Monday, August 3, 8:30pm
Boyz n the Hood
(USA, drama, 1991)
Director: John Singleton
Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube
What's it about?Director John Singleton's critically-acclaimed, Oscar-nominated debut shines a light on social problems faced in inner-city Los Angeles by following three friends growing up together 'in the 'hood'. When young Tre shows signs of trouble, he is sent to live with his strict father in South Central L.A., where he befriends two half-brothers, Doughboy and Ricky. The pair have very different approaches to life, with Ricky seeking salvation through sports, while 'Dough' succumbs to the violence, alcohol, and crime. Don't miss this 1990s classic, which launched Ice Cube's movie career.
Watch interview with director John Singleton
Sin Nombre
(USA/Mexico, adventure/crime/drama, 2009)
Director: Cary Fukunaga
Starring: Paulina Gaitan, Edgar Flores, Kristyan Ferrer
What's it about?Director Cary Fukunaga, now best known for True Detective, broke through with this raw and powerful feature. Sayra reunites with her long-estranged father and attempts to leave Honduras with him, to start a new life in America. They board a freight train, which is the focus of an attempted robbery. It falls to young gang member, Casper, to make a decision that will change their lives. Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and winner of the Directing Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Monday August 10, 8:30pm
Ill Manors
(UK, crime/drama, 2012)
Director: Ben Drew
Starring: Riz Ahmed, Ed Skrein, Lee Allen
What's it about?This intense Brit crime thriller follows six story threads, with accompanying music by Plan B (a.k.a. Ben Drew, the movie's director). When ex-dealer Kirby comes out of prison after a 15-year sentence, he only wants three things; to take back his turf, to get laid and to take revenge on the gangsters who have disrespected him. But a humiliating meeting with his former protégé sparks a chain of violence in the community.
Gangster No. 1
(UK, thriller, 2000)
Director: Paul McGuigan
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany
What's it about?Tough guys and tough talk abound in this chilling British gangster movie, where a veteran gangster looks back on his life of crime in the swinging 1960s. He recalls his rise to prominence under the watchful eye of a ruthless gang boss, dubbed 'The Butcher of Mayfair'. But the young protégé's admiration gives way to jealousy for his master's power and his beautiful lover, which will lead to a vicious, Shakespearean betrayal.
Monday August 17, 8:30pm
Juice
(USA, drama, 1992)
Director: Ernest R. Dickerson
Starring: Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur, Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins
What's it about?Tupac's intense performance in his movie debut is the stuff of legend. When the persuasive Q acquires a handgun, he convinces three of his friends, Bishop (Shakur), Steel and Raheem, to help him hold up a local store, and secure them all some respect ("juice"). The consequences of the hold-up send shockwaves through their neighbourhood. The powerful drama also stars Samuel L. Jackson and Queen Latifah.
Watch trailer
Watch: Murder Rap: Inside the Biggie and Tupac Murders
Viva Riva
(Congo, drama, 2010)
Director: Djo Munga
Starring: Patsha Bay, Manie Malone, Diplome Amekindra
What's it about?This stylish, sexy thriller, which won awards around the world, brings the city of Kinshasa to life on the screen as a mix of lawless shantytowns, bordellos and nightclubs. Riva is a small-time criminal who has just returned to his hometown in the Congo with a fortune from stolen Angolan gasoline. Riva lives the high life on his wads of cash but when he falls for the mistress of the local kingpin, he makes some powerful enemies.
Monday August 24, 8:30pm
Romper Stomper
(Australia, crime/drama, 1992)
Director: Geoffrey Wright
Starring: Russell Crowe, Daniel Pollock, Jacqueline McKenzie
What's it about?This Australian cult classic split the critics over its handling of race-related violence. It hasn't lost any of its impact over time. Hando (a terrifying Russell Crowe) and Davey (Daniel Pollock) are Melbourne skinheads who trawl for trouble with Asian immigrants, including the Vietnamese owners of their local pub. The pair hook up with teenage junkie Gabe, whose presence drives a wedge between the pair.
Watch original The Movie Show 4½-star review & interviews
Northwest
(Denmark, action/crime/drama, 2013)
Director: Michael Noer
Starring: Gustav Dyekjær Giese, Oscar Dyekjær Giese, Lene Maria Christensen
What's it about?In this unflinching portrait of the Danish underworld, 18-year-old Casper struggles to make ends meet by selling stolen goods, and the stakes get higher as his childhood playground becomes a battlefield of drugs, violence and prostitution.
Monday August 31, 8:30pm
The Warriors
(USA, action/thriller, 1979)
Director: Walter Hill
Starring: Michael Beck, James Remar, Dorsey Wright
What's it about?A bonafide cult classic, Walter Hill's brings an element of Greek tragedy to the story of the gangs of New York in the late '70s. A charismatic gang leader summons all the various local street gangs in the Bronx, and pitches his idea of a brokered truce, to enable them to terrorise the citizens as one. Not everyone welcomes the idea, and the deadly consequences set off a renewed turf war.
Baby Boy
(USA, comedy/crime/drama, 2001)
Director: John Singleton
Starring: AlexSandra Wright, Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P. Henson
What's it about?Oscar-nominated director John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood) tackled deadbeat dads in the story of Jody, a 20-year-old who has children by two women and has just returned from taking his new girlfriend for an abortion. Singleton, a few years on from Boyz n The Hood isn't above taking a hard look at his community. His spoiled lead (singer/model Tyrese Gibson) embarks on a journey filled with violence, romance, tears and laughter, to turn his life around, and do right by his 'baby mamas'.
