Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

Often found on a list of the Best Black Movies, and always missed on the list of Best Coming of Age Movies, I finally made myself sit down to watch Boyz n the Hood as my tribute to Black History Month.

At ten years old, Tre Styles is sent to live with his father Furious (Laurence Fishburne) in Crenshaw, South Central Los Angles, where his mother hopes he can learn and grow to be a good man.  Not long after his arrival, Tre sees two of his friends; Doughboy and Chris, marched out by the police in cuffs for shoplifting, whilst Doughboy’s younger brother Ricky looks on.

Seven years later at a Welcome Home party for Doughboy (Ice Cube), we see Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr) has grown up to be a respectable teenager, and he is still close with Ricky (Morris Chestnut) who has his own son.

As the boys prepare for life after Crenshaw with hopes of college and safety, they can’t guarantee they’ll make it there without some scars from the life they’re hoping to leave behind.

First a shout out to the OG black actors and actresses. I was incredibly surprised to see so many familiar faces in this movie; Angela Basset, Nia Long, Regina King, Tyra Ferrell and of course the leads; Morris Chestnut, Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr and Ice Cube. It’s inspiring to see how far back they all go and of course know how far they all go.

I did find it funny that Cuba Gooding Jr was supposed to be Laurence Fishburne’s son with a seventeen year age difference. Funnier still when I found out they’re only seven years apart in real life.

The only reason I haven’t watched this movie yet is because I knew the story would make me sad and the characters situations would make me angry. I was completely right on both those fronts but I’m glad I watched it.

I guess I haven’t said as much yet – but I really enjoyed the movie. It was a slow burning inevitability that showed the transition and the effects between similar people with situational differences, i.e; How they are raised, their environment, who they associate with.

There were also so many truths dropped in about young Black American’s living in low income areas, and the never ending cycle of guns, prison and death. The movie was about more than the drama and entertainment that unfolded, it was about educating and informing its viewers.

I knew exactly how the movie would end from the beginning – not from reading about it or anyone telling me – just from knowing how movies work. And as unfair as things were, it stayed true to the reality of the life in the area it was showcasing.

Boyz n the Hood had Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, which made John Singleton (the writer and director) the youngest ever person, as well as the first African-American to be nominated for the Best Director category.