Boyz N the Hood

John Singleton, USA, 1991, 107 minutes

South Central LA - sparkpoint of the recent Rodney King riots and home to gang activities approaching the level of urban war. Boyz N the Hood is a tale of young men growing up, which would be a "not another" prospect were it not set in these dangerous streets.

The centrepiece follows Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr) placed in the care of his father Furious (Convincingly played by Larry Fishburne). Also chronicled are Tre's neighbors and friends, brothers Ricky and Doughboy. Tre's firm but fair upbringing is in contrast to the favouritism and ineffectual squawking of his friends' mother. Furious is a classic ideal father: never easy on his son' but always finding time to spend with him.

Heart-warming paternal stories are only half this film, though, for the district never feels safe under the scrutiny of searchlights and patrolling helicopters. The night is punctuated by sudden stutters of gunfire and sawn-off shotguns glide out from the windows of passing cars with deadly elegance. Doughboy, gun thrust into crotch, flirts with the gangsta life in a commendable performance by rapper Cube (who perhaps comes over so well because he is acting the part he spends life spitting words about).

Directed by 23-year-old Jogn Singleton, his first complete work, the film is to be commended on both its unbiased portrayal of whites and its success in making such an unbelievable, yet true, situation real in the eyes of a middle-class white audience half a world away. It is truly a shame that its pacifist message was given little chance in the storm of cinema shootings which greeted its initial release.

Review by Gavin Inglis
Taken from EUFS Programme 1992-93