132 of 1001 Movies: Boyz N the Hood (1991)

Somehow this movie treads the thin line between keeping the story on the light and dark side throughout this movie is what compelled me. John Singleton could have easily just let this movie get really dark. There are plenty of times it did feel dark, but somehow the hope that these characters hold on to, and their depiction of still being a child at the beginning, though aware of the crimes around them, keeps this movie with a little light in it.

A group of kids are grouping up in the projects of Los Angles. Tre moves in with his dad, and takes up with the group. While his friends might be a little rougher his dad does the best he can to raise him to be a man that does right by himself, and others. He tries to prepare him for manhood the best he can, so he doesn't fall into the world of the ghetto. Years later, they've all grown up to be teens, and Tre still feels the same loyalty to them he did as a child. As the group makes their final journey to adulthood we Doughboy, Ricky, and the rest along with Tre face some of the biggest obstacles they will have to getting out of the projects.


Never having saw either Ice Cube or Cuba Gooding Jr. in a movie I was unsure what to expect. Because of the cast of actors they got though, it is what makes this movie pop. Ice Cube is probably one of the stand outs though as Darren a.k.a. Doughboy. He somehow treads that line of being a character you would dislike if you met in person, but comes off likable on screen. He seems real despite the very obvious imperfections he portrays.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is the lead character, Tre. I think Gooding looked the least like the child actor he portrayed, but he brings diversity to his character. He doesn't do anything that would make you dislike him, but he portrays a real teenage boy well. He has standards and he is trying to achieve them, but the temptations of being a teen do get to him.  Another stand out performance is fro Laurence Fishburne. He's Furious Styles in the movie, the dad of Tre, and he becomes the character you care about most for some reason. This is also one of the better movies I've seen at portraying a father and son relationship.

The movie does have to grow into itself though. At the beginning there is definitely a childhood vibe to it, and you can't imagine how they will merge the world they are growing up in with the perception they have as children. The kids are already using adult language, and know way too soon about the details of what is happening around them, and this sets up the rest of the movie well to come. It also establishes them as characters as well. You genuinely care about the lives of these characters even if they don't always seem like the friendliest of people.

Boyz N the Hood is an early 90's classic that explores not only what it is to live in this culture, but also the bond between families and friends. Not only that, but it explores a circle of violence that sadly even by the end of this movie doesn't seem to have any hope of ending. What makes it more positive than other movies in this genre though is that it does give hope.

Rating 8 of 10.