DOPE

US, 2015, 103 minutes, Colour.
Shameik Moore, Tony Revelori, Keirsey Clemons, Kimberly Elise, Blake Anderson, Bruce Beatty, Roger Guenver Smith.
Directed by Rick Famuyiwa.

At the beginning of this film, three definitions of Dope are offered: there is the obvious one about drugs; there is the obvious one about a fool; but there is also a meaning which offers dope as slang for something exuberant and exciting.

The central character of this film, Malcolm (Shameik Moore in a pleasant and ingratiating performance) lives with his mother at home in the black neighbourhood, dangerous neighbourhood, of Los Angeles, Inglewood. He is an intelligent young man, good at studies, smart with words and ideas, loving music from the 1990s which he and his friends like to play – in fact, they hold the 1990s (which was before their time!) in great regard, especially the music, the songs and the groups. Older audiences may remember that the 1990s saw the emergence of many of the African- American street films and gangster films – and stories of Boyz in the Hood. This is a 2015 version of Boyz in the Good Hood.

There is a narration by Forest Whitaker who is also a producer of the film. He explains Malcolm and his background, his best friend Jib, played by Tony Revelori, so effective as the bellboy in The Grand Budapest Hotel, as well is Diggy, who looks like a boy, but is explained as a young lesbian. The three are inseparable, played music together, are good friends.

The three do well at school, although looked down on by some of the tougher types, and bullied – but with Malcolm giving them their comeuppance later in the film, pulling a gun on them and their cowering away.

One afternoon they have to drive through difficult streets, are set upon, and a drug dealer suddenly wants Malcolm to be a go-between with him and the girl to whom is attracted. This leads to Malcolm and his friends, not without difficulties with the bouncers at the door, getting into a club to celebrate the dealer’s birthday. When the place is raided, the dealer puts the drugs in Malcolm’s schoolbag and, when he escapes, Malcolm discovers the drugs. Another dealer phones to make an appointment to collect them, when suddenly the actual dealer, now in prison, rings for them to be delivered to a wealthy mansion.

This leads, of course, to all kinds of complications, with Malcolm using his wits, making contact with a white dealer who is able to dispose of the drugs, get the money, set up secret accounts – which Malcolm can hold over the respectable boss dealing in drugs.

There are comic touches, serious and dramatic touches, Malcolm rather unwilling to be caught up in this kind of world when his heart is set on his studies, in going to Harvard, his thesis on Ice Cube, and using his wits to survive in the Hood.

The film is very local, made for an American audience, a local Los Angeles audience – which may mean, though an audience outside Los Angeles is invited in to participate and observe, that non-Americans might find that being on the outside makes it less easy to be involved.

1. A film about an LA neighbourhood, Inglewood, African- American neighbourhood?

2. A film about young people, hopes and ambitions, trapped in their neighbourhoods, having to deal with life shrewdly, friendships, family relationships, crime and violence, drugs?

3. The visualising of the neighbourhood, the streets, the homes, interiors, school, clubs, parties, the musical score?

4. The title, the meanings given at the beginning, drugs, a fool, something excellent!

5. The harking back to the 1990s, music, songs and groups? Malcolm and his friends emulating them? The reactions of later generations? The 1990s as the era of the emergence of black street films? This film as a parallel – but for life and opportunities 20 years later?

6. Malcolm, his story, his clothes, his square haircut, the narration by Forest Whitaker? Explanations, information?

7. Malcolm’s story, his age, living with his mother, well read, good memory, extensive vocabulary, his skill in writing, his thesis on Ice Cube? His love of music and playing? His fascination with girls, masturbation scenes? His ambitions, Harvard? The discussions with the principal, the principal putting him down, his standing his ground? The interview with the celebrity? The irony of his being the drug dealer?

8. Malcolm and his friends, Jib, his outlook on life, ambitions, a follower? The description of Diggy, appearing like a boy, lesbian? The friendship with the other two? Together? The attitudes of the kids at the school, looking down on them? The taunts at Diggy?

9. Riding on their bikes, through the streets, the neighbourhoods? Accosted by the thugs?

10. The drug dealer, wanting Malcolm to be a go-between with the girl, delivering the messages? The girl and her response? Inviting Malcolm to the party, the bouncers at the door not letting the group go in, getting the equipment, the dealer and his standover tactics with the owner of the club, the getting in, the dancing, Jib and his drinking, Malcolm and his school bag, stowed, the police raid, their dealer and his arrest, going to jail? Putting the drugs in the bag? Malcolm and the group getting away?

11. The drug complications, the phone call, the group following them, tracking them, with the GPS on the phone, putting it on the bus and the frustration of the dealer simply finding the phone?

12. The dealer in prison, his phone call, urging the delivery at the mansion? The son, his love for music, welcoming them in, recording, going to get the food, the tangle at the diner, his being wounded, back home? His sister, seductive, in the pool, leading Malcolm on? Malcolm’s willingness? The appointment for his interview, her offering to drive him, the erratic driving, getting out of the car, urinating in public, this being photographed, on the television news?

13. The interview, Malcolm’s hopes about Harvard, the reputation of the interviewer, the double talk about the drugs, Malcolm realising the drugs were for him? Using the analogy of Amazon and the need to get rid of the drugs? Malcolm, his shrewdness, going to the dealer, getting the drugs sold, the implications for the cash, the accounts and the hidden websites, Will Sherwood, white, the contact with Malcolm, his dealings, getting the information from the office about accounts, his setting up the accounts?

14. Malcolm, his return, the interview with the drug boss, his hold over him with the information about the accounts, the blackmail for Harvard?

15. Malcolm, the prom, the ticket for the girl, the discussions, his going? His helping her with her studies, her passing? His new haircut? Jib and Diggy?

16. A variation of Boyz in the Hood, 2015 style – with a better educated young man, better socially adjusted, intelligent, with higher ambitions?