TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Baby Boy [2001]


RRP: £5.99
Our Price: £2.26 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

In Baby Boy, made a decade after his Boyz N the Hood director John Singleton presents a contrasting yet contained statement on the young African-American man of today. The story is a powerful construct of inevitabilities. Jody (Tyrese Gibson), an unemployed 20-year-old wants to avoid the do-or-die ethic that's lost him a brother and any perspective on real responsibilities. With children by different girlfriends, and an unhealthy disrespect for his 36-year-old mother (AJ Johnson) it seems like only a matter of time before tragedy strikes. But there are surprises here. Framed in a small-dream fantasy, the story occasionally slips into interpretative metaphor.

Baby Boy is about choices. Characters from the past, including the electric turns by Ving Rhames and Snoop Dogg, are choices catching up with Jody. The equally stellar performances from Taraji Henson as girlfriend Yvette and the scowling Omar Gooding as vague best friend Sweetpea are choices yet to be faced. This is undoubtedly a message movie about the supposed ramifications of racism, but ultimately it's a compassionate advocation of individuality.

On the DVD: Baby Boy on disc has an outstanding extras package. An energetic commentary from Singleton makes the movie viewing experience very personal. There are featurettes, music videos, deleted and alternate scenes, bloopers, filmographies, trailers and even storyboard comparisons (which usually only accompany FX-heavy movies). Dolby 5.1 sound and a crisp 1.85:1 print present the movie in the best possible way. --Paul Tonks


Stunning
Review date: 2004-09-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

I am neither male nor black nor an American, yet from the first time I saw this movie I found myself drawing uncomfortable parallels between myself and Jody, your main character. I probably shouldn't have been so surprised; John Singleton has always had a talent for creating characters that you can relate to regardless of your place in life.

From what I've heard, the late Tupac Shakur had been Singleton's first choice for the movie, and after Shakur's death he searched for a long time until he found Tyrese Gibson - understandable, because with Shakur's legendary talents, any role of his would be a hard one to fill. Gibson, however, does not disappoint. Despite his pretty-boy looks and image - or perhaps, to some extent, because of them - he makes a convincing, and at times heart-warming portrayal of this troubled young man who is eager to be respected and considered an adult, yet too scared to accept the responsibilities that come with it.

If I had to make a criticism, it'd be that the film isn't long enough. Although I can understand why the length had to be cut and am not at all unhappy with this complete version, a small part of me can't help wistfully hoping that one day I'll go into a video store and see "Baby Boy - the extended version" on the shelves. Even a double-disc wouldn't be unfeasible, because there's certainly enough emotional material here to play around with and come up with a movie that's twice or three times as long.

As in "Boys N the Hood", "Baby Boy" provides you with a small slice of humanity at both its best and its worst - and unarguably its most human, with all the pain and sorrow and joy and anger and fear and love that comes with it. Honestly, I cannot recommend this film enough.

Similar Products

Reviews


One to Keep
Review date: 2004-07-14 Rating: 8 out of 10

I first saw this on sky and I though it was a great movie, it has a good story and everything runs smoothly together, Omar Gooding, Ving Rhames and Tyrese Gibson make this film great, but this is let down by Snoop Dogg who looks nothing like a gangster let alone a dangerous crimal, he just looks like a weed addict, anyways this film has some moment that just have to be seen, there is some deep meaning and some couple of tense emotional moments in this film, I would recommend buying this.

If you enjoy being depressed then buy it now!!
Review date: 2004-05-18 Rating: 4 out of 10

If you’re the kind of person that likes watching boyz in the hood where the whole film is just some depressing scenario about how life as black person is difficult and dysfunctional then yeah it will be right up your street, you will love it. However if you’re the kind of person who is sick and tired of watching (and living) this depressing stuff then you will agree with me that this film has missed the ‘depressing black film’ boat back in the 90’s.

My verdict: Way too depressing and unoriginal to be of any interest however if you enjoy being depressed then buy it now.

a great end to John Singletons 'Hood Trilogy'
Review date: 2002-12-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is the third film in John Singleton's hood trilogy the other two being Boyz N Tha Hood and Poestic Justice and this one has to be the second best of the three cos Boyz N Tha Hood is a classic film.

This third film has a great cast also including Snoop Dogg Omar Gooding, Ving Rhames and Tyrese Gibson who is the lead. John Singleton wanted tupac for the lead in this movie before he died but then turned to Tyrese which was a good move as Tyrese is outstanding in this film as he gives an excellent performance and he is one of the highlights of this movie.

This film is a tough, honest and unflinching look at modern urban life and this film sees Tyrese as Jodi a 20 year old growing up in south central trying to live large but events which occur in his life which forces him to learn hard lessons about living, loving and surviving as a man in the hood.

Tyrese plays the part perfectly and this is a great film from John Singleton and if ur a fan of the other two in the trilogy this is a must for all fans of films that deal with this issue.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Taraji P. Henson
AlexSandra Wright
Tyrese Gibson
Tamara LaSeon Bass
Omar Gooding

Creators:
AlexSandra Wright (Primary Contributor)
Tyrese Gibson (Primary Contributor)
Charles Mills (Cinematographer)
John Singleton (Producer)
John Singleton (Writer)
Bruce Cannon (Editor)
Dwight Williams (Producer)
Sabrina Gray (Producer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Uca
Manufacturer: Uca
EAN: 5050582350029
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2005-06-06
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 124 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001-06-29
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: Bulgarian (Subtitled)
Language: Czech (Subtitled)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: Greek (Subtitled)
Language: Hebrew (Subtitled)
Language: Hindi (Subtitled)
Language: Hungarian (Subtitled)
Language: Icelandic (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Polish (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: Turkish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Dubbed)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional