New Jersey Drive

After his over-rated debut, Laws of Gravity, writer/director Gomez comes down to earth with a thud in this dispiriting slice-of-life-in-the-projects picture. The film (executive producer Spike Lee) does have an authentic tedium about it (monotonous dialogue, repetitive dramatic situations) which mirrors the hopelessness of its young characters' predicament. Gomez is good with actors (Corley is a find), but his naturalistic, hand-held style only takes you so far; there's none of the insight or passion which ignites such films as, say, La Haine and Lee's own Clockers.