John-Singleton Movie Reviews
Some of the most classic moments from this landmark series
She did it again!!!
The two-part story of Lucy and John Wayne's footprints...
All "I Love Lucy" episodes celebrate 50th Anniversary.
Lucy in Hollywood with Harpo and the Duke
John Singleton, at the age of 23, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his debut film, Boyz N the Hood. The film stars Laurence Fishburne, Angela Basset, Ice Cube, and Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. in his first starring role in a feature film. Gooding plays Tre Styles, a teenager growing up in South Central Los Angeles. His father, Furious (Fishburne), is divorced and living away from Tre and his mother (Basset), but he's still involved in Tre's upbringing, teaching him the values of right and wrong and responsibility. Meanwhile, Tre's childhood buddies Ricky (Morris Chestnut) and Doughboy (Ice Cube) are living their lives in terms of the epidemic of violence and poverty that has plagued their neighborhood. Ricky, a talented football player, strives to get a full athletic scholarship to college. If only his SAT scores were higher. Doughboy lives a life full of crime but still remains true to his friends. The obstacles that these three young men come across result in dire consequences, devastatingly avoidable and inevitable at the same time. Boyz N the Hood is a landmark film beyond its commercial success, presenting a portrait of South Central in the late '80s and early '90s as painted by Singleton (who grew up in that neighborhood), achieving accuracy and dramatic resonance in this story of at-risk youth. --Shannon Gee
Poetic Justice
Director John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood, Rosewood) made an earnest effort in this, his second, film to say a great deal that is true and relevant about living and loving in a violent, difficult time in American history. Janet Jackson plays a beautician and poet who withdraws into herself after her boyfriend is murdered by gangsters. The late Tupac Shakur plays a postman who tries to get through to her, and the two travel on a course through urban America, connecting with family and community. Singleton has so much on his mind that the film comes out a terrible muddle, but there is a certain integrity peeking through the fog. Shakur makes a startlingly good impression in his film debut, and Jackson strips away her star veneer to play something like a real person--and entirely succeeds. Maya Angelou wrote the poems that pass as those penned by Jackson's character, and she also appears in the film. --Tom Keogh
Higher Learning
This ambitious 1995 film by John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood) doesn't quite succeed at painting the illuminating, collective portrait of college life in the '90s that the director seeks. But Singleton does do a fine job of defining some conflicting impulses for young people on the cusp of adulthood, particularly the desire to broaden horizons on the one hand and circle the wagons with like-minded allies on the other. Students in the film's Columbus University divide themselves along lines of race, sexual preferences, ideology, and, most dangerously, levels of paranoia. Among the fine cast is Michael Rapaport, who portrays a loner drawn to a local community of neo-Nazis. His resultant problems with the school's African-Americans takes over the story at the expense of other, parallel dramas, but Singleton's insights into race hatred on campus--a microcosm of the surrounding culture--is not to be dismissed. --Tom Keogh
Great idea
A true modern day epic , sweeping and truthful.Powerhouse performances by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ice Cube.This movie tells us what living in this world is today and the battles you must fight not only for yourself but for the ones you love.
A orignal film powerful and very real as well as touching and sad.Admist all the violence ,chaos of a war torn Los Angeles.A heartfelt film and the
unfortunate truth very real.
One of the Most Powerful Films Ever.The story about 3 friends growing up in the hood in South Central LA. Each one with their own individual struggle and goals in life. Doughboy (Ice Cube) ,who is a drug dealer, has been in and out of trouble throughout his young life and seems to be happy with his surroundings. Doughboy's brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut) a teenage father with bright hopes and aspirations of becoming an NFL football player ; and Ricky's best friend Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) who hopes and dreams of higher education and an escape from the dwelling of the hood. "The Hood" where saying the wrong thing or looking at someone the wrong way can end in death. Tre's father (Larry Fishburne) is a responsible, educated and strict father who makes sure his son stays on the right track in achieving his goals in life. Teaching him about responsibility and keeping your cool in adverse situations in order to make a thoughtful descision. Tre's resolve will be tested when tragedy strikes close to home and revenge and murder seem like the only solution.
Fantastic direction by John Singleton and equally impressive acting by all characters are the reason Boyz N the Hood was such a huge success. It was nominated for two acedemy awards (Direction and Screenplay.) ... You have to see this one for yourself you won't be sorry.
Beautiful and EducationalI wish more people watched this movie. It could do a lot of good. This is such an educational movie yet it rarely feels like it¡¯s preaching to you. The message is simple. There is too much poverty and thus violence in the ghetto. People just don¡¯t seem to care enough.
I will not mention the plot, see above for that, but must say that Cuba Gooding Junior and Lawrence Fishburne are excellent together. Also, Ice Cube does a great job as an actor, playing a key role. What I will say about the plot is that it is slow-building and then explosive for the last twenty minutes. What I also found interesting were the little scenes mixed in with the plot. There are some great side scenes, for example in one scene Furious (Fishburne) takes his son and his friend to Compton to tell them about gentrification and how people devalue property in the ghetto then buy it up cheap and sell it at a profit.
All in all this is a riveting movie that you must have in your collection.
A true modern day epic , sweeping and truthful.Powerhouse performances by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ice Cube.This movie tells us what living in this world is today and the battles you must fight not only for yourself but for the ones you love.
A orignal film powerful and very real as well as touching and sad.Admist all the violence ,chaos of a war torn Los Angeles.A heartfelt film and the
unfortunate truth very real.
One of the Most Powerful Films Ever.The story about 3 friends growing up in the hood in South Central LA. Each one with their own individual struggle and goals in life. Doughboy (Ice Cube) ,who is a drug dealer, has been in and out of trouble throughout his young life and seems to be happy with his surroundings. Doughboy's brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut) a teenage father with bright hopes and aspirations of becoming an NFL football player ; and Ricky's best friend Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) who hopes and dreams of higher education and an escape from the dwelling of the hood. "The Hood" where saying the wrong thing or looking at someone the wrong way can end in death. Tre's father (Larry Fishburne) is a responsible, educated and strict father who makes sure his son stays on the right track in achieving his goals in life. Teaching him about responsibility and keeping your cool in adverse situations in order to make a thoughtful descision. Tre's resolve will be tested when tragedy strikes close to home and revenge and murder seem like the only solution.
Fantastic direction by John Singleton and equally impressive acting by all characters are the reason Boyz N the Hood was such a huge success. It was nominated for two acedemy awards (Direction and Screenplay.) ... You have to see this one for yourself you won't be sorry.
Beautiful and EducationalI wish more people watched this movie. It could do a lot of good. This is such an educational movie yet it rarely feels like it¡¯s preaching to you. The message is simple. There is too much poverty and thus violence in the ghetto. People just don¡¯t seem to care enough.
I will not mention the plot, see above for that, but must say that Cuba Gooding Junior and Lawrence Fishburne are excellent together. Also, Ice Cube does a great job as an actor, playing a key role. What I will say about the plot is that it is slow-building and then explosive for the last twenty minutes. What I also found interesting were the little scenes mixed in with the plot. There are some great side scenes, for example in one scene Furious (Fishburne) takes his son and his friend to Compton to tell them about gentrification and how people devalue property in the ghetto then buy it up cheap and sell it at a profit.
All in all this is a riveting movie that you must have in your collection.
A true modern day epic , sweeping and truthful.Powerhouse performances by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ice Cube.This movie tells us what living in this world is today and the battles you must fight not only for yourself but for the ones you love.
A orignal film powerful and very real as well as touching and sad.Admist all the violence ,chaos of a war torn Los Angeles.A heartfelt film and the
unfortunate truth very real.
One of the Most Powerful Films Ever.The story about 3 friends growing up in the hood in South Central LA. Each one with their own individual struggle and goals in life. Doughboy (Ice Cube) ,who is a drug dealer, has been in and out of trouble throughout his young life and seems to be happy with his surroundings. Doughboy's brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut) a teenage father with bright hopes and aspirations of becoming an NFL football player ; and Ricky's best friend Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) who hopes and dreams of higher education and an escape from the dwelling of the hood. "The Hood" where saying the wrong thing or looking at someone the wrong way can end in death. Tre's father (Larry Fishburne) is a responsible, educated and strict father who makes sure his son stays on the right track in achieving his goals in life. Teaching him about responsibility and keeping your cool in adverse situations in order to make a thoughtful descision. Tre's resolve will be tested when tragedy strikes close to home and revenge and murder seem like the only solution.
Fantastic direction by John Singleton and equally impressive acting by all characters are the reason Boyz N the Hood was such a huge success. It was nominated for two acedemy awards (Direction and Screenplay.) ... You have to see this one for yourself you won't be sorry.
Beautiful and EducationalI wish more people watched this movie. It could do a lot of good. This is such an educational movie yet it rarely feels like it¡¯s preaching to you. The message is simple. There is too much poverty and thus violence in the ghetto. People just don¡¯t seem to care enough.
I will not mention the plot, see above for that, but must say that Cuba Gooding Junior and Lawrence Fishburne are excellent together. Also, Ice Cube does a great job as an actor, playing a key role. What I will say about the plot is that it is slow-building and then explosive for the last twenty minutes. What I also found interesting were the little scenes mixed in with the plot. There are some great side scenes, for example in one scene Furious (Fishburne) takes his son and his friend to Compton to tell them about gentrification and how people devalue property in the ghetto then buy it up cheap and sell it at a profit.
All in all this is a riveting movie that you must have in your collection.
"A Great Collection of the 10 Best Music Videos Ever"
Michael is the King of Pop
The best MJ dvd everBillie Jean: 9/10, A great classic done in a magical way
The way you make me feel: 8/10 The additional footage is not much of a great improvement, but a great video nontheless
Black or White: 9.5/10 Amazing, especially the panther scene
Rock with you:9/10 Simple, but I love it
Bad:9.5/10 I love the video, a bit of a movie kess of a music video, but to me that's a plus
Thriller:9.5/10 Incredible, best of them all
Beat it: 7/10 I don't really like this, but the choreography is incredible
Remember the time:8.5/10 Great song, great video, with wonderful special effects
Don't stop till you get enough: 8/10 bit of a drag, but I love it
Heal the world: 8/10 Very touching, though in my opinion could have been a little better
All in all, amazing, I love it, and advise anyone to buy it!
The film is blessed with richly authentic production design, lush cinematography, and a subtly effective John Williams score, and director John Singleton and screenwriter Gregory Poirier embellish the truth of Rosewood with a fictional hero named Mann (Ving Rhames), who arrives to buy a five-acre plot coveted by Rosewood's white grocer (John Voight). The emerging trust between these two characters--and the fate of an extended family led by a defiant father (Don Cheadle)--gives shape to the movie's devastating depiction of racism and the courage of those who opposed the lynch mob's brutality. Singleton and Poirier fall prey to some bad dialogue and a broadly unbalanced depiction of bloodthirsty hayseeds, but the film's passion is maintained by its superb cast and the timeless echoes of history. --Jeff Shannon
one of Rhames' best
A Latter Day Western (Set In The South-East!)I call this film "A Later Day Western" for several reasons. First, it has a historical setting. (Obviously, however, since it takes place in the '20's & NOT in the West, it can't rightfully be called a "Western", but I'll get to the similarities in a second!) Second, like many great westerns, it examines social problems in a historical setting. Third, though it has "heroes" & "villains", the good-guys aren't all good (Voight has serious character flaws & is gripped by fear, but he ultimately does "the right thing") & the bad-guys have real "human" motivations. (The villain of the story is a dysfunctional, but loving father.) Finally, The Ving Rhames character (admittedly, a fictional character), is a strong-willed, wandering veteran (on horse-back), trying to find peace, but reluctantly forced to make a stand for right.
The story is based loosely on the actual Rosewood Massacres of 1923 & it delivers on all counts.
My personal favorite character is John Voight's young (2nd) wife, who stands up to the bigots & earns the respect of her step-children.
This film, unlike many other films about race-prejudice, is BALANCED, showing not just "bad rednecks", but decent (Caucasian) neighbors of the local African-americans being (unjustly) persecuted for a "rape" of a white woman (which, by the way, never really happened.) This movie reminded me of both "Bad Day At Black Rock" & "To Kill A Mockingbird." Those were two great films & by combining elements from them with a real historical event (tragedy) with a strong cast, good script, & fast-paced direction makes for a great film!
It's too bad that this film wasn't a bigger hit. If you buy this video, you WON'T be wasting your money. It's not just a later-day western, it's a later-day classic.
One Of the most important movies of the 90's
The film is blessed with richly authentic production design, lush cinematography, and a subtly effective John Williams score, and director John Singleton and screenwriter Gregory Poirier embellish the truth of Rosewood with a fictional hero named Mann (Ving Rhames), who arrives to buy a five-acre plot coveted by Rosewood's white grocer (John Voight). The emerging trust between these two characters--and the fate of an extended family led by a defiant father (Don Cheadle)--gives shape to the movie's devastating depiction of racism and the courage of those who opposed the lynch mob's brutality. Singleton and Poirier fall prey to some bad dialogue and a broadly unbalanced depiction of bloodthirsty hayseeds, but the film's passion is maintained by its superb cast and the timeless echoes of history. --Jeff Shannon
one of Rhames' best
A Latter Day Western (Set In The South-East!)I call this film "A Later Day Western" for several reasons. First, it has a historical setting. (Obviously, however, since it takes place in the '20's & NOT in the West, it can't rightfully be called a "Western", but I'll get to the similarities in a second!) Second, like many great westerns, it examines social problems in a historical setting. Third, though it has "heroes" & "villains", the good-guys aren't all good (Voight has serious character flaws & is gripped by fear, but he ultimately does "the right thing") & the bad-guys have real "human" motivations. (The villain of the story is a dysfunctional, but loving father.) Finally, The Ving Rhames character (admittedly, a fictional character), is a strong-willed, wandering veteran (on horse-back), trying to find peace, but reluctantly forced to make a stand for right.
The story is based loosely on the actual Rosewood Massacres of 1923 & it delivers on all counts.
My personal favorite character is John Voight's young (2nd) wife, who stands up to the bigots & earns the respect of her step-children.
This film, unlike many other films about race-prejudice, is BALANCED, showing not just "bad rednecks", but decent (Caucasian) neighbors of the local African-americans being (unjustly) persecuted for a "rape" of a white woman (which, by the way, never really happened.) This movie reminded me of both "Bad Day At Black Rock" & "To Kill A Mockingbird." Those were two great films & by combining elements from them with a real historical event (tragedy) with a strong cast, good script, & fast-paced direction makes for a great film!
It's too bad that this film wasn't a bigger hit. If you buy this video, you WON'T be wasting your money. It's not just a later-day western, it's a later-day classic.
One Of the most important movies of the 90's
The film is blessed with richly authentic production design, lush cinematography, and a subtly effective John Williams score, and director John Singleton and screenwriter Gregory Poirier embellish the truth of Rosewood with a fictional hero named Mann (Ving Rhames), who arrives to buy a five-acre plot coveted by Rosewood's white grocer (John Voight). The emerging trust between these two characters--and the fate of an extended family led by a defiant father (Don Cheadle)--gives shape to the movie's devastating depiction of racism and the courage of those who opposed the lynch mob's brutality. Singleton and Poirier fall prey to some bad dialogue and a broadly unbalanced depiction of bloodthirsty hayseeds, but the film's passion is maintained by its superb cast and the timeless echoes of history. --Jeff Shannon
one of Rhames' best
A Latter Day Western (Set In The South-East!)I call this film "A Later Day Western" for several reasons. First, it has a historical setting. (Obviously, however, since it takes place in the '20's & NOT in the West, it can't rightfully be called a "Western", but I'll get to the similarities in a second!) Second, like many great westerns, it examines social problems in a historical setting. Third, though it has "heroes" & "villains", the good-guys aren't all good (Voight has serious character flaws & is gripped by fear, but he ultimately does "the right thing") & the bad-guys have real "human" motivations. (The villain of the story is a dysfunctional, but loving father.) Finally, The Ving Rhames character (admittedly, a fictional character), is a strong-willed, wandering veteran (on horse-back), trying to find peace, but reluctantly forced to make a stand for right.
The story is based loosely on the actual Rosewood Massacres of 1923 & it delivers on all counts.
My personal favorite character is John Voight's young (2nd) wife, who stands up to the bigots & earns the respect of her step-children.
This film, unlike many other films about race-prejudice, is BALANCED, showing not just "bad rednecks", but decent (Caucasian) neighbors of the local African-americans being (unjustly) persecuted for a "rape" of a white woman (which, by the way, never really happened.) This movie reminded me of both "Bad Day At Black Rock" & "To Kill A Mockingbird." Those were two great films & by combining elements from them with a real historical event (tragedy) with a strong cast, good script, & fast-paced direction makes for a great film!
It's too bad that this film wasn't a bigger hit. If you buy this video, you WON'T be wasting your money. It's not just a later-day western, it's a later-day classic.
One Of the most important movies of the 90's
The first of the two episodes "Lucy Visits Graumans" finds the wacky but lovable redhead along with fellow conspirator in many escapades Ethel, touring the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre to see the stars inprints in the forecourt. Lucy discovers that John Wayne's block is loose and concocts a wild scheme to clain the, to quote Lucy, "the souveneir of all souveneirs". Lucy works out an hilarious plan to steal the footprints that involves "precision timing, a trowel, a bucket of quick dry cement, and a getaway car", to carry off the perfect heist and indeed what girl according to Lucy wouldn't want John Wayne's block under her bed!! Lucy being Lucy of course everything goes wrong and she finds herself in an absolutely hilarious moment with her foot stuck in the bucket of quick dry cement which hardens while they are hiding from some policemen in the bushs near the theatre. Their efforts to get the block back to the hotel are halted by Ricky (Desi Arnaz) who finds out about what has taken place (in another hilarious moment in the Mertzes hotel room) and orders them to take it back upon which Lucy and Ethel drop it and it breaks into a milion pieces.
Episode two "Lucy and John Wayne", continues the story and is one of the very best episodes from the entire series boasting a rare television appearance by John Wayne playing himself. It chronicles the gang's repeated efforts to replace the smashed footprints before that evenings preview of John Wayne's new picture "Blood Alley". Of course their efforts are constantly upset to the point where John Wayne who knows Ricky from the studio and has kindly agreed to redo his footprints to get Lucy out of trouble, is forced repeatedly to set his footprints and signature in wet cement as Lucy erases the first effort and little Ricky crawls through the next set!!! Lucy has a laugh out loud line when Desi states that he is too embarrassed to ask John Wayne to yet again set his footprints in a fourth try when she says "Well he's in pictures tell him it's a retake!". Another hilarious scene occurs when Lucy and Ethel sneak into the studio to try and get the Duke's imprints without him even knowing about it and Lucy gets trapped in John Wayne's dressing room where she is forced to give him a body massage. That scene alone is worth watching the episode for! All ends happily when the Duke provides Lucy with a years supply of cement blocks complete with his footprints and signature to take back to New York with her.
Rarely has this great ensemble of performers worked better together than in these two episodes. Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley are all superb and the real revelation of these shows is the wonderful performance by John Wayne in part two. Whether he is being spiked in the behind by one of Lucy's hair curlers, pretending to shrink to the ground in agony after shaking the hand of "old bone crusher Mertze" (Fred) or having an unexpectadly rough back massage by his unknown "assistant" he is a joy to watch and indeed worked so well with Lucy that he also guest starred in her next television series "The Lucy Show"' during the 1960's.
This two part story shows what made Lucille Ball such a wonderful performer and one of, if not the greatest comedy performer on television ever. The show is still as fresh and funny today as it was in the 1950's and people will undoubtedly go on loving Lucy for as long as television is in existence. These episodes filmed during the season when the show moved locales to Hollywwod contained some of the best individual stories and most have now attained the status of television classics in their own right. Enjoy a wonderful laugh and hold onto your sides when you watch Lucy visiting Graumans and encountering John Wayne. Guaranteed belly laughs from beginning to end!