A-Z #106: Jerry Maguire

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#106 - Jerry Maguire 

Why did I buy it?

Jo recommended it to me and, more and more, I had heard about how 'brilliant' Cameron Crowe was. I bought this such a long time ago - early 2000's - so I doubt I had even heard of Cameron Crowe at the time. Tom Cruise was in it... so that couldn't be bad.

Why do I still own it?

It remains so inspirational. A film that equally shows how brutal life can be - but still ensures that it builds you up again so that you can see great the world is around you. The irony is that the most memorable line in the film is "Show me the money!", when it is abundantly clear that money is not what people need to make them happy - it is people that makes people happy. The relationship Cruise and Gooding Jr have, the belief Zellweger has in Cruise. I need to re-watch the film - but money is definitely not what the film is 'about'.

A-Z #27: Boyz N The Hood

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#27 - Boyz N The Hood 

Why did I buy it?

Originally, I watched this for the first time in Media Studies - or was it Film Studies - back in my New College days. I remember very little of that first viewing, but I did know the basic facts as to how it showed a side to America that I had not seen until that point - at the tender age of 16/17. I bought the film many years later as the special-edition was low in price and I am keen to explore more African-American cinema - though sadly, I have yet to get fully immersed. This one John Singleton film seems to be the only film I have watched of this genre - but, I swear, in due course, I will hunt down a Spike Lee boxset and really gte stuck in.

Why do I still own it?

Because the performances are, first off, incredible. Pre-Morpheus Lawrence Fishburne and Pre-Rat Race Cuba Gooding Jr... indeed, there was a time whereby he was a credible actor. Of course there is Pre-Three Kings Ice Cube too! The story is an exploration of an economically-deprived area in America and daily concerns that arrive - gang-culture and the difficulties in getting out of 'the hood'. Akin to Goodfellas we see the young boys as children as they hang about and see a dead-body in 'the hood' - and the pressure for the boys to become aggressive and defend themselves/protect themselves. This then graduates to show the same pupils in their late teens - all going separate ways. The inevitable consequence of Ice Cubes character - whilst Cuba Gooding Jr is conflicted.

I think, unfortunately, the same themes have been explored to a much deeper level in The Wire - especially Series 4. But, fact is, Boyz n the Hood broke new ground with its depiction and the performances are timeless.

But does The Wire overshadow it to a point that it serves little purpose now? Is it really worth keeping?

  

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