Boyz 'N The Hood on DVD (1991)

Average rating: 73%

from 2,587 members

6 Critics reviews
59 Members reviews

Starring:	Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, Laurence Fishburne
Director:	John Singleton
Studio:	COLUMBIA TRI-STAR HOME VIDEO
Run time:	107 mins
Certificate:
User collections:	Kids & Guns, my top 20, Judas' British, American and Asian Thug Most Wanted, My List, 10 best films ever!, Films watched more times than should be allowed
Genres:	Action/Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Languages:	English
Dubbed:	French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles:	Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish
Released:	19/07/2004

Brief synopsis of Boyz 'N The Hood

John Singleton emerged from USC film school with his passionate script already written, and at age 23 he made the film that spawned a score of ghetto dramas. From the opening shot--a sign reading "Stop"--to the final message of "Increase the Peace," Singleton's desire to galvanize his audience is clear. The violence destroying South Central Los Angeles is seen through the eyes of Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.), whose intelligence and common sense would be wasted in the 'hood if not for his father, Furious (Laurence Fishburne), who imparts discipline and responsibility to his son. Tre's friends aren't so lucky, though, especially Doughboy (Ice Cube), who has been in and out of institutions since childhood and now sits on his porch with a forty in his hand and a pistol in his waistband. Singleton is ambitious enough to tackle a host of problems, from African American business practices to the bias of the SAT test, but the real power of the film lies in the performances of its principals. Cuba Gooding, in his first role, doesn't let Tre come off like a goody two-shoes, while Ice Cube gives a tragic nobility to a young man who knows he's doomed.

All DVDs in this series

Boyz 'N The Hood - Feature
Boyz 'N The Hood - Bonus Features

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Critics Reviews

Radio Times

Alongside Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, this was the most astonishing and hard-hitting directorial debut of the 1990s. John Singleton was a mere 23 years old when he wrote and directed this powerhouse picture about growing up black in inner-city America. Presenting a rougher and readier view than Spike Lee on the same subject, Singleton largely avoids sermonising in this brutally candid portrait of the realities of LA street life. Cuba Gooding Jr, Morris Chestnut and Ice Cube give impressive performances as the friends for whom the future looks uncertain (if not downright unlikely), while Larry (now Laurence) Fishburne is outstanding as Gooding Jr's disciplinarian father. Credible roles for women are usually at a premium in African-American cinema, but the boys' mothers are beautifully observed and sensitively played by Angela Bassett and Tyra Ferrell. Singleton deservedly received Oscar nominations for both his direction and screenplay.

Los Angeles Times

"...Strong and striking....Singleton and his actors slowly involve us in an almost sensual melange of moods, images and situations that take us inside the ghetto in a way mainstream films almost never do....A debut to remember..."

USA Today

"...BOYZ N THE HOOD juggles a half-dozen characters with remarkable ease, never losing sight of their destination....Singleton has made the punchiest feature debut in recent memory..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Powerful stuff

JediSi JediSi , 27/08/2007

Boyz 'N the hood is a thoroughly fascinating and deeper than you think look at life in Los Angeles around the early 1980s to early 1990s; what the film actually does is look at a life in one of these Los Angeles 'ghettos' and uses it as the backdrop for a wonderful series of filmic events revolving around growing up, relations with family and friends, racism and the constant threat of violence.

The film has a certain aged charm about it; and with actors you'd easily recognise today looking very different in 1991, this adds to the feeling. These actors/celebrities are: Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Ice Cube. I was surprised at how everything in this film just managed to pool together and just work. The film doesn't really adopt a neo-realistic approach but what it does do is tie together an unpredictable and often heart-warming script, great character development and some genuinely entertaining situations that don't let your eyes off the screen.

In terms of visuals, there are constant threats and reminders that danger, literally, lurks around every corner. Tré attempts to take some food from one house and walk it about a hundred yards back to his own for his father but along the way is greeted by a car containing a few 'gang bangers' possessing a sawn off shotgun that is consequently aimed at him. He also manages to save a child that had escaped from its mother from getting run down in the road.

By the end of the movie you feel that if only friends would listen to one another more often and say the things that really matter in their relationships then when it's time to say goodbye you know how you feel about one another.

A must see film if you have ever had a best friend who is no longer around. It will definitely make you want to repair all of those friendships that have fallen by the wayside before it's too late.

36 out of 49 people found this review helpful

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A little Gem!

A customer from Manchester, UK , 24/07/2006

This film is a bit dated now, but back in 1991 Singleton's film was, and still is, gritty, edgy, real and most importantly intelligent. In those days you rarely saw Black Actors in decent roles (just Eddie Murphy & Whoopi Goldberg I think!) This film has has all the creme de la creme Black Actors looking cute in their early 90s American clothes. For example Cuba Gooding Jr & Laurence fishburne ( both personal favourites) also Angela Bassett, Nia long & Ice Cube all looking fresh. It does take 15 mins or so to get use to that early 90s feel, but after that, the storyline takes over and you are truly mesmerised by the whole film, as the story works on lots of different levels. It's scary that the overall message in the film still holds true today, 16 years later. Look if you haven't seen it, rent it! If you have, rent it again , just for the glory of that bitter sweet after taste it leaves in your mouth. Enjoy!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

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