Themes: Inner City Blues, Street Gangs, Going Straight
Main Cast: Tyrin Turner, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vonte Sweet, Larenz Tate
Release Year: 1993
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This debut offering from twin brothers Albert and Allen Hughes was one of the most critically-acclaimed urban crime films to appear in the wake of John Singleton's influential Boyz N the Hood. Set in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, the film is narrated by 18-year-old Caine (Tyrin Turner), a drug dealer and car thief who lives with his religious grandparents. After graduating from high school, Caine shows no ambition beyond hanging out with his friends, so his grandparents kick him out. Among his other troubles are his best friend O-Dog (Larenz Tate), a vicious thug hunted by the police, and the friends and family of the girl Caine got pregnant and then turned his back on. Perhaps the lone positive influence in his sphere is Ronnie (Jada Pinkett), a single parent struggling to raise her young son without the boy falling prey to the 'hood mentality. When their friendship becomes a love affair, Ronnie tries desperately to convince Caine to move with her to Atlanta; soon afterward, he is shot and nearly dies. After recovering, he accepts Ronnie's offer, but tragedy strikes as they pack their van in preparation to leave. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Ryan Williams - Stacy; Samuel L. Jackson - Tat Lawson; Charles S. Dutton - Mr. Butler; Glenn Plummer - Pernell; Bill Duke - Detective; Khandi Alexander - Karen Lawson; Christopher M. Brown - Lloyd; Marilyn Coleman - Grandmama; Julian Roy Doster - Anthony; Robert Gonzales - Car Dealer; Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez - Vato 2; Anthony Johnson - Tony; Arnold Johnson - Grandpapa; James Pickens, Jr. - Man; Clifton Powell - Chauncey; Tony Valentino - Vato3; Yo-Yo - Girl at Party; Eugene Lee - Man 1; Brandon Hammond - Five year old Caine; Reginald Ballard - Clyde; Nancy Cheryl Davis - Teacher; Rolando Molina - Vato 1; Toshi Toda - Grocery Store Man; Chad Dowdell - White Guy in Street (uncredited); Mike Kelly - Officer Gadd; Saafir
Credit
Albert Hughes - Co-producer, Allen Hughes - Co-producer, Tyger Williams - Co-producer, Sylvia Vega-Vasquez - Costume Designer, Albert Hughes - Director, Allen Hughes - Director, Christopher Koefoed - Editor, Kevin Moreton - Executive Producer, QDIII - Composer (Music Score), Bonnie Greenberg - Musical Direction/Supervision, Jill Meyers - Musical Direction/Supervision, Penny Barrett - Production Designer, Lisa Rinzler - Cinematographer, Michael Bennett - Producer, Darin Scott - Producer, Frank Ceglia - Special Effects, Albert Hughes - Screenwriter, Allen Hughes - Screenwriter, Tyger Williams - Screenwriter
