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{{short description|1998 film directed by Ice Cube}}
{{For|the New York actor's club|Players Club (disambiguation){{!}}The Players}} {{other uses|Players Club (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Film | {{Infobox film
| name = Players Club | name = The Players Club
| image = Players club.jpg | image = Players club.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = ] <br> ] <br> ] (''also executive producer'')
| writer = Ice Cube | writer = Ice Cube
| producer = Carl Craig<br/>Patricia Charbonnet
| starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]|
music = ] | starring = {{Plainlist|
<!--NAMES ON THE FILM POSTER ONLY, NAMES AS ARRANGED ON BILLING BLOCK-->
⚫ | cinematography = ]
⚫ * ]
⚫ | editing = ]
* ]
⚫ * ]
⚫ * Ice Cube
* Alex Thomas
* ]
⚫ * ]
* ]}}
⚫ | cinematography = ]
⚫ | editing = Suzanne Hines
| music = Hidden Faces
| studio = Ghettobird Productions<br/>]
| distributor = ] | distributor = ]
| released = April 8, 1998 | released = {{Film date|1998|04|10}}
| runtime = 104 minutes | runtime = 104 minutes
| country = United States | country = United States
| language = English | language = English
| budget = $5 million<ref>{{cite web|title=Budget|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119905/business}}</ref> | budget = $5 million<ref>{{cite web|title=The Players Club |website=] |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Players-Club-The-(1998) |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
| gross = $23,261,485<ref>{{cite web|title=Box Office|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=playersclub.htm|publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> | gross = $23.3 million<ref name=mojo>{{cite web|title=The Players Club|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=playersclub.htm|website=]}}</ref>
}} }}


'''''The Players Club''''' is a 1998 comedy/drama thriller film from ] starring ], ], and ]. ], who has a small role in the film, wrote and made his directorial debut. The movie made $5,894,607 in its opening week. Its box office grossed total came to $23,261,485 '''''The Players Club''''' is a 1998 American ] ] ] film written and directed by ] in his ]. In addition to Ice Cube, the film stars ], ], ], ], ], Alex Thomas, ], ], ] and ] in her first starring role.


==Plot== ==Plot==
Diana Armstrong (]), a young, unwed mother struggles to make enough money to pay for her college education. Diana ends up working at a shoe store, when she meets Ronnie (Chrystale Wilson), and Tricks (]), two shady ] strippers that work for Dolla Bill (]) at The Players Club. They convince Diana she would make better money stripping, by saying "use what you got to get what you want". Dolla Bill gives Diana a job giving her the name Diamond. Everything is fine until four years into the game her cousin Ebony Armstrong (]) comes to live with her. After listening to Dolla's rendition of "The Strippin' Game", she starts working at the club. Diana Armstrong gazes at the ruins of the Players Club, a strip club where she used to work. She begins reminiscing about the time she moved out of her parents' home with hopes of attending college. On her own, Diana finds a job at a shoe store, where she meets Ronnie and Tricks, who work for Dollar Bill at the Players Club. They convince Diana she would make better money ]. Dollar Bill gives Diana a job and the name "Diamond." Four years later, her younger cousin Ebony comes to live with her and also starts working at the club. Ebony is soon out of control, drinking excessively, staying out all night, and stripping at private house parties.


Several scenes depict episodes in the life of the club: A visit from a famous rapper ends in a fistfight as the bodyguard punches Clyde in the back of the head. Reggie attacks the bodyguard and is thrown through the plate glass window of the VIP section. He starts shooting until XL disarms him. Diamond deals with a club patron-turned-stalker, Miron. And she angrily kicks Ebony out of her apartment after catching her in bed with Diamond's boyfriend.
Ebony soon gets out of control, excessively drinking, staying out all night and getting more influenced by Ronnie and Tricks, who encourage Ebony to do more out of club parties for groups of men. Diana tries to warn Ebony to stay away from "those two" and quit doing house parties, but Ebony declines being told what to do, choosing to ignore Diana's advice as well as coldheartedly reminding her about the time when Ronnie sexually took advantage of Diana when she was passed out at a previous party. Further tension develops between Ebony and Diana when Diana returns home one night after fleeing her obsessive customer Myrin, to find Ebony in bed with her boyfriend Lance. Diana chases Lance out with her gun, and kicks Ebony out of her apartment.


Dollar Bill is confronted by a man who works for St. Louis, a drug lord and loan shark to whom Dollar Bill owes $60,000. He warns Dollar Bill if he doesn't make a payment of $10,000 to St. Louis, he will hunt him down. The next day as Dollar Bill tries to leave the club, St. Louis' men beat Dollar unconscious and throw him into the trunk of his car. They are stopped by two crooked cops. Dollar Bill is found in the trunk and arrested on warrants. He is later bailed out and returns to the club.
Diana then begins dating Blue (]), a DJ at the Player's Club. Meanwhile, Ebony is offered a gig to dance at Ronnie's brother Junior's (]) bachelor party, under the pretense from Ronnie that other girls from the club will be dancing there too. When she realizes that she will be the only woman there in a hotel room full of hungry men, she desperately tries calling Diana to come and pick her up, but Diana doesn't, still being mad with her. Reggie (]) and his friend Clyde (]), both feeling dissed by Diana and Ebony from a previous encounter, lie to Junior that Ebony will have sex with him, claiming that they "ran a train" on her. Excited, Junior bursts in on Ebony while she is changing. Ebony resists and Junior beats and rapes her. Ronnie discovers this and they both flee the hotel room. Later, Diana has a change of heart and she and Blue decide to check up on Ebony at the hotel, only to discover her bloody and unconscious body on a bed.


Ebony is offered a gig to dance at Ronnie's brother Junior's bachelor party. While Ronnie is outside smoking, one of St. Louis's henchmen, named Reggie, tricks Junior into raping Ebony. Reggie tells him that he and Clyde had run a train on her weeks ago, but it was spoiled by Diamond. Junior goes into Ebony's room while she is changing and against Ebony's pleas, Junior turns off the lights and violently beats and rapes her while his friends listen to it in disgust. The guys decide to leave the party and end their friendship with Junior. Ronnie discovers Junior with Ebony, and both flee the scene leaving Ebony in the motel room. Diamond and Blue arrive and they discover an unconscious and bloodied Ebony and they call 911. A furious Diamond then arrives at the Players Club and beats Ronnie up as punishment, avenging Ebony. Diamond then punches Tricks in the face and quits in front of Dollar Bill before she leaves with Blue.
This proves to be the last straw to Diana, who was growing tired of the stripper game anyway. Angered, she grabs her gun and goes to the Players Club, where Ronnie and Tricks are hiding out. After scaring the other strippers away, Diana gives the gun to Blue to cover her while she gets into a brutal fistfight with Ronnie and ultimately wins, leaving Ronnie a bloody mess. She personally quits in front of Dolla Bill, punches Tricks and leaves along with Blue. Ronnie and Tricks are arrested by the police on charges of rape of Ebony and Diamond and Junior has been picked up as well. Junior served time for Ebony's rape. Later that night, Diana's timing proves to be perfect when a gangster who Dolla Bill owes money to, the wheelchair-bound St. Louis, comes to collect. He personally shoots up the club (though he does give warning to the customers beforehand, allowing them to leave). After his thugs grab Dolla and throw him into the trunk of a car, St. Louis has his henchman Brooklyn (]) destroy the club with a ].


Ronnie and Tricks are arrested by the police. That same night, St. Louis comes to collect and personally shoots up the club. As Dollar tries to escape, he is captured by St. Louis' henchmen. Later, St. Louis' associate Brooklyn destroys the club with a ].
Dolla was never heard from again. Tricks and Ronnie were released and began working at Club Sugar Daddy's. Junior served time and never got married. A year passes afterward and Diana has moved on with her life. She's gotten Ebony a job working at a shoe store. She continues to date Blue, and has become a successful news anchor of the city.

Ebony, still sporting the bruises from her rape, now has a job working at the shoe store. Ebony and Diana are back on good terms again. In voice-over, Diamond narrates the fates of the characters, including herself, who is currently in a relationship with Blue. She now works on the news.


==Cast== ==Cast==
* ] as Diana "Diamond" Armstrong: A college student, single mom and aspiring journalist who gets a job at The Players Club to raise money for her college tuition.
⚫ * ] as Dollar Bill
* ] as "Dollar Bill": the dim crooked owner of The Players Club who is threatened by a loan shark named St. Louis.
* ] as Diana "Diamond" Armstrong,
* ] as Ebony * ] as Ebony Armstrong: Diamond's younger cousin who becomes out-of-control after getting a job at The Players Club.
* ] as "Lil' Man": the club's small-sized doorman who is frequently taunted and harmed by St. Louis and his crooks.
⚫ * ] as Blue
* ] as Reggie: A henchman working for St. Louis.
* Chrystale Wilson as Ronnie
* Alex Thomas as Clyde: Reggie's best friend who, like Reggie, has a thirst towards Ebony and works for St. Louis.
* ] as Tricks
* ] as "Blue": the club's radio disc jockey and Diamond's love interest.
⚫ * ] as Lil Man
* ] as Officer Peters * ] as Officer Freeman: a crooked police officer who harasses suspects.
* ] as Officer Freeman * ] as Officer Peters: another police officer who harasses suspects.
* ] as Brooklyn * ] as "Brooklyn": St. Louis' main henchman.
* ] as "Tricks": A stripper at The Players Club and a right-hand of Ronnie.
* Montae Russell as Lance
* Chrystale Wilson as Ronnie: A stripper at The Players Club with a rivalry with Diamond and Ebony.
⚫ * ] as Reggie
* ] as Junior * Tracy C. Jones as Tina
* ] as K.C.: St. Louis' secondary henchman and Brooklyn's partner in crime.
* ] as Clyde
* Larry McCoy as "St. Louis": a wheelchair-using gangster to whom Dollar Bill owes money.
* ] as K.C.
* Ronn Riser as Professor Mills
⚫ * ] as Luke
* ] as XL the Bouncer * ] as Mr. Armstrong: Diamond's father
* ] as "The Doctor": St. Louis' enforcer.
⚫ * ] as Bodyguard
* ] as "XL" The Bouncer: a tall, muscular bouncer of the club.
* ] as Mrs. Armstrong: Diamond's mother
* ] as Jamal Armstrong: Diamond's 4 year old son.
* ] as Junior: Ronnie's younger brother who beats and rapes Ebony in the film's climax.
⚫ * ] as Luke: a rapper who visits the club.
⚫ * ] as Bodyguard: the tall, muscular bodyguard for Luke.
* ] as Lance: Diamond's boyfriend whom she ended her relationship with after he had sex with Ebony.


==Soundtrack== ==Soundtrack==
{{main|The Players Club (soundtrack)}} {{main|The Players Club (soundtrack)}}
A successful soundtrack was released on March 17, 1998, peaking at #10 on the ] and #2 on the ]. It featured artists such as Ice Cube, ], ] and ], among others. A successful soundtrack was released on March 17, 1998, It peaked at #10 on the ] and #2 on the ].


==Reception==
===Box office=== ===Box office===
The movie opened on April 10, 1998 and debuted at No. 5 in the box office, behind '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 13, 1998 |title=City of Angels' Takes Wing in Heavenly Opening Weekend |work=] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-13-ca-38767-story.html |access-date=2010-12-29}}</ref> It went on to gross $23,047,939 domestically, and $213,546 in foreign markets for a total lifetime gross of $23,261,485.<ref name=mojo/>


===Critical response===
The movie debuted at No. 5.<ref>{{cite news|title= City of Angels' Takes Wing in Heavenly Opening Weekend|publisher= ]|date=|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1998/apr/13/entertainment/ca-38767|accessdate=2010-12-29}}</ref> It went's on to gross $23,047,939 Domestically, and $213,546 in Foreign Markets. For a total Lifetime gross of $23,261,485.<ref>{{cite web|title=Players Club Domestic Box Office|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=playersclub.htm|publisher=Han_Man}}</ref>
On ], the film has an approval rating of 35%, based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 5.20/10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/players_club|title=The Players Club (1998)|website=]|publisher=]|access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref>


] awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars and said, "Ice Cube makes 'The Players Club' observant and insightful; beneath its melodrama lurks unsentimental information about why young women do lap dances for a living, and what they think about themselves and their customers."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=May 8, 1998 |title=The Players Club |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-players-club-1998 |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=RogerEbert.com}}</ref> He added, "What's interesting about is how it moves through various tones and kinds of material. There's the documentary stuff, the crime story, Diana's shaky romance with a new boyfriend, Ebony's problems, and comic relief from the stylized dialogue of Dollar Bill and his doorman, L'il Man...And then a strong underpinning of economic reality".<ref name=":0" /> He noted, "The movie doesn't preach, but it has values. It sees the Players Club as a job, and the women there are workers, not sex objects."<ref name=":0" /> ] of '']'' also gave a positive review. Like Ebert, he praised the cast, particularly LisaRaye's performance as Diana.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=April 16, 1998 |title=The Players Club |magazine=] |url=https://ew.com/article/1998/04/16/players-club-3/ |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
==Trivia==

* This is the second time ] and ] have worked together. The first was '']'' and the third time was Ice Cube guest starring on '']''.
* This film marks the screen debut of ].
* This was ]'s first starring / lead role.
* The first time Ebony is introduced Lance and Jamal are in the living room watching ] as Diana was studying. Ice Cube, Bernie Mac, ], ] and A.J. Johnson starred in ].
* In the scene where Officers Peters and Freeman are looking for Dollar Bill. Lil' Man tells Officer Freeman "You look just like the father from '']''". John Amos, who plays Officer Freeman, actually played James Evans on the show for three seasons until the character was killed off.
* This is the first time that Jamie Foxx and Terrence Howard worked together, the second being the film '']''. This is also the first time that Howard and Mac worked together, the second being the film '']''.
* This is the second time that Jamie Foxx and Bernie Mac worked together, the first being the film '']''.


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
*{{mojo title|playersclub}} *{{mojo title}}
*{{IMDb title}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|players_club}}
*{{imdb title|0119905}} *{{rotten-tomatoes}}
{{Authority control}}



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Latest revision as of 01:24, 24 November 2024

1998 film directed by Ice Cube For other uses, see Players Club (disambiguation).
The Players Club
Theatrical release poster
Directed byIce Cube
Written byIce Cube
Produced byCarl Craig
Patricia Charbonnet
Starring
CinematographyMalik Sayeed
Edited bySuzanne Hines
Music byHidden Faces
Production
companies		Ghettobird Productions
Cube Vision Productions
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
Release date
  • April 10, 1998 (1998-04-10)
Running time104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million
Box office$23.3 million

The Players Club is a 1998 American dark comedy drama thriller film written and directed by Ice Cube in his feature film directorial debut. In addition to Ice Cube, the film stars Bernie Mac, Monica Calhoun, Jamie Foxx, John Amos, A. J. Johnson, Alex Thomas, Charlie Murphy, Terrence Howard, Faizon Love and LisaRaye McCoy in her first starring role.

Plot

Diana Armstrong gazes at the ruins of the Players Club, a strip club where she used to work. She begins reminiscing about the time she moved out of her parents' home with hopes of attending college. On her own, Diana finds a job at a shoe store, where she meets Ronnie and Tricks, who work for Dollar Bill at the Players Club. They convince Diana she would make better money stripping. Dollar Bill gives Diana a job and the name "Diamond." Four years later, her younger cousin Ebony comes to live with her and also starts working at the club. Ebony is soon out of control, drinking excessively, staying out all night, and stripping at private house parties.

Several scenes depict episodes in the life of the club: A visit from a famous rapper ends in a fistfight as the bodyguard punches Clyde in the back of the head. Reggie attacks the bodyguard and is thrown through the plate glass window of the VIP section. He starts shooting until XL disarms him. Diamond deals with a club patron-turned-stalker, Miron. And she angrily kicks Ebony out of her apartment after catching her in bed with Diamond's boyfriend.

Dollar Bill is confronted by a man who works for St. Louis, a drug lord and loan shark to whom Dollar Bill owes $60,000. He warns Dollar Bill if he doesn't make a payment of $10,000 to St. Louis, he will hunt him down. The next day as Dollar Bill tries to leave the club, St. Louis' men beat Dollar unconscious and throw him into the trunk of his car. They are stopped by two crooked cops. Dollar Bill is found in the trunk and arrested on warrants. He is later bailed out and returns to the club.

Ebony is offered a gig to dance at Ronnie's brother Junior's bachelor party. While Ronnie is outside smoking, one of St. Louis's henchmen, named Reggie, tricks Junior into raping Ebony. Reggie tells him that he and Clyde had run a train on her weeks ago, but it was spoiled by Diamond. Junior goes into Ebony's room while she is changing and against Ebony's pleas, Junior turns off the lights and violently beats and rapes her while his friends listen to it in disgust. The guys decide to leave the party and end their friendship with Junior. Ronnie discovers Junior with Ebony, and both flee the scene leaving Ebony in the motel room. Diamond and Blue arrive and they discover an unconscious and bloodied Ebony and they call 911. A furious Diamond then arrives at the Players Club and beats Ronnie up as punishment, avenging Ebony. Diamond then punches Tricks in the face and quits in front of Dollar Bill before she leaves with Blue.

Ronnie and Tricks are arrested by the police. That same night, St. Louis comes to collect and personally shoots up the club. As Dollar tries to escape, he is captured by St. Louis' henchmen. Later, St. Louis' associate Brooklyn destroys the club with a LAW rocket.

Ebony, still sporting the bruises from her rape, now has a job working at the shoe store. Ebony and Diana are back on good terms again. In voice-over, Diamond narrates the fates of the characters, including herself, who is currently in a relationship with Blue. She now works on the news.

Cast

  • LisaRaye McCoy as Diana "Diamond" Armstrong: A college student, single mom and aspiring journalist who gets a job at The Players Club to raise money for her college tuition.
  • Bernie Mac as "Dollar Bill": the dim crooked owner of The Players Club who is threatened by a loan shark named St. Louis.
  • Monica Calhoun as Ebony Armstrong: Diamond's younger cousin who becomes out-of-control after getting a job at The Players Club.
  • A. J. Johnson as "Lil' Man": the club's small-sized doorman who is frequently taunted and harmed by St. Louis and his crooks.
  • Ice Cube as Reggie: A henchman working for St. Louis.
  • Alex Thomas as Clyde: Reggie's best friend who, like Reggie, has a thirst towards Ebony and works for St. Louis.
  • Jamie Foxx as "Blue": the club's radio disc jockey and Diamond's love interest.
  • John Amos as Officer Freeman: a crooked police officer who harasses suspects.
  • Faizon Love as Officer Peters: another police officer who harasses suspects.
  • Charles O. Murphy as "Brooklyn": St. Louis' main henchman.
  • Adele Givens as "Tricks": A stripper at The Players Club and a right-hand of Ronnie.
  • Chrystale Wilson as Ronnie: A stripper at The Players Club with a rivalry with Diamond and Ebony.
  • Tracy C. Jones as Tina
  • Terence Howard as K.C.: St. Louis' secondary henchman and Brooklyn's partner in crime.
  • Larry McCoy as "St. Louis": a wheelchair-using gangster to whom Dollar Bill owes money.
  • Ronn Riser as Professor Mills
  • Dick Anthony Williams as Mr. Armstrong: Diamond's father
  • Badja Djola as "The Doctor": St. Louis' enforcer.
  • Tiny Lister as "XL" The Bouncer: a tall, muscular bouncer of the club.
  • Judyann Elder as Mrs. Armstrong: Diamond's mother
  • Oren Williams as Jamal Armstrong: Diamond's 4 year old son.
  • Samuel Monroe Jr. as Junior: Ronnie's younger brother who beats and rapes Ebony in the film's climax.
  • Luther Campbell as Luke: a rapper who visits the club.
  • Michael Clarke Duncan as Bodyguard: the tall, muscular bodyguard for Luke.
  • Montae Russell as Lance: Diamond's boyfriend whom she ended her relationship with after he had sex with Ebony.

Soundtrack

Main article: The Players Club (soundtrack)

A successful soundtrack was released on March 17, 1998, It peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Reception

Box office

The movie opened on April 10, 1998 and debuted at No. 5 in the box office, behind City of Angels, Lost in Space, Titanic, and Species II. It went on to gross $23,047,939 domestically, and $213,546 in foreign markets for a total lifetime gross of $23,261,485.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 35%, based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 5.20/10.

Roger Ebert awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars and said, "Ice Cube makes 'The Players Club' observant and insightful; beneath its melodrama lurks unsentimental information about why young women do lap dances for a living, and what they think about themselves and their customers." He added, "What's interesting about is how it moves through various tones and kinds of material. There's the documentary stuff, the crime story, Diana's shaky romance with a new boyfriend, Ebony's problems, and comic relief from the stylized dialogue of Dollar Bill and his doorman, L'il Man...And then a strong underpinning of economic reality". He noted, "The movie doesn't preach, but it has values. It sees the Players Club as a job, and the women there are workers, not sex objects." Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly also gave a positive review. Like Ebert, he praised the cast, particularly LisaRaye's performance as Diana.

References

  1. "The Players Club". The Numbers. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "The Players Club". Box Office Mojo.
  3. "City of Angels' Takes Wing in Heavenly Opening Weekend". The Los Angeles Times. April 13, 1998. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  4. "The Players Club (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  5. ^ Ebert, Roger (May 8, 1998). "The Players Club". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  6. Gleiberman, Owen (April 16, 1998). "The Players Club". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2023.

External links

Categories: