June 28, 2021
'Boyz n the Hood'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan, and Logan Murdock revisit the 1991 classic 'Boyz n the Hood' starring Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Ice Cube. Directed by John Singleton.
Cast
Laurence Fishburne as Furious Styles
Cuba Gooding Jr. as Tre Styles
Ice Cube as Doughboy
Morris Chestnut as Ricky Baker
Angela Bassett as Reva Styles
Nia Long as Brandi
Regina King as Shalika
Tyra Ferrell as Brenda Baker
Directed by: John Singleton
Written by: John Singleton
Notes
- $6 million budget, made $69 million at the box office. Released in only 811 theaters.
- John Singleton was 24 years old – youngest director ever nominated for an Oscar, and first Black director nominated for Best Director.
- Columbia offered $100K for the script but said Singleton couldn't direct. He refused and held out until they let him direct.
- A female Black executive at Columbia championed the film and was promoted afterward.
- Singleton saw Colors (1988) and was upset it told a South Central story from the cops' perspective, motivating him to make this film.
- Original working title was 'Summer of 84.'
- During the Crenshaw/SAT scene, the set received a shooting threat. Singleton put trucks behind cameras and fired real gunshots without warning the cast – their organic panic reactions were used in one take.
- The burger stand revenge scene had to be relocated from Bloods territory after a threat against Ice Cube. They moved to Eta Burger at Crenshaw and Stocker.
- Laurence Fishburne (credited as 'Larry Fishburne') was only 29 during filming – just 7 years older than Cuba Gooding Jr.
- Fishburne became the on-set acting coach, teaching actors to improvise based on his experience with Coppola films.
- Paid $50K to Eazy-E for the rights to use the title 'Boyz n the Hood.'
- Will Smith was offered the role of Tre but chose Fresh Prince of Bel-Air instead.
- The studio gave Singleton two notes: add a fistfight between Doughboy and Ricky (he did it, improving the film), and make the father-son reconciliation more explicit (he refused).
- Singleton had a cameo as a mailman – an Alfred Hitchcock homage.
- Fishburne was arguably snubbed for an Oscar – Jack Palance won Best Supporting Actor that year for 'City Slickers'.
- Three cast members died in unusual circumstances after the film.
- Ice Cube owns the gold Chevy Impala from the movie.
Categories
Roger Ebert's review
Quote from Rog's review:
“By the end of Boyz n the Hood, I realized I had seen not simply a brilliant directorial debut but an American film of enormous importance.”
Ebert cried in the theater.
Most re-watchable scene
- Sean: The BBQ scene – introduces ~15 characters in 5 minutes, introduces Nia Long, sets up all the relationships.
- Bill: The BBQ scene and the ending – Doughboy's final monologue and fading away.
- Van: Doughboy's revenge ride.
- Also discussed: Burglar breaking into Furious's house, 'You want to see a dead body?' (Stand by Me homage), the stone football scene, father-son fishing ('Any fool with a dick can make a baby'), Furious's gentrification speech, Ricky getting shot, Furious stopping Tre from revenge.
What aged the best?
- The young kids / going back in time scenes – the Stand by Me shadow, especially Doughboy fading away (direct River Phoenix homage).
- Helicopters used as almost a character throughout the film.
- Reagan/Bush poster with bullet holes.
- SATs being culturally biased – one of the first pop culture mentions of this issue.
- Angela Bassett – 'a 40-year run of her just being a smoke show.'
- Singleton's mailman cameo (Alfred Hitchcock homage).
- Pouring out a 40 – may have been invented or popularized by this movie.
- The father-son dynamic as the core of the story.
What aged the worst?
- Beepers.
- The 'Just Me and You' montage with Tre and his girlfriend – corniest part of the movie.
- The end credits text about Tre going to Morehouse – could have ended with Ice Cube fading away.
- Police brutality scenes – aged worse because it's still so relevant 30 years later.
- 'Larry Fishburne' as the credited name.
Casting what-ifs
- Will Smith was offered the role of Tre but chose Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The hosts think he could have been great, possibly even better as Ricky.
- Doughboy was specifically written for Ice Cube. The studio cast him without even knowing about N.W.A.
- Singleton originally wanted N.W.A members for the entourage roles, but they'd broken up.
Best "that guy"
- Bill: John Catherine (the USC recruiter) – 'been in a lot of stuff, I never knew his name.'
- Van: Vontae Sweet – was in both Menace II Society and 'Boyz n the Hood', 'an incredible 2-fer.'
- Sean: Jesse Lawrence Ferguson (the black cop).
Over-acting award
- The black cop – Van: 'Definitely the black cop.'
- The guy who says 'Hey little man, catch.'
Re-casting couch
- Morgan Freeman as the USC recruiter – Bill's suggestion, would have made the scene memorable for 30 years.
- Denzel Washington as Furious Styles – Van and Logan agreed this could work.
Apex Mountain
- John Singleton – yes, unfortunately his best movie.
- Ice Cube – debated, possibly this, possibly Friday. Was 'probably the single most provocative musician in America at this time.'
- Laurence Fishburne – no, it's The Matrix.
- Cuba Gooding Jr. – no, winning the Oscar for 'Jerry Maguire'.
- Angela Bassett – no, she's had a 40-year run.
- Nia Long – no, Best Man is her Apex.
- Detroit Tiger hats – popularized by this film.
- Pouring out a 40 – possibly created/popularized here.
Picking nits
- Ricky's death scene logistics – he separates from Tre, walks slowly doing a scratch card, runs in a straight line in an alley. 'The biggest flaw in the movie.'
- Young Ricky not being a convincing enough athlete – 'I didn't like his throwing motion and he dropped the pass.'
- Fishburne being only 7 years older than Cuba Gooding Jr. while playing his father.
- No Tecmo Bowl scene despite it being mentioned in dialogue.
- No football game scene showing Ricky actually playing.
(Probably) unanswerable questions
- Did this movie create 'Booyah'? Did Stu Scott get it from the movie?
- Did this movie create pouring out a 40?
- Does Ice Cube exist as an artist in Doughboy's world? (An Ice Cube song plays on the radio in a car scene.)
- Did Reggie Bush wear #5 at USC because Ricky wore #5?
- Is this movie cursed? Three cast members died in unusual circumstances.
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
- Logan: South Central Cinema hat.
- Sean: Doughboy's gold Chevy Impala.
- Bill: Young Ricky's cheap USC jersey, or the football.
Who won the movie?
John Singleton – unanimous. 'First Black director ever nominated for an Oscar and sets up a career.'