In the 1994 action film Drop Zone, Wesley Snipes stars as U.S. Marshal Pete Nessip, who is left to track down criminals after a prison break from an airliner at 30,000 feet. During the pursuit, Nessip seeks out Jessie Crossman (Yancy Butler), a skydiver, for help in taking down the criminals. As they prepare for a high-stakes mission, they encounter a dangerous mastermind (played by Gary Busey) planning a heist on Independence Day.
Among the film’s notable cameos is that of Black Panther star, the late Chadwick Boseman. Although Boseman wasn’t the lead in Drop Zone, he made a brief appearance early in his career, before his rise to fame as King T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther films. His cameo was one of several appearances that helped him gain recognition in Hollywood, eventually paving the way for his major roles in other action-packed films.
The movie itself was directed by John Badham, known for his work on Saturday Night Fever and WarGames, and features a tense, action-packed plot with thrilling skydiving stunts. The film also stars Tom Sizemore as a fellow U.S. Marshal, adding to the gritty action vibe of the movie. The high-flying adventure combined with intense sequences of law enforcement chasing after criminals makes Drop Zone a high-octane thriller.
Shottas (2002) is a gritty Jamaican crime drama that takes viewers into the world of gangsters, showing exactly how criminals are created and shaped by their environment. The film follows the rise of two young men, Biggs (played by Ky-Mani Marley) and Wayne (played by Spragga Benz), from their humble beginnings in Jamaica to the streets of Miami. They dream of living a better life, but their lives are mired in violence, drug dealing, and betrayal.
A major influence of Shottas is the raw portrayal of gangster life, where the characters are molded by circumstance, societal influences, and their own desperate dreams for a better future—though these dreams often remain unattainable. The film takes a deep dive into the brutal realities of life in the streets and offers a look at how crime perpetuates itself from one generation to the next.
One notable cameo in Shottas is that of the iconic actor, Black Panther‘s Michael B. Jordan, in an early role. While his part was small, it helped establish him as a promising young actor, leading to his rise in Hollywood later in his career.
The film’s score, which mixes reggae and hip-hop, adds to the atmosphere of the story, enhancing the portrayal of Jamaican culture and the grim underworld in which the characters operate. It’s a movie that is equal parts crime drama and social commentary, exploring the dangerous allure of gangster life and the price that is paid for it.
Shottas stands out as a powerful film about the roots of crime, and it became a cult classic, especially among fans of Jamaican culture and gangster films. The performances of Marley and Benz, along with the engaging story, make it a memorable film.