Boyz N The Hood
Chad'z rating: ***1/2 (out of 4 = very good)
1991, R, 112 minutes [1 hour, 52 minutes]
[drama]
starring: Cuba Gooding Jr. (Tre Styles), Ice Cube (Doughboy Baker), Morris Chestnut (Ricky Baker), Laurence Fishburne (Mr. Furious Styles), produced by Steve Nicolaides, written and directed by John Singleton.
There have been many movies about life in black ghettos, but most of them were made by white, mainstream directors using Hollywood money. But with "Boyz N The Hood," director John Singleton approaches his canvas in an expressionist manner. He doesn't concentrate so much on story and plot as he does character development and atmosphere. The result is an insightful, thematic film, even if the themes are blatantly plugged in.
The films opens with a 20-minute flashback to 1984. We meet our main characters as children growing up in South Central Los Angeles. The immediate atmosphere is bleak and disturbing from the dialogue and background alone. The children are only 10 or 11 years old, yet they find themselves looking at dead bodies, fighting with each other, and talking and acting like Mafia hitmen. It's a shame they would be so apathetic at such young ages, although the importance of their friendship is inspiring.
Flashforward seven years to the present as the main characters are now seniors in high school but each have different plans for after graduation. Tre Styles (Gooding Jr.), the film's main character, plans to go to college and be someone. His father, Mr. Furious Styles (Fishburne), raised him well. He taught Tre morals and values, how to be a winner in life, to respect his fellow man and woman, and to stay off drugs and out of trouble.
Too bad some of that advice didn't rub off on Doughboy Baker (Ice Cube), Tre's friend who has been in and out of jail since he was a kid. He doesn't do much in film other than sit on the porch of his house with his friends, cuss, and drink 40 ounces of beer. His half-brother Ricky (Chestnut) doesn't have the bad attitude Doughboy has. He admires Tre, but his born-out-of-wedlock son proves he isn't always responsible.
Most of the events in the film do not create nor follow a plot other than Tre, Doughboy, and Ricky's efforts to get by and survive. Although they talk like hoodlums, none of them actually belong to an organized gang. They simply stay close to their extensive crew for support and protection. The "hanging out" atmosphere makes for good camaraderie and interesting dialogue. Their diction is vulgar, but it's realistic and often leads to philosophical discussions such as the existence of God, why they have to use the words "bitch" and "nigga," and what their purpose in life is.
Surprisingly, the atmosphere is not as pessimistic as you'd think it would be. Fishburne's character allows Singleton to make some important points about the people and society in the film. One such incident has Mr. Styles telling Tre and Ricky about how "The man" is trying to exterminate blacks by using the ghetto as a voluntary prison. This scene takes place in the dangerous section of Compton. As Styles preaches, hoodlums, kids, and an old man gather and listen. Although I doubt this would happen in reality, it is uplifting at the time to think violent, ignorant gangsters would even listen at all.
Styles' speech symbolizes the entire film because when he is finished, everyone has an opinion but they eventually go back to what they were doing. The same thing happens when you see the film - you know something should be done because no one deserves to live like this, but what can you do?
The last act pretty much follows the film's logical conclusion. What makes it sad is not the fact it's a case of classic irony and vengeance, but because it involves a tragedy with characters we've just started to get to know and sympathize with.
It's hard to think of "Boyz N The Hood" as a movie, but more like a collection of images. In fact, this is probably what Singleton intends the film to be. Still, those images are unlike anything I've ever seen before and they made me think, thus the film is a success.
Please visit Chad'z Movie Page @ http://members.aol.com/ChadPolenz - over 150 new and old films reviewed in depth, not just blind ratings and quick capsules. Also, check out The FIRST Shay Astar Web Page @ http://members.aol.com/ChadPolenz/ShayAstar.html
(C) 1997 Chad Polenz e-mail: ChadPolenz@aol.com
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