Review of Boyz n the Hood (1991) by Gregory G — 28 Dec 2010

Impressive feature debut from 23-year-old writer-director John Singleton about black youth growing up in South Central Los Angeles amid the continuous threat of gang violence. Cuba Gooding Jr. is Tre, a college bound student, sent by his mother (Angela Bassett) to live with his father (Laurence Fishburne) to learn discipline.

In his new neighborhood Tre befriends two brothers, one who goes by Doughboy (Ice Cube), a troublemaker with no future, and Ricky (Morris Chestnut), a star football player. Singleton has an ear for the slang and a feel for the way the youth interact about feeling trapped by the violence and lack of opportunity.

There are scenes with real emotional power. The film is presented as social protest but it bogs down when Singleton lapses into preaching. Gang culture is shown to be a fact of life as there is a lack of insight into why so many black youth are drawn into the lifestyle.

Singleton's style is straightforward but effective. Fishburne and Bassett are quietly commanding as Tre's parents. Ice Cube is very good in his first dramatic role. With Nia Long, Tyra Ferrell, Whitman Mayo.

Selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.