Baby Boy

Director: John Singleton John Singleton

Overview

"John Singleton's hard-hitting drama about one young man coming to terms with adulthood in South Central L.A. gets full-bodied treatment on DVD. The image has been transferred in letterboxed format at the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and the audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Surround formats (there is also an alternate French language track in Dolby Digital Stereo). The dialogue has also been translated into optional subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Director Singleton provides an additional commentary track, and there's a short documentary (produced for the premium-cable service Cinemax) on the production of the film. In addition, there are a handful of deleted scenes and alternate takes, a blooper reel, highlights from the film's storyboards (with comparisons to the finished product), music videos for songs written for the film, production notes and filmographies on the principal cast and crew, and trailers and TV spots created to promote the picture."

Product Details

Release Date:	11/06/2001
UPC:	0043396064584
Original Release:	2001
Rating:	R
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:10:00
Sales rank:	27,336

Special Features

Director's commentary; Cinemax featurette; Deleted and alternate scenes; Music videos; Outtakes and bloopers reel; Storyboard comparisons; Theatrical trailers; TV Spots; Filmographies; Animated menus; Production notes; Scene selections

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tyrese Gibson	Jody
Taraji P. Henson	Yvette
Omar Gooding	Sweetpea
Tamara LaSeon Bass	Peanut
A.J. Johnson	Juanita
Ving Rhames	Melvin
Candy Brown Houston	Ms. Herron
Angell Conwell	Kim
Kareem J. Grimes	Do Dirty
Tracey Cherelle Jones	Sharika,Co-Worker
Kylan Bolton	Joe Joe
Freez Luv	Cake Man
Mo'Nique Imes-Jackson	Patrice
Snoop Dogg	Rodney
Juanita Jennings	Rachel
Liris Crosse	Receptionist
Sylvester Robinson	Little Boy
Maasai Singleton	Little Boy,Lil' Nut
Mario William Jackson	Roger
Keith Diamond	Sneed
Frederick Ricks	Winston
Selma McPherson	Ms. Daniels
Asondra Hunter	Woman
Tawny Dahl	Pandora
Alex Wright	Woman Inside
Serese Teate	Sheryl
Olan Thompson	Chris
Ephraim Benton	Young Thug
Java Benson	Young Thug
DeJuan Guy	Looney Toon
Deon Gregory	Tony
Tracey L. Davis	Knucklehead
Keiwan Spillman	Knucklehead
Diamond Dawn Cook	Woman
Charlee Miyohshi	Woman
Roma Alvarez	Mexican Neighbor
Limary Agosto	Lucy Girl
Amentha Dymally	Elderly Woman
Kym Whitley	Host
Hope Flood	Guest
Dannon Green	Guest
Sheila L. Ward	Mourner
Jamaica Carter	Ja Toi
Delores Gilbeaux	Co-Worker
Terrance Holloway	Dice Player
Hondes D. Williams Sr.	Dice Player
Calvin L. Valrie Jr.	Dice Player
Eddie Clark	Street Vendor
David Arnold	Composer

Technical Credits

John Singleton

John Singleton	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Kimberly R. Hardin	Casting,Casting
Bob Minor	Stunts
Ultimate Effects	Special Effects
Dwight Williams	Executive Producer,Producer
Veda Campbell	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Since Boyz 'N the Hood put him on the map, John Singleton has gone as far afield from that territory as a director can, from color-blind social commentary (Higher Learning) to historical drama (Rosewood) to outright escapism (Shaft). Ten years later, he returns to the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles, but this is a kinder, gentler Singleton, one interested in relationships defined more by underlying kindness than vengeful spite, one content to stop shy of operatic tragedy. As a result, Baby Boy feels a little neutered, even if it features astute observations about the societal roles ascribed to young African-American males, as well as the regrettable dynamics that grow from them. Singleton starts by quoting a psychologist who posits that the young black man is treated (and behaves) like a baby, incapable of tapping into a higher purpose while content to languish in neediness. From here he launches into a study of one particular "baby boy," Jody (credibly played by singer Tyrese Gibson in his film debut), whose relationships with the mothers of his two children, as well as his own mother, speak volumes about his stunted growth. Jody's head-butting with his mother's new boyfriend (Ving Rhames) and a paroled thug (Snoop Dogg) showcase more of the familiar friction from Boyz, which also has its place in this world of hair-trigger machismo. Singleton is a bit too heavy-handed -- a mural-sized portrait of slain gangsta rapper Tupac Shakur watches ominously over Jody's bed -- but even in a lesser effort, he remains one of film's most talented chroniclers of underexamined lives.