The Wood
| The Wood | |
|---|---|
| File:TheWoodPoster.jpg Home video release poster | |
| Directed by | Rick Famuyiwa |
| Written by | Rick Famuyiwa Todd Boyd |
| Produced by | Albert Berger, David Gale, Douglas Curtis, Momita Sengupta, Ron Yerxa, Todd Boyd, Van Toffler |
| Starring | Omar Epps Richard T. Jones Taye Diggs Malinda Williams Sean Nelson |
| Cinematography | Steven Bernstein |
| Edited by | John Carter |
| Music by | Robert Hurst |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates |  July 16, 1999 |
Running time | 106 min. |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6,000,000[1] |
| Box office | $25,059,640 |
The Wood is a 1999 comedy/romance film, written by Rick Famuyiwa and Todd Boyd. Famuyiwa also directed the film, which stars Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones, and Taye Diggs.
Plot
Mike (Omar Epps) tells the story of how he grew up in “The Wood”, Inglewood,California, with Roland (Taye Diggs) and Slim (Richard T. Jones) where they went to school together. Going back to how they grew up in The Wood, when Mike(Sean Nealson) had first moved to there he met Roland(Trent Cameron) and Slim(Duane Finley), he developed is first real crush on a girl named Alicia (Malinda Williams). When Mike was younger he touched Alicia's bottom and it resulted into a big fight with her big brother Stacey(De'Aundre Bonds). When Mike(Omar Epps) and Slim(Richard T. Jones) go find Roland(Taye Diggs) for his wedding, they get a call from Tanya (Tamala Jones) saying that she has him with her and that he is very drunk. They get to her house to pick him up to take him back to the wedding to marry his future wife Lisa(LisaRaye McCoy)because they only have two hours before the ceremony begins. Back to their old school times, they go to their first dance of the year, go to a store the gets held up by Stacey (De'Aundre Bonds), and almost gets arrested by two cops riding in a car with Stacey(De'Aundre Bonds). When they get back to the dance it is almost over and Mike(Sean Nelson) gets to dance with Alicia(Malinda Williams) and at the end of the dance he gets her number. In the meantime Roland(Taye Diggs) gets sick , throws up and now they only have an hour left before the wedding and they have to get cleaned up, then they take their clothes to the cleaners. Mike (Omar Epps) returning back to their memories, they were now juniors in high school , thinking about sex, ways to get it and making a lot of bets. They finally Make it to the ceremony to have Roland(Diggs) apologize to Lisa(LisaRaye McCoy) for leaving her worried before the wedding ceremony. Before the ceremony begins Mike(Omar Epps) sees Alicia(Sanna Lathan) his childhood crush, and finally Roland (Taye Diggs) and Lisa (LisaRaye McCoy) get married. Mike(Omar Epps) tells his last childhood memory, and its when they go to a homecoming dance for their school and that they will be the boys from “The Wood”.
Cast
Omar Epps as Mike, and he tells the story about how he and his friends grew up together in “The Wood”. He played in the movie Love & Basketball.
Richard T. Jones as slim and he and Mike helps Roland get back to the ceremony to get married. He played in the movie(Why Did I Get Married).
Taye Diggs as Roland, he is supposed to get married and has second thoughts about it and is found drunk by his two best friends. Played in the movie ( How Stella Got Her Groove Back).
Sanna Lathan as Alicia, an old childhood friend that grew up and came back to see Mike. Starred in the movie (Love & Basketball).
LisaRaye McCoy as Lisa, a bride getting ready to marry Roland, and gets upset about his disappearance. Stars on the television show (All of Us).
Sean Nealson as young Mike ,is new from North Carolina, and just moved to Los Anglos at a new school and became friends with Roland and Slim. Played in the movie(Fresh).
Duane Finley as young Slim , raised up in “The Wood” best friends with Roland growing up and then meeting the new kid on the block Mike. He was always asking for Roland to hook him up. He starred in the movie Grindin.
Trent Cameron as young Roland, he is hip, fresh, and cool, gets all the ladies, and he gets no play most of the time. Played in the movie (Lincoln Heights).
Malinda Williams as young Alicia, she was hardcore, but sweet and in time she began to like Mike. She plays in the movie (First Sunday).
De'Aundre Bonds as Stacey, and is Alicia's big brother that takes up for her when she is younger. He also is in a gang and reps with set called “Bloodz”. He starred in the movie ( 3 Strikes).
Ratings
The ratings of this film was 6.1/10 on the charts, rated R. It was rated this because of the strong language, and strong sexuality. The overall gross for this movie was $25,059,640. The money used for this production was 60,000,000, and this movie is full of romance and comedyDenisecarter (talk) 15:33, 3 December 2008 (UTC)DenisecarterDenisecarter (talk) 15:33, 3 December 2008 (UTC)
Critical Reviews
Critical Consensus Critics Reviews Average Grade: B- culturevulture.net, "...there is substance given to the characters' lives." more... B- Nitrate Online, Cynthia Fuchs "...involves basic boy-bonding." more... C+ Orlando Weekly, Philip Booth "...a coming-of-age tale that's only occasionally too sweet." more... B- ReelViews, James Berardinelli "...a pleasant but relatively inconsequential movie..." more... B- More Critics Reviews...
Awards and nominations
- Best Actor (Theatrical) — Sean Nelson (nominated)
- Best Actress (Theatrical) — Malinda Williams (nominated)
- Best Director (Theatrical) — Rick Famuyiwa (nominated)
- Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) — Rick Famuyiwa, Todd Boyd (nominated)
- Outstanding Motion Picture (nominated)
2001 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
- Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures — Joe, Jolyon Skinner: I Wanna Know (winner)Denisecarter (talk) 15:34, 3 December 2008 (UTC)DenisecarterDenisecarter (talk) 15:34, 3 December 2008 (UTC)
References
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800019704/info