GULLY

US, 2019, 84 minutes, Colour.

Kelvin Harrison Jr, Jacob Latimore, Charlie Plummer, John Corbett, Amber Heard, Robin Givens, Terrence Howard.

Directed by Nabil Elderkin.

This is a comparatively brief slice of Los Angeles life, a rather grim look at the hard life, many glum moments.

The film has is very strong cast, led by Kelvin Harrison Jr, disillusioned with life, relying on his friends, playing tough computer games, often just sitting in the bath, waiting for the owner of the house, played by John Corbett, to come home – and his demands for sexual activity. The other African-American young man is played by Jacob Latimore, talented, resentful, drugs, computer games, urged by school authorities to do better but opting out. The third member of the group is played by Charlie Plummer, white, seen at home with his mother, played by Amber Heard, father long since gone, brutal towards his son. He is also resentful, teams with his friends as they travel around Los Angeles, observing, playing the computer games. He also visits a girlfriend and there is a discussion about an abortion, his not taking responsibility, her mother shouting him down. As he moved along

the streets, encounters a young man, artist, bashing him severely.

When the group finds out what is happening to their friend and his having to submit to sexual activity, they confront the man, violent, eventually shooting – and the white member of the group arrested, going to jail.

As a kind of odd chorus, there is a vagrant man on the streets, played by Terrence Howard, observing, making utterances about the men, about hardships of life.

Not the kind of film that is entertaining, even with strong performances, but to be seen as a social, sociological portrait of life on Los Angeles streets.