The review:
Rick Famuyiwa’s The Wood goes in a different direction that a slew of 90s “hood” movies, instead showing the close relationship of three friends in two different time periods.* This movie has a view of women that is very much of its time** and it excels in its portrayal of living in the hood, but being the guys who are not in gangs. It’s funny, and sweet and has some really great scenes.***
The verdict: Good
Cost: Free!
Where watched: 5th Avenue Cinema (alumni get in free, as do students!)
Consider also watching:
- Love & Basketball (The main charcters are both in the Wood!)
- Love Jones
- Waiting to Exhale
Further sentences:
*The movie is double cast with Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones and Taye Diggs playing the older friends, while Sean Nelson, Duane Finley and Trent Cameron play their junior high and high school counterparts.
**It wasn’t going to win any feminism award in 1999 and most of the boy/girl interaction has not aged well.
***I think having a tough gang member named Stacey is one of the jokes and De’aundre Bonds was great in that role.
Questions:
- What’s your approach to movies with humor/plots that don’t work with today’s understanding?
- What are you favorite friendship movies?
Favorite IMDB trivia item:
While writing his screenplay, Rick Famuyiwa worked full time at the Beverly Hills branch of Niketown.
