Albert Hughes: Dead Presidents is flawed, took years for them to think Boyz N the Hood was a good movie, American Me is better than every hood film.

[Still Benefited]

It hasnt aged well. It makes sense that Tate, Jada and Clifton Powell's careers lasted much longer.

I still dont know why the Hughes Bros wanted 2pac for Sharif. Unless it was for irony...

Maybe they feared we'd just see "Bishop" as Cain. idk.

Thats a bad casting in hindsight,especially with having the most underated actor of his generation playing a side character(Tate). But hindsight is 20/20,because Tyrins acting didnt seem bad to me in real time.

 

[QU Hectic]

Cause you’re a child



Life? fukk he mean life? For all the shyt I did for this motherfukkin’ country?!?

I respect Martin Sheen as an actor, but right after that scene , if I saw either Charlie or Emilio , let alone himself on street , I’d run the fade.

 

[@OffHalsted]

Menace had too much unconvincing actors... Mainly Caine & Ehit...

 

[Ol’Otis]

2pac for Sharif.

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

Again I think that was them being slick. They saw Pac with the African garb w/ Digital Underground and then Thug Life.
Sharif is the reverse

 

[Squirrel from Meteor Man]

I don’t think it’s a flawed movie, but they maybe could’ve shown Anthony winning something in the movie.

As the protagonist, he never truly triumphs at any point in the movie (which is the point I know) but maybe the ending hits more (and hits plenty as is) if we see him living well and then everything comes crashing down. Throw the audience a bone.

I personally love the movie and think it’s iconic

 

[Ol’Otis]

blood in blood out

Give me some chon chon

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

Boys In The Hood>>>>>Menace. John Singleton is a better writer than the Hughes Brothers and it shows when comparing the two films

Dead Presidents however is the best of all of them. That movie is a stone cold classic. I know art is subjective but Albert tripping on this one. There’s so much to love about that movie and Larenze Tate acted his ENTIRE ass off in a movie chalk full of great performances

I think its interesting that Spike Lee said he made Clockers for the "End of Hood Films"

And in fairness to the Hughes Bros I believe John Singleton was sending subs to the Hughes Bros/Menace in the 90s in articles.

Plus he was rolling with Pac for Poetic Justice


I could have swore there's vid of him dissing the Hughes Bros during this same Rap City vid when they were on the street. Cant find the right vid.

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

I don’t think it’s a flawed movie, but they maybe could’ve shown Anthony winning something in the movie.

As the protagonist, he never truly triumphs at any point in the movie (which is the point I know) but maybe the ending hits more (and hits plenty as is) if we see him living well and then everything comes crashing down. Throw the audience a bone.

I personally love the movie and think it’s iconic

I think they think the war stuff was over the top. And the transition to robbing a bank was rushed, etc etc.

but over time its kinda worked to the movie's favor.

 

[Rembrandt]

It's like the steadicam shot that Scorsese did for Henry Hill as we enter his world..... while comic book stans hate on Scorsese he was out here giving the world this type of cinema, you don't get better filmmaking than this

Not just that. It's a one take. No cuts or anything. One mistake and it's from the top all over again


Dead Presidents is definitely flawed. The heist parts come off incredibly rushed

 

[Squirrel from Meteor Man]

I think they think the war stuff was over the top. And the transition to robbing a bank was rushed, etc etc.

but over time its kinda worked to the movie's favor.

I agree after Vietnam the movie starts to rush which probably means they could’ve cut out some of the war stuff. At the same time it helps paint the picture as to why everyone came home messed up beyond belief

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

I'll also say credit to the actor who took the role. He was the guy who stole Ricky football in Boyz N the Hood. Really seem like two different characters.

Not just that. It's a one take. No cuts or anything. One mistake and it's from the top all over again


Dead Presidents is definitely flawed. The heist parts come off incredibly rushed

I really felt that way in 95. However, it works as a "Life sneaks up on you" kinda thing.

You can tell that movie was largely inspired by Deer Hunter but the ending/they come back and rob a bank.

I'd be curious to see if there was 2hr 30 min to 3hr version of that movie. Kinda like how Deer Hunter was. Mid 90s the only films that were that length were like Casino and Heat.

 

[Rembrandt]

I really felt that way in 95. However, it works as a "Life sneaks up on you" kinda thing.

I get him doing it but getting bokeem's character for no reason even after knowing he was nuts in nam and a pastor now. That one crazy pyrotechnics dude that basically burns all the money and die.

Somebody pointed out it was meant to highlight how poorly unprepared these soldiers were with the draft but ol boy was like a decorated war hero - just felt like he should have had better planning

A longer director cut for a new criterion release would be fire if it existed

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

I get him doing it but getting bokeem's character for no reason even after knowing he was nuts in nam and a pastor now. That one crazy pyrotechnics dude that basically burns all the money and die.

Somebody pointed out it was meant to highlight how poorly unprepared these soldiers were with the draft but ol boy was like a decorated war hero - just felt like he should have had better planning

A longer director cut for a new criterion release would be fire if it existed

What you're saying is exactly how people felt in 95.

However, as time went on yea it plays like "yea the only nikkas you know is the nikkas you know"

As time goes on it plays as a morality tale. Eventually you're going to do some stupid shyt if you dont have shyt and stuck in the same area with the same people.

I think the Hughes Bros point was thats probably not what they intended, but it worked out...over time.

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

Thats a bad casting in hindsight,especially with having the most underated actor of his generation playing a side character(Tate). But hindsight is 20/20,because Tyrins acting didnt seem bad to me in real time.

Menace had too much unconvincing actors... Mainly Caine & Ehit...

They hired Tyrin Turner as Caine over Spice 1 because they saw him in America's Most Wanted.