Why bring up this seemingly unrelated part of my life when discussing Boyz N The Hood? Even though my life was the polar opposite of life depicted in John Singleton's film, I was still able to make a connection with the characters. For me, this is a sure sign of a good movie, but also goes to show that, regardless of our different backgrounds, we're all the same.
Due to his ongoing behavior problems, Tre (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) is sent to live with his father, "Furious" (Laurence Fishburne) in South Central Los Angeles. The neighborhood isn't the best place to send a youth with behavior issues. In fact, the problem is only exacerbated when Tre meets brothers Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky (Morris Chestnut). Despite the odds, Furious is determined to make sure he raises Tre right.
For the most part, Tre does his father proud. He's found a job at the mall and is saving up to go to college. His friend Ricky is also headed in the right direction thanks to the possibility of a football scholarship. The fly in the ointment is Doughboy, who returns to the neighborhood after a stint in prison. Years in and out of prison have hardened Doughboy, threatening to disrupt both Tre and Ricky's lives, as well as their friendship.
In my experience, Boyz N The Hood is sometimes thought of as a live action version of GTA: San Andreas. I even seem to remember some articles listing the film as a great primer for the game. Although the depictions of life in South Central Los Angeles are what usually come to mind when discussing Boyz N The Hood, those comparisons are missing the point. Contrary to outward appearances, it is about more than drive-bys and crack houses. While those issues are a prominent threat, it is the daily issues that make the characters so relatable. Tre's biggest concern is losing his virginity. Ricky is scared and facing an uncertain future at college. Doughboy is hopeless; he's lost faith in everything and sees no point to changing. These are all things we can relate to and sympathize with, bringing the other stuff - the violence and drugs the film is usually remembered for - into a better context.
I tend to look at Boyz N The Hood in the same light as The Godfather. Neither film is about solving problems through violence or lashing out at society. Instead, both warn against those actions. With The Godfather, the message is violence only makes things worse. Boyz N The Hood offers a similar message. No matter how hopeless our situation may be, it is up to us to keep a glimmer of hope alive and endure.
The film's message is best represented by Furious. Boyz N The Hood features a top notch cast, though Laurence Fishburne towers above the rest of the performances. He's the best example of not letting a situation determine your fate, and learning to persist in the face of negative circumstances. A lot of credit goes to John Singleton as well. This is easily one of his best movies, and something every film student, or film buff, should see. Singleton goes right for the reality of the situation. Situations are not idealized, nor are they overblown. Instead, Singleton lets things play out naturally. Even the most hopeful of moments are squashed, forcing characters to react and reminding viewers of the message to just endure.
I really enjoyed Singleton's commentary track. I always had my own ideas about the film, and was interested to hear Singleton's thoughts. He goes into great depth about working with the actors, as well as the script's influences and themes. It is clear Singleton knows what he's talking about, so this is a must-watch feature. Some of Singleton's stories also weave through "Friendly Fire," a "Making of..." featurette.
The best extra on the disc is "The Enduring Legacy of Boyz N The Hood," a retrospective on the film's legacy. Singleton and most of the cast look back at many of the film's themes.
For a 20-year-old movie, the Blu-ray transfer looks great. Colors have a certain pop to them; especially skin tones, which usually seem to suffer when movies are hastily transferred to Blu-ray. I was also impressed by the contrast. Darker images still look dark, but you can still pick out details.
The extras are rounded out by a collection of deleted scenes as well as audition videos from Ice Cube, Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut and Tyra Ferrell. These are joined by two music videos, which are significant for reminding me of Tevin Campbell.
Boyz N The Hood is one of those films I think everyone needs to at least see, if not add to their collection.
