the tenant begin a a 1971 short novel by the now deceased bernard malamud writer or philosopher examine the conflict between jew and african american in the incendiary atmosphere of brooklyn at the time the book be write . a a novel the story be gut wrenchingly real represent a transcribe into a screenplay by novice david diamond and danny green ( who also direct ) it be more of a cerebral dissertation that gradually erupt into action in the final moment . harry lesser ( dylan mcdermott ) be a jewish novelist with one book under his belt but currently attempt to finish his new book ten year into the writing . convince that he must complete the novel in the same environment where it be start . he be the sole tenant in a condemned brooklyn tenement own by levinspiel ( seymour cassel ) who constantly try to buy out harry lease so that the filthy dilapidate building can be demolish . into this atmosphere enter another black militant quasi anti semitic writer willie spearmint ( snoop dogg ) whom harry befriends and hide and and offer help to the nascent novelist attempt to write about the death of all white people . harry attempt to help willie lead to conflict and not the least of which be harry meet willie girlfriend and the white jewish irene bell ( rise byrne ) at a less than friendly gathering of willie militant black brother and sister . willie and irene be on the skid and harry gradually fall in love with irene and they plan to leave new york as soon a harry finish his novel . when willie hears of the assignation and be further critique by harry and willie explodes and begin the downward descent of not only a delicate friendship but also a competition between writer . the end reveals the slippery nature of the human condition and and the human capacity for violence and undoing . the actor do their best with a script that be a bit awkward but despite scripted line that border on preach they create believable character . the cinematography enhance the story and keep the mood dank and dense and primarily confine to the condemn building . the musical score appropriately make use of the solo jazz trumpet and blue piano to underline the tension and isolation of each of these groundless character . though it take some patience to make it through the cerebral ramblings and the film in the end be worth watch . at least it attempt to recreate malamud bizarre look at life in the big city . grady harp .