Menace II Society (1993)

A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life.

Directors:

Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes

Writers:

Allen Hughes (story), Albert Hughes (story),

Stars:

Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, June Kyoto Lu

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tyrin Turner	...	Caine
Larenz Tate	...	O-Dog
June Kyoto Lu	...	Grocery Store Woman (as June Kyoko Lu)
Toshi Toda	...	Grocery Store Man
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Tat Lawson
Anthony Johnson	...	Tony
Brandon Hammond	...	Five Year Old Caine
Glenn Plummer	...	Pernell
Reginald Ballard	...	Clyde
Khandi Alexander	...	Karen Lawson
Eugene Lee	...	Man #1
James Pickens Jr.	...	Man #2 (as James Pickins Jr.)
Nancy Cheryll Davis	...	Teacher (as Nancy Cheryl Davis)
Jullian Roy Doster	...	Anthony
Jada Pinkett Smith	...	Ronnie (as Jada Pinkett)

Storyline

This urban nightmare chronicles several days in the life of Caine Lawson, following his high-school graduation, as he attempts to escape his violent existence in the projects of Watts, CA.

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Plot Keywords:

ghetto | street | high school | homicide | family relationships | 

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Taglines:

This is the truth. This is what's real.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, drug use and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Straßenkämpfer

Filming Locations:

7th Ave and Montclair St., Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$27,900,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Spice 1 was originally cast as Caine Lawson.

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Goofs

During Ronnie's party scene, Caine's voice over says that the party was at the end of the summer. During the party Chauncy tells a girl that "me, A-Wax and Caine went to a Lakers game last night." The NBA season starts in November and has no regular games being played at the end of the summer.

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Quotes

Grandpapa: Now what I want to talk to you two about is the trouble that you've been getting into. Boys, the Lord didn't put you here to be shooting and killing each other. It's right there in the Bible, Exodus 20:13: '"Thou shall not kill.'
Caine: Grandpa, I ain't never killed nobody.
Grandpapa: Oh, I doubt that. And Kevin, I've heard stories about you.
O-Dog: Sir, I don't think God really cares too much about us, or he wouldn't have put us here. I mean, look where we stay at. It's all fucked - It's messed up around here.
Caine: My ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Good Will Hunting (1997)

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Soundtracks

"ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE"
Written by Too $hort (as T. Shaw), Ant Banks (as A. Banks), R. Gooden, S. Jordon,
M. Hampton
Performed by Too $hort
Courtesy of Jive Records

User Reviews

A Powerful and Great film from The Hughes Brothers

Menace II Society is a film of power and a desperate killing spree just in a little neighborhood. The film was very good, on all levels this is sure the best Hughes Brothers film. I've only seen Dead Presidents and From Hell, which I thought were both good movies, but this is The Hughes Brothers best film and this is so far the best ghetto film I've ever seen. There was some flaws but the movie makes it out like there really isn't any. The acting was good, Tyrin Turner, I've never really heard of and Larenz Tate I've see in Dead Presidents. The action was good and the movie was extremely powerful. Overall, this was a very neat ghetto film by The Hughes Brothers.

Hedeen's outlook: 9/10 ***+ A-