avon-barksdale-story

Fans of HBO’s “The Wire” know that Avon Barksdale and Bodie are two key characters in the series’ Baltimore drug gang. What I didn’t realize until now is that both names come from Nathan Avon “Bodie” Barksdale, a notorious Baltimore drug kingpin that “Wire” creator David Simon wrote about when he was a journalist for the Baltimore Sun.

In The Avon Barksdale Story: Legends of the Unwired, Barksdale — missing a leg and released from prison — discusses his life with Wood Harris, who played Avon Barksdale in the show. And if you think this is done in the same restrained manner as “The Wire,” you are woefully incorrect. the trailer (below) is set to an ominous beat, features dogs barking at the camera and poorly edited violence, and frequently uses the red-screen flash to indicate “Watch out, bitches, that means blood.” It’s hilariously low-budget while also being totally badass. As if the stripper shooting a guy during a lap dance didn’t already give that away.

[Trailer from Nah Right via Kottke; more background at City Paper -- thanks for the tip, Jack!]