Jeri Jacquin
This week on Bluray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD is one of the most remarkable pieces of filmmaking by writer/director John Singleton and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment with BOYZ N THE HOOD.
It is 1991 Crenshaw in the ghetto of Los Angeles where young African American Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) is living with father Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne). Hanging out with best friend Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut), both of them avoid trouble in a troubling neighborhood.
Boyhood friends and Ricky's brother Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Dooky (Dedrick D. Gobert) seem to always be one step away from trouble. Tre occupies his time with studying and girlfriend Brandi (Nia Long). Living day to day, Furious instills in Tre the importance of school of course but also educating himself to the world he lives in and bettering it.
Wanting Tre to live with her, mother Reva (Angela Bassett) lets Furious know he's had his time in raising their son. Tre wants to make plans with Brandi about school and their lives after that. Ricky also is excited about his opportunities to play college football which brings about a bit of jealousy with brother Doughboy.
But, in Crenshaw, it all can become twisted in one single moment. A chain of events erupts so quickly that it seems nothing can slow down the crash that is about to happen to them all.
Gooding Jr. as Tre is a young man living in a city that can sway a young man either to the streets that can consume him or out to something meaningful. He has a powerful force in his father to guide him no matter how dangerous the road gets. Gooding Jr. gives his character such strength but also a vulnerability that tears at every fiber of emotion.
Fishburne as Furious is not a man to be trifled with and everyone in the neighborhood is aware of it. He wants the community of Crenshaw to grow by giving the people of that community hope when they feel there is none. Fishburne is such an awesome actor in so many ways and as Furious, I believe everything this character says because he is thoughtful in everything he says and how he says it. Bassett as Tre's mother Reva and ex-wife to Furious is a strong woman who wants more from and for her son. She is far removed from Crenshaw and sees a path out for Tre.
Chestnut as Ricky is a young man trying to throw a ball out of Crenshaw for his mother, girlfriend and baby. Sharing those dreams with Tre makes them somehow even more attainable. Ice Cube as Doughboy is rough and has no problem dishing out to the streets what it slings at him. He is the opposite of his brother believing that dreams are a fools paradise and feeling second fiddle for his mother's attention.
Long as Brandi is Tre's equal in study and keeping the streets out of her future. She wants something more for their lives and even when the reality of their surroundings tries to cut in - she pushes back. King as Shalika can not be missed on the screen as even in 1991 there was something amazing about this actress and it plays that way even today in her performances.
Other cast includes: Lexie Bigham as Mad Dog, Ceal as Sheryl, Keisha, Na'Blonka Durden as Trina, Susan Falcon as Mrs. Olaf, Tyra Ferrell as Mrs. Baker, Regi Green as Chris, Tammy Hanson as Rosa, Alysia Rogers as Shanice, Leonette Scott as Tisha, Vonte Sweet as Ric Rock and Regina King as Shalika.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.
All-New Special Features Include a Tribute to John Singleton, An Original Behind-The-Scenes Featurette and Selections from a 1991 Press Conference Singleton Held About the Film, as well as The Original Theatrical Trailer.
Bonus Features of the Bluray Include: Commentary with Writer/Director John Singleton, The Enduring Significance of BOYZ N the HOOD, Friendly Fire: Making of an Urban Legend, Deleted Scenes, Audition Videos Featuring Ice Cube, Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut and Tyra Ferrell, Compton's Most Wanted Music Video "Growin' Up in the Hood", and Tevin Campbell Music Video "Just Ask Me To".
John Singleton was the Academy Award nominee for Best Director in 1991 and also an Academy Award nominee for Best Writing for BOYZ N the HOOD. He was the youngest Best Director nominee in the history of the Academy Awards and the first African American nominated in the category.
BOYZ N the HOOD was and continues to be a stellar film that was a turbulent story to tell in 1991 but not so far as to not be continually true in 2020. The story was one that had never been told in the way Singleton managed to do but it broke ground for future films.
There is a deep duality in the way BOYZ N the HOOD was brought to the screen and I believe that is what has made the film then and remains powerful. There is also a duality in celebrating this remarkable feat of filmmaking in that theatre goers are glad the film was made but sad that it had to be made at all.
BOYZ N the HOOD remains brilliant and stellar with a cast that brings so much and we can thank John Singleton for his vision, direction and selection of those who brought his characters to life.
In the end - this isn't no fairy tale!
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