Plot: What’s it about?
Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) was sent to live with his father Furious (Laurence Fishburne) as a child, thanks to his continual behavioral problems. At his father’s residence, Tre is surrounded by other troubled youths and continues to be troublesome. But Furious is determined to keep his son on the right path, no matter what it takes. He has seen what the ghetto can do to even the brightest residents, so he tries to set a good example for his own child to follow. Tre has made his father proud for the most part, as he has matured a lot and keeps himself out of trouble most of the time. This is a testament to his personal growth, as he has been surrounded by violence, drugs, and sex his entire life, but has managed to stay on the right side of those elements. His childhood friend Doughboy (Ice Cube) has just been released from prison, which results in a neighborhood bash and a reunion of sorts for all the locals. Doughboy’s time behind bars hasn’t made him a better person, as he is satisfied with a life of dealing drugs and never leaving his neighborhood. His brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut) has visions of the future however, as he is close to getting an athletic scholarship and moving on. Tre also eyes a brighter future, as he pursues his interests and even seeks out a potential romance. But anything can change in an instant in this neighborhood, so can these three friends survive and see their dreams fulfilled?
One of the first, and still one of the best films about life in South Central, Boyz N The Hood stands as a substantial production. I still think Menace II Society is a superior picture in most respects, but this movie offers more in terms of a human side. We can connect with some of these characters, even if we’re far removed from their surroundings and circumstances. After all, we all face problems like drugs, violence, and the unknown future. This is not one of those gangsta flicks that flood shelves these days, the kind that glorify the thug lifestyle of drugs, violence, and sex. Instead, it is a look inside the lives of people and how they handle life’s challenges. Some make the right choices and some make the wrong ones, but the characters are not over simplified as good or bad, which makes the experience more realistic. We all have flaws in our character, so a movie that presents people as flawed makes for a much more effective presentation. So we see the good in even the worst of the people here, as well as the bad side of the very best, which ensures that there is a solid connection with the audience. There is a lot of bad language, violence, and drug content, but there has to be with this material, so no reason to be overly offended. This new Special Edition from Columbia is quite a package, with some great new supplements, so even if you own the previous version, Boyz N The Hood: Special Edition is more than recommended.
This wasn’t his first role in a feature film, but it did offer Cuba Gooding, Jr. his first chance at a lead role. I know that Boyz N The Hood has several lead roles, but Gooding’s character is at the heart of the material, so I consider him to be the true lead. We see a lot of the events through his eyes, as he reacts to what happens, so do we. In this raw, tough role, Gooding shines and proves that talent can often be important than experience. His lack of stardom and experience could have been a plus here in fact, as we could accept him as a normal young man. And that connection is crucial in Boyz N The Hood, as without it, we would drift back too far from the material. But we can relate to Gooding’s character and by turn, we can connect to the material, even if, like I said before, we’re far removed from his kind of situation. His potential was well showcased in this movie and of course, he would go on to play in numerous acclaimed roles. He would even take home an Oscar at one point, which isn’t a surprise, based on his work here. Other films with Gooding, Jr. include Jerry Maguire, Men of Honor, Boat Trip, Snow Dogs, and Pearl Harbor. The cast also includes Ice Cube (Anaconda, Next Friday), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix Reloaded, The Color Purple), and Nia Long (Boiler Room, Big Momma’s House).
Video: How does it look?
Boyz N The Hood is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full frame version also included on this disc. This seems to be the same visual transfer as the previous edition, but that isn’t all bad news. The print is quite clean, with only light grain and some infrequent nicks to mention, so the elements have held up well. The colors are natural and bright, while flesh tones look normal at all times also. I was pleased with the contrast here too, as black levels have a stark, crisp texture that looks excellent. On the bad side, a number of scenes do have a flat, soft visual presence and that lessens the impact somewhat. But this movie is more about substance than style, so it never proves to be a serious detraction. In the end, this is a fine looking presentation of this movie and I see no reason why fans shouldn’t be satisfied.
Audio: How does it sound?
This movie is driven by dialogue for the most part, so the included 2.0 surround option is sufficient. That’s not to say this is an excellent audio mix, but it does have some nice presence and should please viewers. The main surround use comes from the music, but with a movie like this that has drive-bys, violent encounters, and a rap soundtrack, that means plenty of atmosphere. Aside from that, this is a basic, but effective track with clean vocals and well presented sound effects. I am unsure why a new Dolby Digital 5.1 option was created for this release, but I do think such a remix could open up the audio in places. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A new commentary track with director John Singleton starts us off, in which he goes over all kinds of production information. He covers a lot of technical ground in this session, but also recalls stories from the production. In other words, this is an informative track that is never dull for a second, as Singleton keeps it brisk and candid. Next up is Friendly Fire: The Making of an Urban Legend, a forty-five minute retrospective documentary on the film’s production. This is a superb piece, one loaded with honest and candid interviews. The cast and crew recall their memories, including some of the major players and Singleton, but also reporters, casting agents, and other folks involved in this movie. This disc also includes a selection of talent files, a pair of deleted scenes, two music videos, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
