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.