Human stories of revenge, friendship, betrayal, and striving to overcome all odds are as old as antiquity - but clearly belong to us all. As in the best of the Yakuza and Mafia films (both Italian and American) there are no heroes in Black Caesar. These are violent tales of people who have lost faith in love and decency before we even meet them.
And yet. As they let their evil inclinations run rampant -- we can clearly see the deep oceans of loyalty, love and familial feelings that run just below the surface. The light lives within each of these murderers, corrupt lawyers and failed singers. It overtakes the "fake" religious man, who ultimately is overcome by the spirit.
But those who chose to live their lives only for material reasons, will die in degradation. It's a testament to the craft and performances in this film that it leaves with us with such conflicted feelings. I've never seen a better chase scene in midtown. New York in the 1970's looks glorious and destroyed all at the same time. James Brown wrote the score and “Down and Out in New York City” for this film.
Epic and brilliant. "Exploitative" only if you consider genre and its trappings lesser than other forms of drama.