Of Boys and Men (2008)

Robert Townsend stars as the patriarch of a family devastated when his wife is killed in a senseless auto accident. Reeling with grief, each family member must find courage and vision to carry on, ultimately eager to do the mother proud.

Director:

Carl Seaton

Writer:

Michelle Amor (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Townsend, Angela Bassett, Victoria Rowell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Townsend	...	Holden Cole
Angela Bassett	...	Rieta Cole
Victoria Rowell	...	Aunt Janay
Faizon Love	...	Roman
Vince Green	...	Terrell
Bobb'e J. Thompson	...	Little D (as Bobbe' J. Thompson)
Dante Boens	...	Z
Scott Baity Jr.	...	Deshon
Sharde Cole	...	Mikayla
Yahaira Tarr	...	Ariel
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams	...	Jori (as Cynthia McWilliams)
Brian 'Da Wildcat' Smith	...	Clayvon (as Brian Smith)
Kevin R. Kelly	...	Tom Stallworth (as Kevin Kelly)
Hashim Brown	...	Wood
Ja'mal Green	...	Trevon

Storyline

Three weeks in the life of the middle class Cole family of Chicago is presented, this time seen largely through the eyes of middle child, pre-teen Z. The first day, which starts out like most days in their family with the exception of it being Z's older brother Terrell's college graduation, changes on a dime when their mother, Rieta, is killed as a semi-driver, running a red light, t-bones her vehicle. Outwardly, it is their father, Holden, a mechanic who owns his own small business, who is hit hardest emotionally, especially as he goes through the wrongful death suit against the trucking company if only to provide some security for the kids, even if it does keep Rieta's death foremost on his mind. Holden's younger sister, Janay, from Lansing, temporarily moves in with them to help logistically and emotionally. Despite Rieta's death, life goes on for the family as Terrell struggles in finding a job, he having believed the degree would automatically open up opportunities, and as Z ...

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Plot Keywords:

grief | courage | husband wife relationship | family relationships | death | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material and brief drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Near West Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$650,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Mr. Mom (1983)

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Soundtracks

The Artiste
Music by Stephen James Taylor
Kiba Dachi Music, DMi

User Reviews

Good movie that has its moments at pretension at greatest

At the beginning, the movie is average to slightly below average, it has an explosively good middle, and, again, it returns back to this average to slightly below average ending.

Holden(Townsend) is distraught by the accidental, vehicular killing of his wife, Rietta(Bassett), but mostly holds it together around others. His baby sister, Janay(Rowell), helps him through the sudden loss. Holden and Ri have 3 kids: an older son who has a college graduation eminent(who has an unnoteworthy part; they don't even show him grieving his mom's loss), a much younger middle son nickamed Z(narrates the movie, the movie revolves around him and the people that he knows that are also appear in movie, and his friends/acquaintances add meat to the story), and a youngest daughter(who, like the eldest son, is insignificant). Janay plays her part so well that she seems more like Holden's oldest sister, aunt, or mother rather than the baby sister. She is that critical piece that knows just what to do--whoever has a problem! But, then again, she seems to be a practicing Christian and God will lead us to what we need to say, do, or--in most situations--what we desire of Him(putting the desire of your heart verse side by side with there's a time and a season for all things verse leads me to believe that there is a time to have the windows of heaven close occasionally and; whereas, that scripture from the NT leads me to believe that almost every time that a Christian asks having the key to unlock a certain blessing from the kingdom of heaven, then it will be unlocked. Sometimes, that's fasting and prayer and/ or love)! My point is simply that--if she was a born-again Christian--then I could definitely see where she would know exactly what to say and do! So, Janay played the Christian role well and it was well written! Z runs into a combo of criminal trouble and rebellion after his mom's death--which forces him to mature before it's too late! Z's friend gets molested by a his mom's boyfriend. Holden both flashes back about Ri and imagines her throughout!

Now, the fight scene lacked really good acting; it looked like cheap wrestling rather than an actually fight. The basketball camera work was one of the worst that I ever seen! Plus, the basketball kids' playing basketball scenes were not well done.