John Singleton's best film also proved to be one of my favorite movies about life in the streets. Cuba Gooding, Jr. displayed early on he was going to be a respectable actor. The power of the film has yet to be matched as most modern interpretations of street life prove to be violent stylizations. While Singleton has taken a couple missteps along the way, this film still stands up rather well by today's standards. The motives and actions appear realistic, especially Doughboy's thirst for revenge. A good film, which not only helped improve Laurence Fishburne's career, but introduced us to Gooding.
291 Reviews
Place for Race
mbucky20 May 2005
Most movies about life in the hoods of LosAngeles, New York City, and other urban areas of the U.S. are discounted as novelty entertainment for audiences seeking sex and violence. Out of an era of gangster rap came a nationwide exposure of the issues within the Black and Latino communities, and directors like John Singleton and the Hughes Brothers follow in the footsteps of the great Spike Lee. The film Boyz n the Hood is an intricate examination of the archetypes and stereotypes of the hood, as well as an introduction to the survivors, both trapped in the violence and escaping the cycle. The film concentrates on a Black community without the interactions between communities shown in Do the Right Thing, another epic race commentary. The direction of the film is fluid and natural, the acting heartfelt and strong, the affect extraordinary. The message of the movie is deeper than White or Italian based gangland movies, because the human aspect and the characters are more solid and approachable, and rooted in highly intellectual and applicable theories on race and violence. This film is a showcase of the radical and moderate themes expressed by Black activists, with Laurence Fishburne's character as the leader and role model of the film. A careful examination of the film reveals a strong message and a strong film. Don't underestimate the power of this film.
Tough and unflinching
preppy-329 January 2007
A movie that takes place in South Central Los Angeles in 1991. I don't know about now but, at that time, that area was crime ridden with drug deals and murders happening almost daily. Father Jason Styles (Larry Fishburne) tries to bring up his son Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) correctly despite all the violence around them. It also deals with two friends of Tre--Darin (Ice Cube) an angry young black man and his brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut) who wants to go to college. It all leads up to a truly harrowing ending.
Director John Singleton's first movie is incredibly powerful and still his best movie (so far). From what I've heard he captured exactly what it was like to grow up in that area. It's a little dated though--the guy sucking on the pacifier confuses some people but that was a big fad back in 1991. It's just unbelievable that kids grew up in an area like that and survived. The story itself is a little too simplistic (the good and bad brothers) and it's basically just the story of a teenager coming of age--but it still works. Singleton wisely doesn't accuse anyone of how the situation is and offers no solutions. He just presents it in a matter of fact way which makes this all the more powerful.
The acting is just great. Fishburne and Gooding play a father and son perfectly. Fishburne is just incredible--Gooding falters a few times (and it's obvious that he's no teenager) but he's still very good. Ice Cube is a little one note in his character (always angry and sullen) but it fits. Chestnut is just great.
People should be warned--there's tons of profanity (but that is how kids talk) and the ending gets very bloody and disturbing. I still remember people crying out loud in the audience back in 1991. A powerful film and well worth seeing.
Director John Singleton's first movie is incredibly powerful and still his best movie (so far). From what I've heard he captured exactly what it was like to grow up in that area. It's a little dated though--the guy sucking on the pacifier confuses some people but that was a big fad back in 1991. It's just unbelievable that kids grew up in an area like that and survived. The story itself is a little too simplistic (the good and bad brothers) and it's basically just the story of a teenager coming of age--but it still works. Singleton wisely doesn't accuse anyone of how the situation is and offers no solutions. He just presents it in a matter of fact way which makes this all the more powerful.
The acting is just great. Fishburne and Gooding play a father and son perfectly. Fishburne is just incredible--Gooding falters a few times (and it's obvious that he's no teenager) but he's still very good. Ice Cube is a little one note in his character (always angry and sullen) but it fits. Chestnut is just great.
People should be warned--there's tons of profanity (but that is how kids talk) and the ending gets very bloody and disturbing. I still remember people crying out loud in the audience back in 1991. A powerful film and well worth seeing.
Hard, thoughtful film with messages for everybody
mstomaso27 May 2005
John Singleton's Boyz n the Hood remains one of the best fictionalized and most poignant summaries of some of America's toughest internal problems - racism, violence, poverty, and drug abuse. This is not a hip-hop film, nor a detached and dehumanized story about "gang violence" (the great over-simplified scapegoat of the issues treated in this film), its a story about growing up fatherless or motherless in a war zone with a faceless enemy, where people do not value each other's lives at all and value their own lives only slightly more.
Laurence Fishburn leads one of the best casts of the early 1990s, in his memorable portrayal of Furious Styles, a father trying to raise his son (Cuba Gooding Jr) well in an environment where murder and substance abuse are day-to-day realities - South Central L.A. The film follows his son, Tre, and his friends, from the hardships of childhood in an irrelevant educational system and a neighborhood which doesn't allow kids to be kids, through to the realities of making decisions about the value of life and the development of responsibility and hope as young adults.
The cast disappears into their characters and brings each one to life in a unique and powerful way. losing the identities of big personalities like Fishburne and Ice Cube is no mean feat. Many of the performances recorded here are award-worthy - Fishburne, Bassett, Chesnutt, Gooding, and Ice Cube are especially memorable. For me personally, this is the film that convinced me that Ice Cube was destined to become a major personality in American cinema. While I had enjoyed some of his music prior to this film, it was here that I was first exposed to his versatility and intelligence as an actor.
While some may see some of the film's messages as heavy-handed, and others might have issues with the fact that the film deals with so many of the problems of inner-city life in a very 'in-your-face' almost archetypal manner, I find these criticisms impossible to justify.
This is a great film about real issues, sensitively portrayed and thoughtfully examined. Every American who cares about the vast untapped potential of our people ought to take a long, hard look at this one. These are not 'black problems', they are everybody's problems, and their solutions will require everybody's understanding. I could think of far worse places to begin developing that understanding than Boyz n the Hood.
Laurence Fishburn leads one of the best casts of the early 1990s, in his memorable portrayal of Furious Styles, a father trying to raise his son (Cuba Gooding Jr) well in an environment where murder and substance abuse are day-to-day realities - South Central L.A. The film follows his son, Tre, and his friends, from the hardships of childhood in an irrelevant educational system and a neighborhood which doesn't allow kids to be kids, through to the realities of making decisions about the value of life and the development of responsibility and hope as young adults.
The cast disappears into their characters and brings each one to life in a unique and powerful way. losing the identities of big personalities like Fishburne and Ice Cube is no mean feat. Many of the performances recorded here are award-worthy - Fishburne, Bassett, Chesnutt, Gooding, and Ice Cube are especially memorable. For me personally, this is the film that convinced me that Ice Cube was destined to become a major personality in American cinema. While I had enjoyed some of his music prior to this film, it was here that I was first exposed to his versatility and intelligence as an actor.
While some may see some of the film's messages as heavy-handed, and others might have issues with the fact that the film deals with so many of the problems of inner-city life in a very 'in-your-face' almost archetypal manner, I find these criticisms impossible to justify.
This is a great film about real issues, sensitively portrayed and thoughtfully examined. Every American who cares about the vast untapped potential of our people ought to take a long, hard look at this one. These are not 'black problems', they are everybody's problems, and their solutions will require everybody's understanding. I could think of far worse places to begin developing that understanding than Boyz n the Hood.
Remarkable Film From First-Time Director
evanreverb19 April 2004
An exemplary directorial debut from John Singleton, who managed to create an American classic with his first effort.
As we follow Tre Styles from childhood toward becoming a young adult (as played effectively by Cuba Gooding, Jr.), and attempting to dodge, with the cautious guidance of his parents, the many dangers and risks associated with growing up in inner-city America, the sense of ever-present danger and, often, hopelessness associated with attempting to avoid falling into the cracks of society is abundantly clear.
In the role of Tre's troubled friend Dough Boy, Ice Cube is something of a revelation, and his balanced performance, alongside Singleton's excellent script, prevent him from becoming merely another gangster caricature. Lawrence Fishburne and Morris Chestnut add further depth to a strong cast.
All in all a very real, gritty depiction of the challenges faced at every turn by African American men and women in modern America. The building anger bristling beneath the surface in so many scenes is particularly resonant given the outburst of violence in the Rodney King Riots that took place in the very same city of the story just one year later.
The film spawned several 'urban gang flick' imitations in subsequent years, but most glorified violence and placed an emphasis on a loud soundtrack and sexual explicitness at the expense of strong plot-line, good character development and a serious social message.
All three are to be found in Boyz N the Hood.
As we follow Tre Styles from childhood toward becoming a young adult (as played effectively by Cuba Gooding, Jr.), and attempting to dodge, with the cautious guidance of his parents, the many dangers and risks associated with growing up in inner-city America, the sense of ever-present danger and, often, hopelessness associated with attempting to avoid falling into the cracks of society is abundantly clear.
In the role of Tre's troubled friend Dough Boy, Ice Cube is something of a revelation, and his balanced performance, alongside Singleton's excellent script, prevent him from becoming merely another gangster caricature. Lawrence Fishburne and Morris Chestnut add further depth to a strong cast.
All in all a very real, gritty depiction of the challenges faced at every turn by African American men and women in modern America. The building anger bristling beneath the surface in so many scenes is particularly resonant given the outburst of violence in the Rodney King Riots that took place in the very same city of the story just one year later.
The film spawned several 'urban gang flick' imitations in subsequent years, but most glorified violence and placed an emphasis on a loud soundtrack and sexual explicitness at the expense of strong plot-line, good character development and a serious social message.
All three are to be found in Boyz N the Hood.
A profound ghetto film
Angeneer31 May 2001
John Singleton with his debut film cleared easily any opposition in the ghetto life genre. These are real characters facing real problems. Singleton goes one step beyond Spike Lee, analyzing and not only describing, proposing and not only denouncing. The film gets even more absorbing by the terrific camera work and the top notch acting.
Years later, this still packs a punch
Mr-Fusion13 August 2015
"Boyz n the Hood" seems to pride itself as a morality play, but it's the characters that had me glued to the screen. Laurence Fishburne is magnetic, and I couldn't get enough of his sermonizing as a single father defiantly raising his kid in a hopeless world. And even though it's Cuba Gooding Jr.'s soul at stake throughout all of this, it's Ice Cube I really felt sympathy for in the end. At that point, for a rapper-cum-fledgling actor, he really brought out the sadness in his thug character.
Subtlety isn't the movie's strong suit, and that feeling of dread knots itself in your stomach right on cue. But Singleton does a great job saying that this isn't just a depressed (and violent) neighborhood - there are real people living here. And it says a lot that every time you see a low angle shot of palms, rundown street, plane flying overhead, you conjure this particular movie; even after all the imitators. A standard was set, certainly.
7/10.
Subtlety isn't the movie's strong suit, and that feeling of dread knots itself in your stomach right on cue. But Singleton does a great job saying that this isn't just a depressed (and violent) neighborhood - there are real people living here. And it says a lot that every time you see a low angle shot of palms, rundown street, plane flying overhead, you conjure this particular movie; even after all the imitators. A standard was set, certainly.
7/10.
Incredibly Powerful & Realistic
seymourblack-124 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Set in the Crenshaw neighbourhood of South Central L.A., this hard-hitting drama charts the journey that three black youths make from boyhood to adulthood The challenges they encounter are far greater than those faced by most people because their environment predisposes them to the kinds of dysfunctional relationships, drug dependencies or early violent deaths that are such a normal feature of everyday life as they know it. First-time writer and director John Singleton, whose story is based on his own childhood experiences, posits that the most effective way out of this self-perpetuating cycle of violence, poverty and hopelessness is through better parenting.
As a 10-year-old boy, Tre Styles (Desi Arnez Hines 11) is bright, short-tempered and constantly in trouble at school. As his divorced mother feels unable to do anything to change his behaviour, she sends him to live with his father so that he can learn how to become a man and enjoy a better and more successful future. Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne) is smart, stern and strict and immediately starts mentoring his son in an effort to teach him the importance of education and how to survive in the dangerous neighbourhood in which he also grew up. Seven years later, Tre (now played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his friends Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky (Morris Chestnut) are on the brink of adulthood and apparently heading in different directions.
Tre is responsible, has a job in a clothes shop and plans to go to college with his steady girlfriend, Brandi (Nia Long). His best friend Ricky has already become a father and lives with his girlfriend and his infant son in his mother's house. His ambition is to become a professional football player and he hopes that the scholarship he's preparing for will be his road to success and provide him with a way out of the 'hood. Doughboy, who's Ricky's half-brother, has regularly been in trouble with the police since his first arrest on a shoplifting charge at the age of ten and now, as an ex-con, has no career prospects, is dealing drugs and is also a member of a local gang.
The boys all get on well together but a tragic event soon creates a hunger for revenge and the way in which Tre responds is guaranteed to have enormous implications for his future as well as providing an acid test for how successful his father's mentoring has actually been.
None of the boys grew up in a conventional family environment as their fathers were all absent for most of their lives and this put them in grave danger of ending up in gangs. This point is made strongly but their relationships with their mothers were also dysfunctional in different ways with Doughboy losing out the most and as a result, growing up with an inherent disrespect for women.
"Boyz n The Hood" depicts Crenshaw as a neighbourhood where life is cheap and guns, gangs and drugs are always in evidence, as are the seemingly ever-present police helicopters that contribute so strongly to the place feeling and looking like a war zone. The ways in which this is done on-screen are incredibly powerful and realistic. Equally powerful, however, is the way in which all the characters are so understandably products of their environment and so well represented by a wonderful cast of actors (especially Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Laurence Fishburne) who make them so relatable.
The fact that this movie is the work of a 23-year-old first-time director/writer is absolutely extraordinary and a great achievement by anyone's standards.
As a 10-year-old boy, Tre Styles (Desi Arnez Hines 11) is bright, short-tempered and constantly in trouble at school. As his divorced mother feels unable to do anything to change his behaviour, she sends him to live with his father so that he can learn how to become a man and enjoy a better and more successful future. Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne) is smart, stern and strict and immediately starts mentoring his son in an effort to teach him the importance of education and how to survive in the dangerous neighbourhood in which he also grew up. Seven years later, Tre (now played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his friends Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky (Morris Chestnut) are on the brink of adulthood and apparently heading in different directions.
Tre is responsible, has a job in a clothes shop and plans to go to college with his steady girlfriend, Brandi (Nia Long). His best friend Ricky has already become a father and lives with his girlfriend and his infant son in his mother's house. His ambition is to become a professional football player and he hopes that the scholarship he's preparing for will be his road to success and provide him with a way out of the 'hood. Doughboy, who's Ricky's half-brother, has regularly been in trouble with the police since his first arrest on a shoplifting charge at the age of ten and now, as an ex-con, has no career prospects, is dealing drugs and is also a member of a local gang.
The boys all get on well together but a tragic event soon creates a hunger for revenge and the way in which Tre responds is guaranteed to have enormous implications for his future as well as providing an acid test for how successful his father's mentoring has actually been.
None of the boys grew up in a conventional family environment as their fathers were all absent for most of their lives and this put them in grave danger of ending up in gangs. This point is made strongly but their relationships with their mothers were also dysfunctional in different ways with Doughboy losing out the most and as a result, growing up with an inherent disrespect for women.
"Boyz n The Hood" depicts Crenshaw as a neighbourhood where life is cheap and guns, gangs and drugs are always in evidence, as are the seemingly ever-present police helicopters that contribute so strongly to the place feeling and looking like a war zone. The ways in which this is done on-screen are incredibly powerful and realistic. Equally powerful, however, is the way in which all the characters are so understandably products of their environment and so well represented by a wonderful cast of actors (especially Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Laurence Fishburne) who make them so relatable.
The fact that this movie is the work of a 23-year-old first-time director/writer is absolutely extraordinary and a great achievement by anyone's standards.
Difficult story and exceptional acting
brigette-lundeen5 July 2017
Tre (Cuba) goes to live with his Dad (Lawrence Fishbourne) outside of LA. He grows up next to his 2 best friends who are brothers in a neighborhood where hearing cop sirens and gunshots was a regular occurrence. Watching the struggles and constant bombardment of violence that these kids grew up facing was eye-opening. Violence was a constant reality for even the "good" kids.
The acting was great. Ice Cube and Cuba Gooding Jr were phenomenal. This is the first big role for both of them and their performances set them both apart as both exceptional actors.
The acting was great. Ice Cube and Cuba Gooding Jr were phenomenal. This is the first big role for both of them and their performances set them both apart as both exceptional actors.
A Powerful Drama That Has not Aged
claudio_carvalho22 March 2016
In South Central Los Angeles, the boy Tre Styles lives with his divorced mother Reva Styles (Angela Bassett). When Tre is suspended for three days at school, Reva decides to send him to live in Crenshaw with his father, the businessman Furious Styles (Larry Fishburne), "to become a man". Tre befriends his neighbors, the half-brothers Doughboy and Ricky Baker, and soon they become best friends. Seven years later, Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is an educated teenager preparing to join the university; Ricky (Morris Chestnut) is an athlete, expecting to join the university with scholarship since he is a great football player; and Doughboy (Ice Cube) is a small time criminal that has been arrested several times. But they live in a dangerous neighborhood where dreams are shattered by bullets.
"Boyz n the Hood" is a powerful drama by John Singleton that has not aged after twenty-five years. The social problem in American ghettos is shown in South Central Los Angeles. Youths are forced to live with violence and shootings since their parents cannot afford to move to a better neighborhood and even those that try to prepare for a better future, may be involved with the environment. The fate of Ricky and his family is heartbreaking. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Boyz n the Hood - Os Donos da Rua" ("Boyz n the Hood – The Owners of the Street")
"Boyz n the Hood" is a powerful drama by John Singleton that has not aged after twenty-five years. The social problem in American ghettos is shown in South Central Los Angeles. Youths are forced to live with violence and shootings since their parents cannot afford to move to a better neighborhood and even those that try to prepare for a better future, may be involved with the environment. The fate of Ricky and his family is heartbreaking. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Boyz n the Hood - Os Donos da Rua" ("Boyz n the Hood – The Owners of the Street")
Good movie, good casting
antoniocasaca12315 March 2018
Good movie, good casting. The first movie in which we see actors like Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr, Ice Cube, Angela Bassett and others in prominent roles.
It's a film with some resemblance to Spike Lee's "do the right thing," made just 2 years earlier. This "boyz n the hood" does not reach the same level as Spike Lee's film, but it has many merits.
Perhaps it could have been more "bold" on this issue of the problem of black neighborhoods in the United States.
A movie that aged really well
ComedyFan201027 April 2018
The first movie by John Singleton it is also the first movie that clearly portrays the life in a poor black neighborhood. If it seems to you now like it includes some formula like parts, remember that this is the movie that created this "formula" by which many other hood movies got filmed.
It is done in a wonderful way. While some elements of this life are already very well known to the point that they may become a cliche in a movie, in this case the director manages to portray it all very realistic and easy to connect to the people in the movie. There is great acting and a special mention should be of Ice Cube for whom this was his acting debut. He portrays Dough in a brilliant way. He may be the guy who went the wrong road but we can see him being a good person and not having made these choices just on his own but being part of the system that pushed him into it. No wonder Ice Cube continued his acting career and is pretty successful.
Definitely a nice classic from the 90's that I recommend to people who want to watch a realistic and dramatic movie that makes one both think and feel
It is done in a wonderful way. While some elements of this life are already very well known to the point that they may become a cliche in a movie, in this case the director manages to portray it all very realistic and easy to connect to the people in the movie. There is great acting and a special mention should be of Ice Cube for whom this was his acting debut. He portrays Dough in a brilliant way. He may be the guy who went the wrong road but we can see him being a good person and not having made these choices just on his own but being part of the system that pushed him into it. No wonder Ice Cube continued his acting career and is pretty successful.
Definitely a nice classic from the 90's that I recommend to people who want to watch a realistic and dramatic movie that makes one both think and feel
Watching it 10 years later
fletcherhutchison16 December 2019
After watching this again after 10 years, there is so much more that John Singleton had added that I never picked up when I was younger.
Some brutal moments but followed by solid, down to earth acting which levels it out nicely. Laurence Fishburne's best movie without a doubt, and beyond all the young African-American city talk there is a lot of solid dialogue that makes you think.
Highly rate!
Highly rate!
Dumb
merlo7921 February 2018
But not "dumb" in a purposefully insulting way. "Dumb" as in it feels like it was made by a child. Everything is incredibly obvious, on the nose, cheesy and you can see it coming from a mile away. This movie doesn't do subtle, or thoughtful, or anything really. It honestly feels like something a 6th grader would make. At first I was bored, then I was angry and by the time the end credits rolled I was laughing out loud at how silly it is. Halfway through I gave up on the promise of any story and just sort of stick out to see who gets the bullet as it really seemed that's the only way this movie could've ended.
You want to add 7 points to that because of the real issues and human tragedies it deals with? Feel free to do so. But theme aside, this is a surprisingly poor movie.
You want to add 7 points to that because of the real issues and human tragedies it deals with? Feel free to do so. But theme aside, this is a surprisingly poor movie.
The best ghetto film of all time.
sixerzpac326 July 2004
Boyz N The Hood Directed by: John Singleton Country: USA Year: 1991 Running time: 107 minutes Starring: Laurence Fishburne and Cuba Gooding Jr.
"I watched the news this morning. Either they don't know, don't show, or don't care about what's going on in the hood. They had all this foreign sh-t. They didn't have sh-t on my brother, man."
The mother of Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.) decides to send her son to live with his father, Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne), after he gets into a fight at school. Furious, who lives in the heart of South Central LA, is a man that knows the values of how to respect and how to earn it. He's strict, but he's fair. Furious works as a mortgage broker.
We watch Tre mature from a young boy to his senior year in high school taking the SAT's. His two best friends are brothers. Ricky (Morris Chestnut) is a great athlete and is getting into college to support his girlfriend and infant son. The other brother, Doughboy (Ice Cube), is headed down a totally opposite path of guns, drugs, gangs, and violence. He's in and out of prison each year.
Furious knows that his son could get killed easily, as he was once involved with the gang scene himself. He wants Tre to graduate college and be good in whatever his profession may be.
As the story goes more in depth, we see that even if you aren't involved in a gang, you could still be a target. Whether it's your brother, cousin, sister, or other family member that is thee one involved with the violence, the main target could be the person in the family who stays away from the dangers of the street.
Tre and his friends are in a world where being violent is sometimes the way to live. Helicopters are heard searching for murderers every night. The police are so busy, that sometimes a 9-1-1 call could mean waiting for the police to arrive. There is even one Black-cop, who uses his power to try and intimidate young Blacks who he thinks might be involved in the gangs and violence.
This is the ultimate ghetto film, which will never be topped. All of the direction and screenplay is brilliant. Singleton doesn't use cheap scenes that get the viewer off-topic and the audience, as a whole, is always into the movie. Come into a world that most of us haven't been in. Follow the life of one boy who turns into a man as he has to not only goes through personal struggles, but has to worry about whether he'll be killed at any moment. -Pat
10/10
"I watched the news this morning. Either they don't know, don't show, or don't care about what's going on in the hood. They had all this foreign sh-t. They didn't have sh-t on my brother, man."
The mother of Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.) decides to send her son to live with his father, Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne), after he gets into a fight at school. Furious, who lives in the heart of South Central LA, is a man that knows the values of how to respect and how to earn it. He's strict, but he's fair. Furious works as a mortgage broker.
We watch Tre mature from a young boy to his senior year in high school taking the SAT's. His two best friends are brothers. Ricky (Morris Chestnut) is a great athlete and is getting into college to support his girlfriend and infant son. The other brother, Doughboy (Ice Cube), is headed down a totally opposite path of guns, drugs, gangs, and violence. He's in and out of prison each year.
Furious knows that his son could get killed easily, as he was once involved with the gang scene himself. He wants Tre to graduate college and be good in whatever his profession may be.
As the story goes more in depth, we see that even if you aren't involved in a gang, you could still be a target. Whether it's your brother, cousin, sister, or other family member that is thee one involved with the violence, the main target could be the person in the family who stays away from the dangers of the street.
Tre and his friends are in a world where being violent is sometimes the way to live. Helicopters are heard searching for murderers every night. The police are so busy, that sometimes a 9-1-1 call could mean waiting for the police to arrive. There is even one Black-cop, who uses his power to try and intimidate young Blacks who he thinks might be involved in the gangs and violence.
This is the ultimate ghetto film, which will never be topped. All of the direction and screenplay is brilliant. Singleton doesn't use cheap scenes that get the viewer off-topic and the audience, as a whole, is always into the movie. Come into a world that most of us haven't been in. Follow the life of one boy who turns into a man as he has to not only goes through personal struggles, but has to worry about whether he'll be killed at any moment. -Pat
10/10
Singleton's best
Newsense13 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Boyz In The Hood is embraced by most people for all the wrong reasons. Most people embrace for the portrayal of hood life but only a few people understand why Boyz N The Hood is one of the most important contributions to Black cinema. Boyz N The Hood had a social conscious that is missing from a lot of hood flicks that come out nowadays. John Singleton got a lot of acclaim for this movie and to tell you the truth he deserved it.
The story if you didn't know is about Tre'(Cuba Gooding Jr) being sent to live with his father after he gets in trouble in school. The rest of the film details his experience in South Central Los Angeles.
Laurence Fishburne is at his best here. I always thought that he was a great actor and his role here proves it. Furious Styles is a loving father but stern and wise enough to be observant about his surroundings. Cuba Gooding Jr is great as Tre': a somewhat confused but intelligent kid. Ice Cube's best performance next to Fudge in Higher Learning will always be "Doughboy". Angela Bassett shines as Tre's caring mother.
I like all the gems in this movie like Furious telling Tre' why Black men shouldn't join the army or Furious explaining to the neighborhood in Compton what Gentrification is(hell, most people don't even know what that is now). The stereotypes in this movie are all too real: The mother that loves one son over the other, the biased black cop, the confused black men and women and crack cocaine. All these things still exist in every ghetto in America that is why Boyz In The Hood is still relevant after all these years! I recommend this movie to the crowd that is smart enough to embrace it for the gems that are held within. All you hoity-toity suburbanites that spent your whole life in The Hamptons need not waste your time. Two thumbs up all the way.
The story if you didn't know is about Tre'(Cuba Gooding Jr) being sent to live with his father after he gets in trouble in school. The rest of the film details his experience in South Central Los Angeles.
Laurence Fishburne is at his best here. I always thought that he was a great actor and his role here proves it. Furious Styles is a loving father but stern and wise enough to be observant about his surroundings. Cuba Gooding Jr is great as Tre': a somewhat confused but intelligent kid. Ice Cube's best performance next to Fudge in Higher Learning will always be "Doughboy". Angela Bassett shines as Tre's caring mother.
I like all the gems in this movie like Furious telling Tre' why Black men shouldn't join the army or Furious explaining to the neighborhood in Compton what Gentrification is(hell, most people don't even know what that is now). The stereotypes in this movie are all too real: The mother that loves one son over the other, the biased black cop, the confused black men and women and crack cocaine. All these things still exist in every ghetto in America that is why Boyz In The Hood is still relevant after all these years! I recommend this movie to the crowd that is smart enough to embrace it for the gems that are held within. All you hoity-toity suburbanites that spent your whole life in The Hamptons need not waste your time. Two thumbs up all the way.
Rick, it's the Nineties. Can't afford to be afraid of our own people anymore, man.
hitchcockthelegend31 August 2009
1991
"One out of every twenty-one Black American males will be murdered in their lifetime"
"Most will die at the hands of another Black male"
"Increase The Peace" is the closing message of John Singleton's powerful, intelligent and affecting call for calm in South Central Los Angeles. Often mistakenly presumed by those who haven't seen it to be a film that glamorises violence, Singleton's debut film takes us into South Central and holds us there by just shooting the story. No trickery or overtly moralistic posturing from the director (and writer), just an unpretentious look at life in a modern ghetto.
The story follows three black teenagers as they ponder on what life holds for them as adulthood lurches from around the corner. Brothers Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut) and best friend Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr), each have the usual worries that come with leaving the teenage years behind. Parents, girls, careers, not returning to the pen! But this is no ordinary coming of age drama, we have been party to this neighbourhood that these boys live in. This is a place where a trip to the store can get you killed in a drive by shooting. A place where those keen to learn and do their homework have their muse shattered by the frequent sound of gunshots and sirens filling the South Central night.
Though Singleton can be accused of painting some of his characters as too saintly, he should be forgiven since this is after all, a message movie. Besides which his portrait of this particular neighbourhood is done from honest memory since he himself be a former youth of South Central LA. There in lies one of Boyz's trump cards, Singleton, through his own observations, asks of those in "The Hood" to take responsibility for what they do. Something that is potently given narrative credence courtesy of Tre's father's (a fabulous understated Laurence Fishburne) deep musings. Once the built up tension explodes with the inevitable tragedy that all should be ready for, the impact is like a sledgehammer hitting bone. Not in a blood letting for impact sake, but with the aftermath as a family soaks up the situation. It gives 90s cinema one of its most affecting and damning scenes, one that once viewed is hard to fully shake out of the memory bank. Here Singleton could possibly have bowed out of the story, but he goes further, expanding the aftermath and taking us, along with the characters, to the final "Increase The Peace" dénouement.
It's been called everything from an After School Special to the most important Black American movie made thus far. I agree with the last assessment. 9/10
"One out of every twenty-one Black American males will be murdered in their lifetime"
"Most will die at the hands of another Black male"
"Increase The Peace" is the closing message of John Singleton's powerful, intelligent and affecting call for calm in South Central Los Angeles. Often mistakenly presumed by those who haven't seen it to be a film that glamorises violence, Singleton's debut film takes us into South Central and holds us there by just shooting the story. No trickery or overtly moralistic posturing from the director (and writer), just an unpretentious look at life in a modern ghetto.
The story follows three black teenagers as they ponder on what life holds for them as adulthood lurches from around the corner. Brothers Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut) and best friend Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr), each have the usual worries that come with leaving the teenage years behind. Parents, girls, careers, not returning to the pen! But this is no ordinary coming of age drama, we have been party to this neighbourhood that these boys live in. This is a place where a trip to the store can get you killed in a drive by shooting. A place where those keen to learn and do their homework have their muse shattered by the frequent sound of gunshots and sirens filling the South Central night.
Though Singleton can be accused of painting some of his characters as too saintly, he should be forgiven since this is after all, a message movie. Besides which his portrait of this particular neighbourhood is done from honest memory since he himself be a former youth of South Central LA. There in lies one of Boyz's trump cards, Singleton, through his own observations, asks of those in "The Hood" to take responsibility for what they do. Something that is potently given narrative credence courtesy of Tre's father's (a fabulous understated Laurence Fishburne) deep musings. Once the built up tension explodes with the inevitable tragedy that all should be ready for, the impact is like a sledgehammer hitting bone. Not in a blood letting for impact sake, but with the aftermath as a family soaks up the situation. It gives 90s cinema one of its most affecting and damning scenes, one that once viewed is hard to fully shake out of the memory bank. Here Singleton could possibly have bowed out of the story, but he goes further, expanding the aftermath and taking us, along with the characters, to the final "Increase The Peace" dénouement.
It's been called everything from an After School Special to the most important Black American movie made thus far. I agree with the last assessment. 9/10
Intense urban drama
Leofwine_draca8 September 2015
An intriguing look at life amongst the black urban classes in Los Angeles, BOYZ N THE HOOD might well be described as the black STAND BY ME. It's certainly an intense, well-acted and surprisingly mature drama that explores life, liberty, family relationships, education, and of course gang culture, examining what makes people tick and what leads to the senseless violence and murder that's blighted the streets since forever.
John Singleton is careful never to preach his messages, although there is a preacher of sorts in the movie: the excellent Laurence Fishburne as the mild-mannered but steely-eyed father who wants only the best for his kids. The acting from the young black cast, including Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, and Ice Cube, is fresh and invigorating, as these guys actually manage to capture the fire and conflict within the souls of their characters. Nothing much that happens in BOYZ N THE HOOD will shock or surprise, as sadly the daily news is much, much worse, but this is a remarkably tough social drama that manages to be heartfelt at the same time. Authenticity is key.
John Singleton is careful never to preach his messages, although there is a preacher of sorts in the movie: the excellent Laurence Fishburne as the mild-mannered but steely-eyed father who wants only the best for his kids. The acting from the young black cast, including Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, and Ice Cube, is fresh and invigorating, as these guys actually manage to capture the fire and conflict within the souls of their characters. Nothing much that happens in BOYZ N THE HOOD will shock or surprise, as sadly the daily news is much, much worse, but this is a remarkably tough social drama that manages to be heartfelt at the same time. Authenticity is key.
hood ornaments, but this is more than an ornament
lee_eisenberg3 August 2006
It's hard to believe that John Singleton's work degenerated so in later years, because his debut was a masterpiece. We probably all have to agree that "Boyz n the Hood" was basically the first "growing up in the ghetto" movie, showing how these African-American youths are surrounded by violence during their childhoods - some perpetrated by the cops, some is their own doing - but they all have to find a way to keep going. If the movie has any problem, it's that it opened the flood gates to a series of similar inferior movies (but also the hilarious satire "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood").
Anyway, this is the one that I recommend. Cuba Gooding Jr. made a very good debut. Also starring Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long and Angela Bassett.
Anyway, this is the one that I recommend. Cuba Gooding Jr. made a very good debut. Also starring Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long and Angela Bassett.
Well-made, great for the right audience.
blott2319-119 June 2020
Sitting down to watch Boyz 'N the Hood right now feels fitting. I appreciate what it has to say about the struggles of the black community and gentrification. In fact, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was a bit choked up when Laurence Fishburne goes on his rant. I wish there was more of that in the film. Sadly, it felt like the rest of the movie was a fairly by-the-numbers story about young people growing up in a dangerous community with a lot of bad influences. Coming-of-age is already a genre that I don't typically enjoy, and adding in the depressing nature of this particular film, I had a tough time with it. Admittedly, I was emotionally invested in the journey of the characters, and I shed a few tears at one point when tragedy struck. Yet I saw it coming. Every beat of this movie felt like something I've seen before in other films, so it was extremely predictable. Many of those movies might have been drawing inspiration from this one, but I just happen to be in a place now where this all seemed rote. I guess at this point I'm looking for a more unique or nuanced approach to these topics, or even films that shine a light on how we can move forward rather than the pessimistic note we are left with here. I can't deny that Boyz 'N the Hood is a well-made movie, and I imagine if I saw it back in the early 90s when I was a teen it would have struck a chord with me and shifted my worldview in some way. Seeing it now, I'm simply left wanting something more, and that may be a problem with me and not the movie itself.
An Honest Review
generationofswine21 September 2018
John Singleton really isn't my thing. I mean, the movie came out in '91 but didn't get much exposure out in the country where I grew up until it was on HBO. However "Poetic Justice" DID and when I finally came around to watching "Boyz n the Hood" I had extremely low expectations.
I honestly thought it was going to be as absolutely pointless as "Poetic Justice" was.
And, yeah, I did kind of like "Higher Learning," which I also saw before this, but I still kind of feel that he was pointing the finger at white people and telling the viewers that we are all evil and the cause of all the problems in the world.
So I went in here thinking it was going to be a talented racist mess.
However, it wasn't. The fact is the film was absolutely amazing. And, honestly, it was the first film I saw about gangs, from a non-police POV, that didn't glorify them. And it remains one of the few gangland movies I've seen that doesn't glorify the lifestyle.
And I understand that they are two completely different beasts, but the film felt like it was taking the issue of gangs and giving it a "The Godfather" treatment...and it worked.
It worked brilliantly. You can both relate to the characters--although I'm probably not supposed to say that--and see that the gang culture is a horrible thing.
Unlike "Poetic Justice" it has a point. And unlike "Higher Learning," it doesn't cast as racist of a finger.
It actually deals with issues and tells a story and, honestly, to watch it is to love it.
I honestly thought it was going to be as absolutely pointless as "Poetic Justice" was.
And, yeah, I did kind of like "Higher Learning," which I also saw before this, but I still kind of feel that he was pointing the finger at white people and telling the viewers that we are all evil and the cause of all the problems in the world.
So I went in here thinking it was going to be a talented racist mess.
However, it wasn't. The fact is the film was absolutely amazing. And, honestly, it was the first film I saw about gangs, from a non-police POV, that didn't glorify them. And it remains one of the few gangland movies I've seen that doesn't glorify the lifestyle.
And I understand that they are two completely different beasts, but the film felt like it was taking the issue of gangs and giving it a "The Godfather" treatment...and it worked.
It worked brilliantly. You can both relate to the characters--although I'm probably not supposed to say that--and see that the gang culture is a horrible thing.
Unlike "Poetic Justice" it has a point. And unlike "Higher Learning," it doesn't cast as racist of a finger.
It actually deals with issues and tells a story and, honestly, to watch it is to love it.
Strong message, weak story
ignatz92825 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Movies like this raise the question of whether movies are most important as arts of work on their own terms or as social statements made to have an impact on the world. Just by habit, I tend to lean towards the first view, and I would guess that most filmmakers do as well, since directors generally seem wary of discussing their work in terms of messages. But obviously not John Singleton; in the very first shot of Boyz n the Hood, the camera pushes towards a stop sign until it looms over the audience. This image sets the mood for the rest of the film, which has a strong impact that, as contradictory as this might seem, is somewhat blunted by the lack of subtlety. It belongs to that group of movies that probably stem most directly from Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, a film that showed how talented young directors could make a splash with a debut set on their own home turf, particularly home turf far removed from the mainstream of American society. Not that Boyz n the Hood is anywhere as good as Mean Streets, but then I don't think that Singleton's main goal is to top Scorsese: he has a point to make. It's about the poverty and violence infesting South-Central L.A., with three main characters representing the basic options available to a young black man from that background. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Tre, whose father, Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne) is determined to raise him with the self-respect and discipline to avoid a life of crime and violence. His friend Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut) isn't as smart but hopes to get into college on an athletic scholarship. Doughboy, meanwhile, is already immersed in gang life. The main performances are strong, particularly from Ice Cube, whose character is in man ways the most interesting, possessing the self-awareness his life is headed nowhere but not the will to do anything about it. At his strongest, Singleton creates a powerful, bleak portrait of a community under siege from guns, drugs, poverty, and general hopelessness, and he immerses you in this world as well, so that you share with the characters the same sense that all of the exits have been closed off. Whether or not you agree with all of the specific points that Singleton is trying to make, Boyz is unquestionably strong as a statement and a piece of reporting. It's far from a great piece of film-making; the music is intrusive and poorly done, and the story is overly melodramatic- it's not enough that one character has to be murdered to show the tragedy of gang violence, his friends then have to dump his bloody corpse in his living room so that we can see his mother's and his girlfriend's hysterical grief. But melodrama isn't really the main problem; it's more that Singleton's determination to get his message across frequently overwhelms his determination to tell a good story with believably individual characters. Too often the characters seem to be speaking to the audience instead of each other, sometimes to the extent that I expected them to turn towards the camera and issue a final warning. But for all of my criticisms of the movie, in the end I'm not sure how much they mean, because Singleton's focus, as I've already said, really doesn't seem to be on creating great art. If the success of a film is to be measured by whether it accomplishes what it sets out to do, rather than by one's enjoyment of it, than I think Boyz n the Hood would have to rate as a solid achievement.
Brilliant use of sound, engaging script and wonderful character development makes this film better than you think.
johnnyboyz12 June 2007
Boyz 'N the hood is a thoroughly fascinating and deeper than you think look at life in Los Angeles around the early 1980s to early 1990s; what the film actually does is look at a life in one of these Los Angeles 'ghettos' and uses it as the backdrop for a wonderful series of filmic events revolving around growing up, relations with family and friends, racism and the constant threat of violence.
The film has a certain aged charm about it; and with actors you'd easily recognise today looking very different in 1991, this adds to the feeling. These actors/celebrities are: Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Ice Cube. I was surprised at how everything in this film just managed to pool together and just work. The film doesn't really adopt a neo-realistic approach but what it does do is tie together an unpredictable and often heart-warming script, great character development and some genuinely entertaining situations that don't let your eyes off the screen.
Some examples of this can be when the main group of characters are out for revenge and stalk a rival group whilst they innocently have their meals on the pavement or when the father of then ten year old Tré (Gooding Jr.) is desperately trying to bring his child up well and teach him the right things he needs to learn whilst we are desperately longing him to listen. The way in which the four main characters in the group also progress; bouncing off one another in life and scraps as they try to find their way is not only compelling viewing but the attention to detail by including unnecessary dialogue and real life conversations in real life situations is remarkable. The life in which these people lead is also put across in a very disturbing and realistic way that makes you glad you're not part of what is going on. This is done thanks to visuals and background noise and sound effects. Often a police car siren will begin to wail; signalling there's probably been another shooting or crime that has happened; there will also be, what I presume, a police helicopter fly overhead every once in a while forced into keeping an eye on things and events even though everything's probably fine. This feeling of being trapped and constantly in danger whilst being watched most of the time plays on the character's minds and is relayed onto us in an often effective manner.
In terms of visuals, there are constant threats and reminders that danger, literally, lurks around every corner. Tré attempts to take some food from one house and walk it about a hundred yards back to his own for his father but along the way is greeted by a car containing a few 'gang bangers' possessing a sawn off shotgun that is consequently aimed at him. He also manages to save a child that had escaped from its mother from getting run down in the road it turns out the mother has just too many to deal with and very solemnly shuts the door on Tré without much of a 'thank you'. Not only this but the approaching sound of rap and R&B music as cars get closer when there are multiple unknown characters in a scene is heard; it can feel very threatening especially if our heroes are out on foot and you do feel like they are in danger.
Boyz 'N the Hood is a fantastic debut film for John Singleton as many have already said. It combines multiple conventions and mixes them in well with one another as we see the lives progress of these four people we would never normally give five seconds of our time to.
The film has a certain aged charm about it; and with actors you'd easily recognise today looking very different in 1991, this adds to the feeling. These actors/celebrities are: Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Ice Cube. I was surprised at how everything in this film just managed to pool together and just work. The film doesn't really adopt a neo-realistic approach but what it does do is tie together an unpredictable and often heart-warming script, great character development and some genuinely entertaining situations that don't let your eyes off the screen.
Some examples of this can be when the main group of characters are out for revenge and stalk a rival group whilst they innocently have their meals on the pavement or when the father of then ten year old Tré (Gooding Jr.) is desperately trying to bring his child up well and teach him the right things he needs to learn whilst we are desperately longing him to listen. The way in which the four main characters in the group also progress; bouncing off one another in life and scraps as they try to find their way is not only compelling viewing but the attention to detail by including unnecessary dialogue and real life conversations in real life situations is remarkable. The life in which these people lead is also put across in a very disturbing and realistic way that makes you glad you're not part of what is going on. This is done thanks to visuals and background noise and sound effects. Often a police car siren will begin to wail; signalling there's probably been another shooting or crime that has happened; there will also be, what I presume, a police helicopter fly overhead every once in a while forced into keeping an eye on things and events even though everything's probably fine. This feeling of being trapped and constantly in danger whilst being watched most of the time plays on the character's minds and is relayed onto us in an often effective manner.
In terms of visuals, there are constant threats and reminders that danger, literally, lurks around every corner. Tré attempts to take some food from one house and walk it about a hundred yards back to his own for his father but along the way is greeted by a car containing a few 'gang bangers' possessing a sawn off shotgun that is consequently aimed at him. He also manages to save a child that had escaped from its mother from getting run down in the road it turns out the mother has just too many to deal with and very solemnly shuts the door on Tré without much of a 'thank you'. Not only this but the approaching sound of rap and R&B music as cars get closer when there are multiple unknown characters in a scene is heard; it can feel very threatening especially if our heroes are out on foot and you do feel like they are in danger.
Boyz 'N the Hood is a fantastic debut film for John Singleton as many have already said. It combines multiple conventions and mixes them in well with one another as we see the lives progress of these four people we would never normally give five seconds of our time to.
Do the Right Thing
Horst_In_Translation26 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Boyz n the Hood" is an American film from 1991, so this one has its 25th anniversary already this year. The film focuses on the life of Tre Styles, early on as a young kid, but later on as an adult. At the same time, we also witness how the people around him get older and that includes friends, family members and of course his girlfriend. All of these take very different paths and that includes Tre as well. The best performance of the film comes probably from Laurence Fishburne, who plays the main character's father. His interactions with his son, but also with his son's mother (Angela Bassett), are core aspects in here. And there are more known names. I am speaking of Ice Cube and Morris Chestnut here especially, two young actors and they play the people in Tre's life that are around his age and that he looks up to and respects as his peers. But are they really worth it? Watch for yourself.
This film runs for slightly over 110 minutes and was written and directed by John Singleton, who was only in his early 20s when he made this film. With his director nomination at the Academy Awards, he made quite an impact, not only because of his age, but also for being the first African American to get in that category. In addition, he also managed a screenplay nod. If you look closely, you will also see Singleton play a mailman during one scene near the end. As a whole, this film works very well. The story seems realistic, the characters are intelligently presented and elaborated on. Yes the ending is a bit extreme with these two shootings, but sadly these things really do happen and the sad thing today is that almost nothing has gotten better in the last 25 years. But let's not talk about race crimes or politics here. This description also fits the level of films with predominantly black actors. There are quite a few every year and there are awards bodies like the Black Reel Awards honoring these, but the quality in these films has gone south considerably. A quality black film like this one here is only released once every 3 or 4 years perhaps, probably not even that often. So go see it! This was a convincing watch and I applaud Singleton for what he did here despite his young age. The Academy Award nominations (especially for director) may have been a bit over the top, but it was definitely a good watch and I recommend checking it out.
This film runs for slightly over 110 minutes and was written and directed by John Singleton, who was only in his early 20s when he made this film. With his director nomination at the Academy Awards, he made quite an impact, not only because of his age, but also for being the first African American to get in that category. In addition, he also managed a screenplay nod. If you look closely, you will also see Singleton play a mailman during one scene near the end. As a whole, this film works very well. The story seems realistic, the characters are intelligently presented and elaborated on. Yes the ending is a bit extreme with these two shootings, but sadly these things really do happen and the sad thing today is that almost nothing has gotten better in the last 25 years. But let's not talk about race crimes or politics here. This description also fits the level of films with predominantly black actors. There are quite a few every year and there are awards bodies like the Black Reel Awards honoring these, but the quality in these films has gone south considerably. A quality black film like this one here is only released once every 3 or 4 years perhaps, probably not even that often. So go see it! This was a convincing watch and I applaud Singleton for what he did here despite his young age. The Academy Award nominations (especially for director) may have been a bit over the top, but it was definitely a good watch and I recommend checking it out.
The Performances Were Good, But To Me This Lacked Intensity
sddavis6330 August 2012
I appreciated the performances from Laurence Fishburne and Cuba Gooding, Jr. in this. They were both very good. I would also give credit to director John Singleton. This was his first movie, and he coaxed good performances from the entire cast, making me a little bit surprised that he hasn't really directed much of note since then. The movie opens with captions offering a sobering look at life in "the hood", and then proceeds offer us a look at that life in this black neighbourhood of Los Angeles, where violence, drug addiction and a general feeling of hopelessness is an everyday reality. That look is offered mostly through the character of Tre (Gooding) - a young man who seems to keep out of trouble for the most part but watches as his friends and neighbours often get sucked in to what's going on around them.
Tre was perhaps too good for my liking. As the movie begins, Tre (as a young boy) is sent to live with his father (Fishburne) so that his mother can finish her education and his father can teach him how to be a man. Frankly, Tre seemed to me too easy to teach. He really didn't seem to be much of a challenge for his dad. Perhaps a bit more emphasis on the relationship between Tre and his dad would have given the movie a bit more intensity. That's what seemed to be basically lacking for me. Until quite near the end of the movie, I wasn't finding this especially intense. I found it sad - especially the brief glimpse of the drug addicted mother who let her baby wander into the streets and didn't really seem to care all that much - but not really intense. That does change near the end of the movie, especially with the story of Ricky (Morris Chestnut) - a talented young football player who has a chance to get out with a football scholarship to USC. But up to that last half hour or so, I wasn't really finding this movie especially powerful.
Perhaps the intensity was lacking because the movie is more than 20 years old and is a bit dated, or, more likely, perhaps as a white person I simply can't relate to the environment that was being depicted. Whatever the reason though that lack of intensity and personal connection with the movie and characters (in spite of the good performances) pulls this down a notch or two for me. (5/10)
Tre was perhaps too good for my liking. As the movie begins, Tre (as a young boy) is sent to live with his father (Fishburne) so that his mother can finish her education and his father can teach him how to be a man. Frankly, Tre seemed to me too easy to teach. He really didn't seem to be much of a challenge for his dad. Perhaps a bit more emphasis on the relationship between Tre and his dad would have given the movie a bit more intensity. That's what seemed to be basically lacking for me. Until quite near the end of the movie, I wasn't finding this especially intense. I found it sad - especially the brief glimpse of the drug addicted mother who let her baby wander into the streets and didn't really seem to care all that much - but not really intense. That does change near the end of the movie, especially with the story of Ricky (Morris Chestnut) - a talented young football player who has a chance to get out with a football scholarship to USC. But up to that last half hour or so, I wasn't really finding this movie especially powerful.
Perhaps the intensity was lacking because the movie is more than 20 years old and is a bit dated, or, more likely, perhaps as a white person I simply can't relate to the environment that was being depicted. Whatever the reason though that lack of intensity and personal connection with the movie and characters (in spite of the good performances) pulls this down a notch or two for me. (5/10)
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