be a low level heroin dealer working under cutty.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Agreed

[@cybertek3188]

​@@AxiomAmnesia Definitely not a pimp but most likely a gangster/drug lord.

[@thebettingpublicsportsshow]

That guy who got disembowled actually survived and joined the mafia. Changed his name to Christopher Moltisanti. His dad Dickie was killed by Junior Soprano. Somehow, the disemboweled soldier was the tv reporter who interviewed Malcolm X after the house bombing. Also, Mr. Moltisanti's boss, Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri, was the white cop who spoke to Cleon right before the armor truck heist. I'll let myself out.

[@Solodolo84]

Aye, even before the Sopranos, he was also the bartender who told Tommy to go fuck himself, even after getting shot in the foot. Hey, wait for me!!!

[@ThatGuy-zt6po]

Only to have Tony kill him again😂

[@ThatGuy-zt6po]

Transition from Juanita kissing and not wanting to let him go was truth that she cared for him and there to Nam' was a memorable scene.

[@dandrewilson1995]

When Kirby ask Anthony do u wanna drive kid ! And Anthony was like I don’t have a license and Kirby was like fuck the bullshit do u wanna drive I stay laughing at that Line 😂

[@AxiomAmnesia]

LOL

[@get_aclue4218]

The meal statement has always made me call the character Juanita names. I never felt sorry for larenz tate’s character though because he was checked out on her from the beginning never desiring a true relationship with her. While pushing the notion of being “trapped” In every situation presented in his life.

[@Mr.Majestic77]

A sequel of Dead Presidents is long overdue.

[@tyraharris2090]

I think so too but it would only work with the original characters

[@Mr.Majestic77]

@@tyraharris2090 Lorenz Tate, Isaiah Washington, Bokeem Woodbine,Terrance Howard, Clifton Powell, and Rose Jackson would definitely be on board for a possible Dead Presidents sequel. Maybe Martin Sheen, Keith David and James Pickens Jr. The sequel would probably needs to be set in late 1980s (1988/1989), after Anthony is released from prison, turn his life around a sees the destruction from the effects of the Crack & AIDS Epidemic, in late 1980s New York. There would also be flash backs of the events of Anthony in prison.

[@tremekawilson9238]

Anthony told Juanita not to wait on him.

[@cybertek3188]

That's true!

[@izocshow2158]

Yes Juanita was very wrong and she was being selfish and Cuddy a low-end beneficiary because if he cared about her he would have moved her out that roach motel. Delilah saw Anthony for who he truly was and cared about him genuinely for who he is.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Izoc, i hear you! That was such a complicated situation and both Anthony and Juanita were very young and made a lot of mistakes due to the natural immaturity of their age.

[@izocshow2158]

@@AxiomAmnesia and another issue Chris Tucker was either or suffering from earlier forms of HIV or hepatitis C him and Anthony both had PTSD and toxic shock syndrome. But to be truthful Juanita was just dirty because that definitely wasn't his new baby the one she was pregnant with when he came home

[@rashadwilliams7468]

It's subjective bc for all she knew, Anthony didn't want nothing to do with her or their daughter. It took me years to realize Anthony left Juanita all alone to be a single mother. Although Cutty was a pimp,he was there for her when she was vulnerable.

[@izocshow2158]

@@rashadwilliams7468 that was a bad situation all across the board for every nobody was in the right a whole lot of wrong doings

[@moxiemaxie3543]

@@izocshow2158 i dont really think this is a competition on morality. You're pretty much a victim of your environment. She did what she had to do to raise her kid b/c Anthony went deadbeat after finding out he's going to be a father

[@ParisFinley]

Boin (burn) the money! Y'all cracked me up with that! My brother and I always said "Money to boin"😂😂. That was the slang back in the day i.e, Three Stooges days. Kirby was definitely around during those times. If you watch film noir, you'll hear that vernacular all up and thru. Great review again y'all ❤!!

[@AxiomAmnesia]

😅

[@miamiles7996]

Only scene I would’ve added is Anthony getting his payback on Cutty

[@AxiomAmnesia]

That would have been nice!

[@tyroneaugustine229]

Ice Cutty like melted Cubes.

[@mercermercepanama6334]

Oh yes, I wanted to see Anthony retaliate against Cutty so bad! Cutty was mad disrespectful!

[@miamiles7996]

@@tyroneaugustine229 Lol right

[@miamiles7996]

@@mercermercepanama6334 Wish he would’ve whooped him like he did that guy in the bar like I’m a grown man now & a soldier

[@galenmerrick]

Cleon and the LT didn't take "souvenirs" they took what's known as war trophies. I served in OIF and OEF. I have a few souvenirs 😂😂 from the OIF campaign from one of Saddam's palaces. My Uncle was drafted into the Vietnam War. Try as I might. He never gave any stories about his experiences. Thus, I love to do my own research about that war. War sucks, and I'm glad I survived both campaigns. I realize Cleon did say souvenir when chopping the head off. But, it was indeed a war trophy.

[@Keys-zq1gw]

I know this isn’t important, but I just like the fact that they give you a bottle of whole milk, and a bottle of chocolate milk. It’s like they wanted to make sure to include something for the kids.

[@heelspawn8023]

I think Anthony chose the wrong sister to be in a relationship with lol. Maybe when Delilah kissed him after returning from Vietnam, Anthony should've kissed her back & started a relationship with her instead. But I understand he already had a kid with Juanita & wanted to pick up where he left off. Plus he had no knowledge of Cutty yet. I'm saying maybe the whole Cutty situation wouldn't have bothered him like that & he could've dodged that whole emasculation ritual Juanita was putting him through, had he went with Delilah. Let's be honest, Anthony only agreed to that heist & went to prison because Juanita kept pressing him about money & comparing him to Cutty. But Delilah already saw him as a "real man", even when he was broke. She basically died for Anthony & I don't see Juanita willing to do the same thing, even after having kids with him. Delilah didn't even have a boyfriend throughout the entire movie either, so yeah she was fair game lol. Maybe if Skip cleaned up, he could've at least had Delilah & they both wouldn't have been so lonely. Who knows.

[@patrickdukart3298]

The irony of Matin Sheen playing a character who disparages Vietnam, when he was the lead in Apocalypse Now cannot be accidental

[@elmaster27428]

I am grateful my old man came back from this in one piece, he still has nightmares about the war even fighting in his sleep.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

It's a blessing he made it back. Sorry that the effects of the war continue to plague him.

[@deemyers26]

Military used to have a buddy program where you could enlist and serve with a friend. Not 100 percent sure if they’d put you in the same combat unit though.

[@jonathanmcknight2453]

He did get Life but in real life he did 5 years in prison. He got out and wrote the book Bloods and this movie is based off this true story.

[@TTJJCC]

Just because someone wasn't born during the draft era doesn't mean they shouldn't know about it. I was born in the 80s and my parents were early teenagers when the draft was happening. But I never knew people watched it on TV to see if they got drafted.

[@SirNxgroUnChained]

These full movie breakdowns are MAGNIFICENT! I appreciate the new and unique perspectives (and questions!) you both being to the table on our favorite classic movies Burn the money!! 🔥💰 (P.S. pleased consider continuing the theme of the Hughes Bros films and breakdown The Book of Eli. Just a suggestion as i know a movie of that depth will take time)

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Wow, thank you! Book of Eli is a gem!

[@kaleahcollins4567]

They forgot to say if your family was rich as well you didn't have to go

[@AxiomAmnesia]

True! They dodged the draft for sure!

[@antoineemory6772]

an that's all whites esp at that time like paul mooney says thet got tha complexion for tha protection.

[@bilpaparigormoetis5020]

​@@AxiomAmnesiathey didn't dodge anything the draft never applied to the rich.

[@neekogregory1885]

War is a terrible thing that’s why when the judge said “ a real war” I thought there’s no difference people were still getting blown up and people were still dying around you but bad decisions can ruin a life and his first bad decision was going to war now if he didn’t have a choice different still gon be an unfair life not much different then what happened in the movie

[@bijjames]

Great review! One of my top 3 movies of all time! Anthony did tell Delilah that he was done with her sister. Delilah’s death definitely affected her.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thanks Bij! Yes he did say he was through with Juanita after that big fight.

[@mistasofly]

I'd say Anthony overreacted to his sentence at the end to be honest. They killed 7 cops and robbed and armored truck, and he STILL at least has a chance for parole in 15 years. Its a miracle he didnt get the death penalty or life without parole.

[@cybertek3188]

1 cop and 6 security guards.

[@Eastsid3]

I thinks it's the disrespect the judge threw his way or perhaps his lawyer believed there would be more leniency, because there was none, he snapped.

[@ccmcgaming327]

@@Eastsid3 disrespect he tried to use the military and shit as an excuse thats why the judge told him off always remember anthony could have just went to college but he choose the military.

[@Asquared74]

Burn the Money. As always I really enjoyed your review. And I would like to speak on Skippy’s post war medical condition. Some people could say that it was HIV or AIDS and would have a solid argument considering the fact that he was an IV drug user and possibly shared needles with people back than and he also bragged about all the women he was sleeping with. So those possibilities are kind of high . However even the Hughes Brothers stated that he came back with Agent Orange. And my theory on why Cowboy never went to the draft is because he was probably drafted but he also found a way to dodge the draft without going to jail or moving to Canada. And though Anthony’s dad probably had some influence on him joining the Marines I truly believe that Kirby was the main influence on him joining the military. Because he looked at Kirby as something like a mentor or second father figure to him. We know this because during his whole time in Nam we only know of him writing letters to Kirby. We don’t even see him writing his mom or dad. And that’s saying a lot. And lastly I personally think if Cutty never came into Juanita’s life while Anthony was away, she would have never rode Anthony’s case about a better job. Because back then a butcher was a rather respectable profession. No they weren’t rich but they made a living. But as Cheri pointed out many times Juanita got used to having the finer things in because she dated Cutty. Cutty was probably paying all her bills and she didn’t have to work. And held resentments because of it.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Hey Aaron!!! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and watching to the end! I am very curious as to exactly how Cowboy managed to dodge the draft. LOL What exactly do you think he did? I haven't given this a whole lot of thought, but your comment has me thinking.

[@Asquared74]

@@AxiomAmnesia black folks are always coming up with ways figure shit out. Easiest way to get out of the draft legally without any kind of headache is by being physically or mentally challenged. Knowing Cowboy he probably showed up at the draft pretending to be 51/50 or something like that. Heck he probably went as fas as paying someone to pretend to be his caretaker too.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

😆

[@antoineemory6772]

if cutty really cared about juanita he should of took her out of that roach motel an got her a decent place.

[@Asquared74]

@@antoineemory6772 agreed however because he’s a pimp Juanita could have been one of the many hoes Cutty was messing with so that’s the apt she got.

[@von2300]

1:25:15 That typical "Abuse Victim" hustle. She's the one who starts the trouble, talks the hardest noise, throws the first licks,If she sees she can run all of a dude, she'll proudly do it. But when something finally gets done back to her out of self defense, she's the victim all of a sudden.

[@stevekasan1575]

I recently watched this movie after a very long time and it is amazing to me that the Hughes Brothers, in their 20s, created a film what I like to call the American Classic. You get those type of films from the works of Martin Scorcese and Spike Lee creating films which capture America in a certain time period into a saga. That is what Dead Presidents is. Incredible and Powerful film. As well, its a way of storytelling that is missing today. To be really honest, the Plan would have worked if-in the narrative world-Anthony followed more with Kirby's advice. He was the elder but knows more. With Ant's Vietnam planning and Kirby's oversee, it may have worked. Even with the young Beat Cop, they could have adjusted.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

❤️

[@joshuainadagbo4771]

“Juanita basically gets choked as a result of this” I’m sorry that made me cackle 😂😂😂😂

[@AxiomAmnesia]

😂😂😂 LISTEN Joshua!!!!!! I had to edit out what I originally said, which was, "And then Juanita got what she had been asking for..." I was like, "Naw, I can't say that. It would be taken totally wrong..."

[@joshuainadagbo4771]

@@AxiomAmnesia i have real tears in my eyes 😂😂😂 but I always wondered why Anthony wasn’t prepared to throw down with cutty after the first time he disrespected him. As a marine, he’s supposed to be ready at all times! He should have beat cutty ass, then gave Juanita what she wanted 😂😂😂 btw i love this channel! I would love for y’all to do “In too Deep” “Belly” “King of New York”

[@antoineemory6772]

yeah he basically turned into o dog at that point

[@joshuainadagbo4771]

@@antoineemory6772 😂😂😂😂😂😂 ay man he did

[@thomasgreen1092]

@@AxiomAmnesia I see people look for all ways to blame any woman. It’s goes from Juanita to Delilah but Anthony has been a whole degenerate from the beginning and the only thing that changed was when Juanita first met him he had 2 jobs. That’s a big difference! But now he has a thousand hours to spend in a pool hall the club and dirty cars drinking beers and snorting speed. Which cost money as well. But we want an uneducated pregnant sole provider for her daughter to think of all the right things to say!! Ok.

[@Penrose-wi6tx]

My Father was a Vietnam vet, I grew up hearing stories about the war. Also my both of my parents were teenagers in the 60’s. Something’s are spot on and some isn’t. Anthony shouldn’t of had a problem finding a job. Under the G.I. Bill my received veterans money. Also he had a good job with the government, at the post office after getting out of the army. I believe Anthony and his girlfriend was already in a relationship, they took it to another level after having sex. It was more innocent, he even said about not being caught by Bertha. This established he already knew the family. A few of my Father friends and brothers, married their high school sweetheart. The way that y’all refer to the 90’s as back in those times, makes me feel old…lol I was a 90’s teen.

[@aamirar7890]

I absolutely love y’all’s commentary. So glad I found this channel.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thank you so much!

[@yessumyessum6624]

Love your commentary, including the references to other movies. Enjoy the way you interact with each other. Thanks for giving info about the draft, too.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@LarrySolidarity]

'Boin' for burn is like when The Little Rascals called a character 'Woim' for Worm. Also you hear that type of accent from The Three Stooges, Joe Pecsi... it's and 'old school Jersey' accent.

[@oliverjones1845]

This was a good break down. Hope to see more. I used to watch this everyday as a kid. I didn’t notice a lot of the military slang and terms til now. You earned a subscriber

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thanks so much Oliver! Please feel free to check out our other movie breakdowns!

[@elmaster27428]

My mother once asked my dad he kill anyone one over there, immediately regretted that question because he responded with a smart Alec remark saying naw.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

It really is an awkward question.

[@julezvern]

48:48 Skip had Agent Orange in his system.

[@williamrichardson24]

New subscriber. One of my all-time favorite movies from the '90s ..I voluntarily signed up for the military. I knew as a child that was what I wanted. My father and several uncles were military veterans. I served in Desert Shield/Storm. If my mom had it her way I would've went to college instead.

[@ebert311]

A couple of things...Burn the Money 1. His life was already messed up when he didn't go to college before war or after war. He didn't have any skills and that's why he struggled. He always went towards criminal activity before and after war. The result would have been the same. 2. This movie has always been a head scratcher for me because it didn't seem to have an ending and I'm not sure what we were suppose to learn or take away from this movie. An average unskilled guy in the 60's chooses war over college. He returns and is stuck with kids and low income job. Commits a crime and goes to jail. Where's the story in that? 3. The judge played by Martin Sheen was also in a movie that had to do with Vietnam as well. It was about a man who was assigned to kill a rogue general and is famous for not really having an ending as well. Apocalypse Now. Martin's son Charlie Sheen was also in an exclaimed Vietnam movie as well, Platoon. 4. Delilah was in the Black Panther movement. She died (assuming) in 1973 or 1974 based on how long it took him to lose his job at the butcher and get his girlfriend knocked up. Do you think she was killed off to signify that black people did not have any choices in the 70's to survive? By 1972, the Black Liberation Army was formed and had several killings, bombings, and kidnappings. This was a branch of the Black Panther party in the early 70's that was more violent than before. Huey Newton had to flee and quit the Black Panther party by 1974. The Brinks robbery (that inspired the last act of the movie) happened in 1981 by the Black Liberation Army members. Perhaps the Hughes brothers (the directors) were saying that during that time, black men had no where to go to find peace. They couldn't go into the criminal world. They couldn't go to the church (see Cleon). They couldn't go into legit life (no money). They couldn't go to the Black Panthers or organizations. They couldn't go to their families. Maybe I'm getting affected by your channel. Now I'm seeing things in movies that I didn't see before.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thanks for your continued support. You make a lot of good points. I dont think that the films do not have and ending, they just don't follow the standard format. Stories end in different ways, but "good stories" end with the protagonist solving a problem or reaching a goal. Some of my favorite films don't end that way. To your point about choices, it could signify that for some, they are doomed by a single choice, a few simple choices, or circumstance. What do you think about the way the three friends ended up in Vietnam to begin with?

[@ebert311]

@@AxiomAmnesia In my mind, they volunteered. Here's why I say that. If you were drafted, you wouldn't have a choice where you would go. You were in and that's that. However, if you volunteered, you had a chance to pick your poison as far as which branch you wanted to go to. I'm assuming that they did that as their draft numbers were close to being called so they could pick where to go. Recon units snuck around the enemy and didn't engage in fighting so that would have been a good choice if you didn't want to fight alot. My uncle joined the Coast Guard before getting drafted and that's how he avoided combat. :)

[@cybertek3188]

​​@@ebert311Jose didn't volunteer, he was drafted into the army and got wounded. Skip and Anthony both went to the marines and were assigned to a special unit. Skip volunteered after flunking and was about to be kicked out of college and joined Anthony's recon unit.

[@GodsMadeMan]

By the time they found Skip rigor mortis may have set in.

[@bijjames]

I think Anthony and Juanita had a tight relationship before the graduation party. Just as tight as Jose and Marisol.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

That could be!

[@aliinwonderland656]

Didn’t seem like it to me. She was really into him and wanted to establish a relationship with him, when he didn’t seem too interested in that. She was throwing vagina at him so he took it. She was more invested than he was.

[@jr9655]

I haven't watched thus movie since it came out in '95. I vaguely remember not liking Juanita at all. But they way you both explained things from her viewpoint. Well, it gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation for what she went through all alone raising that baby. I would venture to say that I even like her character. Now she was a tad harsh and telling him to get a better job and her willingness to keep that money from Clifton. With all of that being said. I would say that Anthony's issues and everyone else's come from being artificially placed at the financial hierarchy here in America. The white marine gets out and he is able to ultimately become a job. Anthony comes home as a war hero and he was barely able to find a job. This is all steeped in the racism in this country

[@YChromosome99]

30:18 "Oh,man what the FUCK?" Skip saying that gets me dying laughing EVERY TIME!!!! 🤣

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Skip added some much needed comic relief to the film for sure 😆

[@YChromosome99]

@@AxiomAmnesia yeah 🤣

[@BlackArtistik]

That scene where the police find Skip always stuck with me. Especially the use of lighting making everything look a sickly green.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

😢

[@remingtonsteele5295]

BOIN THE MONEY... quick question guys, do you think the Hughes brothers put Martin Sheen in the movie because of his role in the Vietnam movie "Apocalypse Now"? And do you like that movie? I'd have to say it's my favorite war movie.

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Yesss Remington!!! Thanks so much for watching this very long breakdown! 😊 Regarding Martin Sheen, it's an interesting choice and we never considered whether there was an Apocalypse Now connection. Hmmm... It's possible. I think they also chose him because he is a seasoned, respected actor. To have a cameo from him was impressive, as he was arguably the most accomplished actor in the film.

[@charlenemckinney7858]

I Always wondered that myself as well.

[@JVlano]

I love the content y’all! The decisions made and the alternate endings that could’ve been. One movie I would to see y’all cover is White Men Can’t Jump in ‘92. They left us not knowing what happened between Billy and Gloria. Billy won the big game with Sidney but did he ever win his ride or die back? Or did she leave him for good?

[@robertstarr1639]

You guys are phenomenal at what you do I love the way you make me see things in a different way keep doing a great job

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Thanks Robert! This means a lot to us and we appreciate you watching! 😊

[@Kingbossdon]

I think Skippy was right they didn't need another man. That was the downfall of the crew right there. Because Skippy, Joe, Anthony, Kirby Delilah wouldn't snitch. I also think Joe and Delilah wouldn't died if you kept the original crew stayed together Cleon messed up everything. And also I feel like Anthony and Delilah should have ended up together you seen the chemistry ⚗️ between them. I mean you knew that Juanita was smashing Cutty.

[@mercermercepanama6334]

I agree. Bringing Cleon in was a mistake. He ended up bringing everyone else down.

[@mistasofly]

If they really needed another man they'd have been better off going with Delilah's suggestion and using someone from her group. That revolutionary Black Panther dudes were bout that life back in the 70's.

[@UrbanDecayLova247]

You’re right! This movie is so heartbreaking, but very well done. My only caveat was I never felt there was much motivation given from a Cleon’s perspective of why he even agreed to join in the first place.

[@aliinwonderland656]

Cleon standing where he was is what caught the officers attention. If he hadn’t have been there the officer likely would’ve just walked right by. Delilah wasn’t right for Anthony either. She had no respect for the sacrifices he made as a Marine but she was loyal. Just shows how Anthony couldn’t walk away from the past and how it used to be. Juanita was just as young as Anthony. With a baby that he abandoned her with. He didn’t write her and likely never sent her a dime while he was away. She should’ve told Cutty to stop coming by, but either way he would’ve made trouble for her and Anthony purposely because he was a hater and that’s what they do.

[@bilpaparigormoetis5020]

​@@aliinwonderland656why is cutty a hater?

[@stephenwashington5163]

This was a well-written, well-acted movie...it's a sad story of the struggle that continues today of black/brown populations making it in this society.

[@thaistomp]

It’s a classic for sure. One of the best. I just never liked the goofy face paint during the robbery.

[@didyallseethat499]

Keith David says burn like that because he’s a Louisiana Creole and that’s part of the accent 🤗

[@AxiomAmnesia]

So am I, and I don't say it like that. Well, I don't think so lol

[@didyallseethat499]

@@AxiomAmnesia me too and I don’t either…lol… but the old people do, especially the ones back home ⚜️

[@didyallseethat499]

P.S. I love this channel… I’m going to try your video on menace II society next 🤗

[@AxiomAmnesia]

@@didyallseethat499 Thanks and also check out the one on Higher Learning if you haven't seen that one! 🙂

[@marig9236]

That's cap. Keith David is a true new Yorker

[@robertstarr1639]

When he came home it was to much for him to deal with

[@AxiomAmnesia]

That's true Robert. Anthony had so much to deal with, and he was barely an adult.

[@willanbel]

I personally think that cowboy didn’t go in because of conduct could’ve been criminal record or him being unclear XYZ, because he does not seem fit, but if you are the only male in your generation, you are exempt from conscription

[@THE1804SHOWCHAPTERTWO]

I got PTSD too but you can get it from anything that’s traumatic.

[@thejaylashow7365]

Agent orange was a big event that happened during Vietnam War and the film was alluding to Skip suffering from that many times , he didn’t become a drug addict until after he left the war

[@MsSoul168]

One of the cops that busted in on Skip is Sopranos Tony Sirico, who is a real-life mob associate!

[@Eastsid3]

Good eye

[@sdotyall]

Idk if it was back then, but the military believed in the buddy system so them being in the same squad wouldn't be uncommon if they applied under that premise...the philosophy behind that was if your friend was in your squad then you're most likely to watch his back a little bit more than a stranger that you didn't know before service

[@therealfrankielou9027]

My grandma use to run numbers so I can relate to this and she was a true hustler and nobody played with her

[@AxiomAmnesia]

I bet you have some stories you could tell!

[@bilpaparigormoetis5020]

What is running numbers?

[@ramseyabdul1873]

I can tell that the Hughes brothers took inspiration from guys like Scorsese with the style and execution of this film. . . . . Its a great time piece. Very sad story. Larenz Tate was brilliant in the lead role and everyone else was great, too. Great analysis, y'all.

[@shakhira.]

Hi. This video popped up in my recommendations and I am glad that I watched. I enjoy the dual commentary and how matter of fact your analysis is without the gimmicks. I wish your other videos were as long as this one. You have a new subscriber. I’m excited for your upcoming content. ❤

[@AxiomAmnesia]

Welcome aboard and thanks for watching! We have a couple of other deep dives like this that are about two hrs long on Menace II Society, Higher Learning, and Eve's Bayou. Please let us know what you think of them! 😊