Light It Up (1999)

Director:

Craig Bolotin

Writer (WGA):

Craig Bolotin (written by)

Release Date:

10 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

they don't want to be heroes they just want to be heard.

Plot:

A group of teens is bent on improving the run-down conditions of their high-school.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Black Cop | Molotov Cocktail | Hostage Negotiator | Lasersight

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Usher Raymond	...	Lester Dewitt
Forest Whitaker	...	Officer Dante Jackson
Rosario Dawson	...	Stephanie Williams
Robert Ri'chard	...	Zacharias 'Ziggy' Malone
Judd Nelson	...	Ken Knowles
Fredro Starr	...	Rodney J. Templeton
Sara Gilbert	...	Lynn Sabatini
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Robert 'Rivers' Tremont
Glynn Turman	...	Principal Allan Armstrong
Vic Polizos	...	Capt. Monroe
Vanessa Williams	...	Audrey McDonald (as Vanessa L. Williams)
Gaddiel Otero	...	Arturo Orosco
Frank Dominelli	...	Sgt. Tortino
Reggie Theus	...	Intel. Officer #1
Jennifer Say Gan	...	Intel. Officer #2

MPAA:

Rated R for language and violent content.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-14 | USA:R (certificate #36835) | Germany:16 (bw) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Calumet Career Prep Academy High School - 8131 S. May Street, Auburn Gresham, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Edmonds Entertainment Group (EEG)

Trivia:

This is the second time in a movie that Forest Whitaker asks another man to help him urinate. This also occurred in The Crying Game (1992).

Goofs:

Continuity: During and after the scene when Knowles calls Lester from the pay phone it is snowing outside. However, between the call ending and Lester taking the guard to the roof, there is a cutaway shot of a helicopter and two snipers and there is no sign of any snow.

Quotes:

Officer Dante Jackson: Come here, son.
Lester Dewitt: Don't call me son. I'm not your son.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty' - Making of the Hollywood Game (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Light It Up

Out of Nowhere

I just saw this movie tonight. The incident that leads to the seige of the school was such a small thing that at first I didn't think it was possible for so much to come out of so little. But, after thinking a tad longer I realized that it is so easy for things to be blown out of proportion because of what someone says or an accidental occurrence. I thought the storyline was a good one. The movie was entertaining due to the quite frequent jokes and the tension/affiliation between the characters. Part of the reason, however, that the whole thing seemed a bit implausible was because it wasn't revealed until the situation escalated why the characters did what they did. I guess that happens a lot in movies...but it took too long to happen here and holding it off so long didn't really add suspense, increasing interest or anything like that. It made me confused and a little peeved.

On the whole though I liked this movie a lot but it would have made a better TV-movie. I am seriously feeling the soundtrack though...especially Ja-Rule's "How Many Wanna Die," which pulls you in being played during the trailer.