100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 113: Boyz n the Hood

Director: John Singleton
Genre: Drama Crime
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 1991
Starring: Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Regina King

Description: Follows the lives of three young males (Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut) living in the Crenshaw ghetto of Los Angeles, dissecting questions of race, relationships, violence and future prospects.

Review: “Boyz n the Hood” is John Singleton’s Hollywood break. He shows us the life in black ghetto’s. Because of this sad situation in the backstreets, African Americans have no prospects whatsoever. Violence and crime is the only way to get money and respect for many young kids.
The film starts with a group of friends that grow up to be young adults. For under privileged kids it isn’t easy to get a good education or even a job.
Young Tre manages to escape the criminal life, due to his idealistic dad. For his friends Doughboy and Ricky it’s a little harder. Doughboy has a gang and has been in and out of jail a couple of times. His brother Ricky is a young father and is trying to get a scholarship for a good college. In “Boyz n the Hood” we see the lives of these three boys.
The acting is pure, war and sincere. Every character is portrayed in a very convincing way. The film has become a heart breaking portrait of the other side of society. Besides the violent scenes in the film, it really tries to tell us something. It has a very strong message.
“Boyz n the Hood” is an impressive film.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 54: 22 Jump Street

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime

Runtime: 111 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Dave Franco, Nick Offerman, Peter Stormare, Rob Riggle, Wyatt Russell, Jillian Bell, Amber Stevens, Dax Flame, Ashlyn McEvers, Jimmy Tatro, David Stephen Mitchell, Johnny Pemberton, Joe Chrest, Kate Adair, Libby Blanton, Amber Carollo

Description: After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college.

Review: In 2012 we got the movie version “21 Jump Street”, a TV show which starred Johnny Depp. The movie, starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum and a huge amount of jokes, was a success. So when a movie is successful, there will off course be a sequel.

This time Schmidt and Jenko have to go undercover again. Not at a high school, but college. They have to infiltrate the dealers and find the supplier. Technically the same story, but then set at college. But the makers know that and mock it. That’s why “22 Jump Street” is better than I initially thought, because of the self-mockery.

Schmidt and Jenko are two completely different guys. Schmidt is smart and thinks things through, Jenko has a physical strength and is more impulsive. Those differences are also a central theme in the movie. This often gives us some clichés and stereotypes.

What is left is a movie that has much of the same, but still was surprisingly funny. Especially the way the movie mocks itself (stay for the end credits) and the great chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, make this a fun night at the movies.

Rating: 3/ 5