Boyz n the Hood
Composite Score: 83.13
Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Kenneth A. Brown, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, Tyra Ferrell, Regina King, and Nia Long
Director: John Singleton
Writer: John Singleton
Genres: Crime, Drama
MPAA Rating: R for language, violence, and sensuality
Box Office: $57.53 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Boyz n the Hood is writer-director John Singleton’s film about three young men growing up in the Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles. The film features a star-studded cast of performers in its story about poverty, violence, and relationships in the black community. John Singleton received Academy Award nominations for the film’s writing and for directing it, making him the youngest nominee and first African American to receive the nomination for Best Director. The film is one of several films from black directors about the impoverished black communities in the U.S. to come out of the late 80s and early 90s and is notable for its focus on the agency of black Americans in the perpetuation of and potential solution to the issues plaguing their communities.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Boyz n the Hood was released at a time when little-to-no progress had been made on civil rights issues for minorities (and particularly black people) in the U.S. since the end of the 1960s and contains content that reflects that reality. The film focuses its message on ending “black-on-black” violence in poor communities and encourages empowerment of the black community through property ownership and keeping fathers in homes. While these remain important truths, it can be easy for non-black Americans watching the film to ignore much of the nuance and other discussions that the film touches on and come away from it with a rather laissez-faire attitude about their own role in the systemic issues present at the heart of everything in the film. This is not to say that mentions of over-policing, gentrification, corrupt government practices, and flawed education systems don’t exist in the film – they do – it is just that they take a back seat to the issues that the black community has power over.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Though its messaging tends to focus on the efficacy of black Americans, there are truths present in Boyz in the Hood for any audience. Firstly, the film doesn’t shy away from pointing out the culpability of Reagan’s government and on for many of the issues facing the black community in America. The film starts out in a classroom full of young black students learning about the Pilgrims (as if it were part of their own heritage) from a white teacher – a fairly open social commentary on the state of public schools in the U.S. post-1970s. Further on, the film focuses on the theme of violence begetting violence – something as true around the world as it was on the streets of Crenshaw. That more universal truth, encouraging people to end the cycle of violence, remains the film’s most positive encouragement to all audiences.
I also agree with the Academy on the writing and direction of Boyz n the Hood – both are excellent. The cast play their parts perfectly, fitting into the roles they are asked to play. John Singleton achieves a near perfect balance by sprinkling the humor of life in amidst the dramatic scenarios of his film. Everyone gets a chance to be both funny and dramatic, and each with their own brand of both. Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett play the contrasting parents to Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Trey, and their family dynamic, while not always relatable, remains heartwarming and familiar throughout. Ice Cube delivers his best (and only?) dramatic performance as Trey’s friend Doughboy, fresh out of prison and playing a character with personality close to that of the rapper himself, allowing the character to shine as one of the film’s high points. Even Morris Chestnut gives a more nuanced and raw performance than those you might otherwise be familiar with (Girls Trip or The Best Man Holiday). Altogether, the performances bring life and authenticity to Singleton’s direction and script, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who watches it.
Boyz n the Hood is not just a pioneering film for its awards recognition, it also contains universal truths for any audience member and is full of authenticity to keep you engaged and focused on the issues at hand even after the film ends – a triumph worthy of a place among the Greatest Films of All Time. Though it sometimes feels like it has left out its non-black audience members, the film finds a way to touch everyone through its drama and its humor, leaving viewers hopefully more informed and more motivated to help than before the film started. It is currently available to stream via a Starz subscription or to rent on most other streaming services.
