Menace II Society (1993)

Directed by Albert & Allen Hughes. Starring Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Jada Pinkett, Clifton Powell, Vonte Sweet, Aaron “MC Eiht” Tyler, Brandon Hammond, Arnold Johnson, Jullian Roy Doster, Marilyn Coleman. [R]

Gritty chronicle of life in the neighborhood of Watts in southern L.A., following young Caine (Turner) as he navigates a world of drugs, gang violence, police brutality, etc., likely to become just another “statistic” before maturing into adulthood (when asked whether he cares if he lives or dies, he blankly responds, “I dunno”). Brutal, profane, and highly-charged feature directorial debut for the Hughes brothers; they don’t exercise much restraint or nuance when hammering home its powerful message, but the vivid atmosphere and naturalistic performances create compelling sequences out of clichéd setups. The impulse to sensationalize these searing episodes is too irresistible, but there’s no excitement or sentimentality in its disturbing bloodshed and ferocious attitudes, and the protagonist’s narrow view carves an authentic identity marked by limited choice, which is far more interesting than traditional roles of hero, victim, monster, etc. The Hughes brothers also developed the screen story with script writer Tyger Williams. Clifton Collins Jr. has a bit part, while Charles S. Dutton, Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Duke, Glenn Plummer, and Khandi Alexander all have walk-ons.

81/100