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{{short description|1999 film by Rick Famuyiwa}}
{{For|the suburb of Nelson, New Zealand|The Wood, New Zealand}} {{about|the 1999 film|the suburb of Nelson, New Zealand|The Wood, New Zealand||Wood (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = The Wood | name = The Wood
Line 5: Line 6:
| caption = Theatrical release poster | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = Albert Berger, David Gale, Douglas Curtis, Momita Sengupta, Ron Yerxa, ], Van Toffler | writer = Rick Famuyiwa<br>]
| writer = Rick Famuyiwa<br>Todd Boyd | producer = Albert Berger<br>David Gale<br>Douglas Curtis<br>Momita Sengupta<br>Ron Yerxa<br>Todd Boyd<br>Van Toffler
| starring = {{Plain list|
| starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
* ]
⚫ | music = Robert Hurst
* ]
* ]
* ]
<!--NAMES ON THE FILM POSTER ONLY-->
}}
| narrator = <!--Only used in documentaries-->
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = John Carter | editing = ]
⚫ | music = Robert Hurst
| studio = ]
| distributor = ] | distributor = ]
| released = {{start date|1999|7|16}} | released = {{Film date|1999|7|16}}
| runtime = 106 minutes | runtime = 106 minutes
| country = United States | country = United States
| language = English | language = English
| budget = $6 million<ref>http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=woodthe.htm</ref> | budget = $6 million<ref name=mojo>{{Cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=woodthe.htm|title=The Wood|website=]}}</ref>
| gross = $25,059,640 | gross = $25 million<ref name=mojo/>
}} }}
'''''The Wood''''' is a 1999 ], ] by ] and Todd Boyd. Famuyiwa also ] the film, which stars ], ], and ]. The Wood premiered on Cinemax in July 2012. It is the first film from the Paramount Pictures library after 1997 to show on Cinemax or HBO '''''The Wood''''' is a 1999 American ] ] film directed by ] and starring ], ] and ]. It was written by Famuyiwa and ].


==Plot== ==Plot==
Roland (]) is getting married (and is currently missing) and Slim (]), who scoffs at the idea of marriage, but is furious at Roland for disappearing. The story reminisces back to Mike's (portrayed as a youth by ]) first encounters with Roland (]) and Slim (]), his first real crush on a girl named Alicia (]), and the three young men's misadventures as teenagers growing up in ] ("The Wood"). Shy and awkward, Mike sticks out like a sore thumb on his first day, but is quickly befriended by Slim and Roland. Roland is getting married and is currently missing. Slim, who scoffs at the idea of marriage, is furious at Roland for disappearing. The story ] to Mike as a youth when he first encounters Roland and Slim, his first real ] on a girl named Alicia, and the three young men's misadventures as teenagers growing up in 1980s ] (aka "the Wood").


On a dare from Slim and Roland, Mike runs and grabs Alicia's butt, leading to a big fight with her big brother Stacey (]), a violent gang member. While he is thoroughly beat down, Mike earns Stacey's private respect for fighting back like a man. Meanwhile in present day, Mike and Slim go find Roland for his wedding, when they get a call from Tanya (]) 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 bride Lisa (]) because they only have two hours before the ceremony begins. Shy and awkward, Mike is quickly befriended by Slim and Roland. On a dare from Slim and Roland, Mike reluctantly grabs Alicia's butt, leading to a physical altercation with her older brother and ] gang member, Stacey. While he is beaten up, Mike earns Stacey's private respect for having courage to fight back.


Meanwhile, in present day, Mike and Slim get a call from Tanya, Roland's ex, saying that Roland is at her house, extremely drunk. When they arrive, they argue with Roland for putting his relationship at risk, as the wedding is just hours away.
Back to their old school times, they go to their first dance of the year, go to a store that gets held up by Stacey, who recognizes the boys and offers them a ride to the dance. The boys almost get arrested by two cops due to Stacey's broken taillight. Mike's quick thinking prevents one of the cops from finding Stacey's gun and they are let go not realizing that the hold-up Stacey and Boo did is what gotten them off the hook. Impressed, Stacey begins a new friendship with Mike by apologizing for their prior run in but explained that he was protecting his sister, and, seeing how much Mike likes her, gives him advice on how to win her heart. When they get back to the dance it is almost over and Mike gets to dance with Alicia and at the end of the dance he gets her number. In the present day while reminiscing Roland gets sick, throws up all over Slim and Mike 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 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. One day Mike and Alicia walks to her house from the library talking about the prom. They hear the first song they danced to for the first time as they dance and kissed. They begin to have sex but stops because Mike's condom broke and Alicia tells Mike that Stacey should have a condom in his room. Mike found a condom in Stacey's room having to hide under his bed so he wouldn't get caught. As Stacey and his girlfriend left, Mike goes back to Alicia's room and finally make love. Mike won the bet but he didn't tell Roland and Slim for the respect of Alicia. Mike, now hiding his still present shyness with a veil of over confidence, reconnects romantically with Alicia. It's revealed in the present time that after High School, Alicia and Mike went their separate ways for good. The boys finally make it to the ceremony to have Roland apologize to a furious Lisa for leaving her worried before the wedding ceremony. Before the ceremony begins Mike sees Alicia (]) his childhood crush, and finally Roland and Lisa get married. Mike 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".

Flashing back to the 1980s, the boys are on their way to the first dance of the year, stopping at a convenience store that gets robbed by Stacey. Stacey recognizes the boys and offers them a ride to the dance. The group is nearly arrested after being pulled over for a broken tail light. Mike's quick thinking prevents one of the cops from finding Stacey's gun. They let them go when the cops respond to a call about the stick-up Stacey pulled earlier from him and his friend.

Impressed, Stacey begins a new friendship with Mike by apologizing for their prior run-in. However, he explains that he was protecting his sister and seeing how much Mike likes her, gives him advice on how to win her over. When they arrive at the dance, it is almost over, and Mike is able to secure a dance with Alicia and also get her number. Later, Mike and Alicia date for a time before breaking up and remaining friends.

In the present day, while reminiscing, Roland becomes sick and accidentally vomits on Slim and Mike. Now, the men only have an hour left before the wedding and they have to get cleaned up, so they take their clothes to the cleaners.

Mike, returning to their memories when they were juniors in high school, remembers them thinking about sex, ways to get it and making a lot of bets as to who has it first. Mike has a girlfriend and Alicia has a boyfriend. Despite both of them already being in a relationship with somebody else, one day Mike and Alicia walk to her house from the library talking about the homecoming dance.

They listen to "]" on the radio, the song to which they had the first dance. Alicia and Mike begin getting intimate, but Alicia stops him and tells Mike to retrieve a condom from Stacey's room. Mike finds a condom in Stacey's room. Before leaving, he has to hide under his bed, so as not to get caught when Stacey and his girlfriend come home. After they leave, Mike goes back to Alicia's room and they have sex. Mike wins the bet, but he doesn't tell Roland and Slim out of respect for Alicia.

It is revealed in the present that after high school, Alicia and Mike went their separate ways with Alicia going to attend ] in New York while Mike decided to stay home and attend ] even though Roland reveals that Mike could have followed her as he did get accepted into ]. The boys finally make it to the wedding and Roland apologizes to a furious Lisa for leaving her worried. Before the ceremony begins, Mike has a fond exchange with a now-grown Alicia while Roland and Lisa get married. Mike reminisces on the homecoming dance, declaring that he, Roland and Slim will be the boys from "the Wood".


==Cast== ==Cast==
*] as Mike, and he tells the story about how he and his friends grew up together in “The Wood”. *] as Michael "Mike" Tarver, who narrates how he and his friends grew up together in "The Wood".
⚫ **] as young Mike, a newcomer from ] who just moved to Inglewood at a new school. He became friends with Roland and Slim.
*] as Slim, he and Mike helps Roland get back to the ceremony to get married. *] as Laveinio "Slim" Hightower, he and Mike help Roland get back to the ceremony to get married.
⚫ *] as Roland, he is supposed to get married and has second thoughts about it and is found drunk by his two best friends.
⚫ **Duane Finley as young Slim, raised up in "The Wood", best friends with Roland growing up and then meeting Mike. He was always asking for Roland to hook him up.
⚫ *] as Roland Blackmon, the groom who has second thoughts about getting married and is found drunk by his two best friends.
⚫ **Trent Cameron as young Roland, a self-proclaimed ladies man who gets no play most of the time.
*] as Alicia, an old childhood friend that grew up and came back to see Mike. *] as Alicia, an old childhood friend that grew up and came back to see Mike.
**] as young Alicia
*] as Lisa, a bride getting ready to marry Roland, and gets upset about his disappearance. *] as Lisa, a bride getting ready to marry Roland, and gets upset about his disappearance.
⚫ *] as Stacey, Alicia's big brother that takes up for her when she is younger. He's also a "]" gang member. Stacey reappears in the film '']''.
⚫ *] as Young Mike, is new from North Carolina, and just moved to Inglewood at a new school and became friends with Roland and Slim.
⚫ *] as "Boo", Stacey's friend and member of the "]".
⚫ *] 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.
*] as Tanya, Roland's ex-girlfriend
⚫ *] as Young Roland, he is hip, fresh, and cool, gets all the ladies, and he gets no play most of the time.
*] as Mike's younger brother
*] as Young Alicia, she was hardcore, but sweet and in time she began to like Mike.
⚫ *] 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 “]”.
⚫ *] as Boo, Stacey's homie and member of the “]”.


==Reception==
== Critical Reviews==
The film holds a 61% on ] based on 56 reviews, with the critical consensus: "A charming piece of work with believable characters."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wood/|title = The Wood|website = ]}}</ref> Reviewing for the '']'' in July 1999, ] called it "a sweet, lighthearted comedy" and applauded Famuyiwa for capturing members of the cinematically marginalized ]. "The movie feels a little uncertain, as if it's moving from present to past under the demands of a screenplay rather than because it really feels that way", Ebert wrote in conclusion. "But the growing-up stuff is kind of wonderful."<ref>{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=July 16, 1999|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-wood-1999|title=The Wood movie review (1999)|newspaper=]|access-date=February 29, 2020|via=rogerebert.com}}</ref>
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== ===Awards and nominations===
''']''' ''']'''<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wood (1999) Awards & Festivals |url=https://mubi.com/films/the-wood/awards |website=Mubi.com |access-date=10 April 2023}}</ref>
*Best Actor (Theatrical) &mdash; Sean Nelson (nominated) * Best Actor (Theatrical)—Sean Nelson (nominated)
*Best Actress (Theatrical) &mdash; Malinda Williams (nominated) * Best Actress (Theatrical)—Malinda Williams (nominated)
*Best Director (Theatrical) &mdash; Rick Famuyiwa (nominated) * Best Director (Theatrical)—Rick Famuyiwa (nominated)
*Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) &mdash; Rick Famuyiwa, Todd Boyd (nominated) * Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)—Rick Famuyiwa, Todd Boyd (nominated)


''']''' ''']'''<ref>{{cite news |title=The 31st NAACP Image Awards Nominees List |url=http://www.blackfilm.com/0202/features/f-naacp.shtml |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=Blackfilm.com}}</ref>
*Outstanding Motion Picture (nominated) * Outstanding Motion Picture (nominated)


''']''' ''']'''
*Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures &mdash; ], Jolyon Skinner: '']'' ('''winner''') * Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures—], Jolyon Skinner: "]" ('''winner''')


==Soundtrack== ==Soundtrack==
{{main|The Wood (soundtrack)}} {{main|The Wood (soundtrack)}}
A soundtrack was released on July 13, 1999 by ] featuring rap and R&B music. The soundtrack found great success, peaking at #16 on the ] and #2 on the ], and was certified gold by the ] on August 25, 1999. A soundtrack was released on July 13, 1999, by ] featuring rap and R&B music. The soundtrack found great success, peaking at number 16 on the ] and 2 on the ]. The album was certified gold by the ] on August 25, 1999.

== Television series ==
In August 2021, ] gave a pilot order to a television series adaptation of the film. The project was set to be produced by ], with Justin Hillian writing and Famuyiwa directing the pilot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/showtime-orders-the-wood-comedy-pilot-based-movie-rick-famuyiwa-justin-hillian-1234820876/|title=Showtime Orders 'The Wood' Comedy Pilot Based On Movie From Justin Hillian & Rick Famuyiwa|website=]|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=August 24, 2021|accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> In April 2023, Showtime announced the network would not be moving forward with the series.<ref>{{cite news |title='Heist 88' Moves To Showtime As Network Picks Up 'Seasoned' To Series, Passes On 'The Wood' & Cancels 'Ziwe' After 2 Seasons |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/heist-88-showtime-seasoned-series-order-the-wood-ziwe-canceled-1235317984/ |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 5, 2023}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800019704/info


==External links== ==External links==
{{Portal|Film}}
*{{Amg movie|180247|The Wood}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0161100|title=The Wood}} *{{IMDb title|id=0161100|title=The Wood}}
*{{Rotten-tomatoes|id=wood|title=The Wood}} *{{Rotten-tomatoes|id=wood|title=The Wood}}


{{Rick Famuyiwa}}
{{MTV Films}} {{MTV Films}}


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Latest revision as of 12:48, 22 December 2024

1999 film by Rick Famuyiwa This article is about the 1999 film. For the suburb of Nelson, New Zealand, see The Wood, New Zealand. For other uses, see Wood (disambiguation).
The Wood
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRick Famuyiwa
Written byRick Famuyiwa
Todd Boyd
Produced byAlbert Berger
David Gale
Douglas Curtis
Momita Sengupta
Ron Yerxa
Todd Boyd
Van Toffler
Starring
CinematographySteven Bernstein
Edited byJohn Carter
Music byRobert Hurst
Production
company		MTV Productions
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • July 16, 1999 (1999-07-16)
Running time106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6 million
Box office$25 million

The Wood is a 1999 American coming-of-age comedy drama film directed by Rick Famuyiwa and starring Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones and Taye Diggs. It was written by Famuyiwa and Todd Boyd.

Plot

Roland is getting married and is currently missing. Slim, who scoffs at the idea of marriage, is furious at Roland for disappearing. The story flashes back to Mike as a youth when he first encounters Roland and Slim, his first real crush on a girl named Alicia, and the three young men's misadventures as teenagers growing up in 1980s Inglewood, California (aka "the Wood").

Shy and awkward, Mike is quickly befriended by Slim and Roland. On a dare from Slim and Roland, Mike reluctantly grabs Alicia's butt, leading to a physical altercation with her older brother and Blood gang member, Stacey. While he is beaten up, Mike earns Stacey's private respect for having courage to fight back.

Meanwhile, in present day, Mike and Slim get a call from Tanya, Roland's ex, saying that Roland is at her house, extremely drunk. When they arrive, they argue with Roland for putting his relationship at risk, as the wedding is just hours away.

Flashing back to the 1980s, the boys are on their way to the first dance of the year, stopping at a convenience store that gets robbed by Stacey. Stacey recognizes the boys and offers them a ride to the dance. The group is nearly arrested after being pulled over for a broken tail light. Mike's quick thinking prevents one of the cops from finding Stacey's gun. They let them go when the cops respond to a call about the stick-up Stacey pulled earlier from him and his friend.

Impressed, Stacey begins a new friendship with Mike by apologizing for their prior run-in. However, he explains that he was protecting his sister and seeing how much Mike likes her, gives him advice on how to win her over. When they arrive at the dance, it is almost over, and Mike is able to secure a dance with Alicia and also get her number. Later, Mike and Alicia date for a time before breaking up and remaining friends.

In the present day, while reminiscing, Roland becomes sick and accidentally vomits on Slim and Mike. Now, the men only have an hour left before the wedding and they have to get cleaned up, so they take their clothes to the cleaners.

Mike, returning to their memories when they were juniors in high school, remembers them thinking about sex, ways to get it and making a lot of bets as to who has it first. Mike has a girlfriend and Alicia has a boyfriend. Despite both of them already being in a relationship with somebody else, one day Mike and Alicia walk to her house from the library talking about the homecoming dance.

They listen to "If This World Were Mine" on the radio, the song to which they had the first dance. Alicia and Mike begin getting intimate, but Alicia stops him and tells Mike to retrieve a condom from Stacey's room. Mike finds a condom in Stacey's room. Before leaving, he has to hide under his bed, so as not to get caught when Stacey and his girlfriend come home. After they leave, Mike goes back to Alicia's room and they have sex. Mike wins the bet, but he doesn't tell Roland and Slim out of respect for Alicia.

It is revealed in the present that after high school, Alicia and Mike went their separate ways with Alicia going to attend Columbia University in New York while Mike decided to stay home and attend The University of Southern California even though Roland reveals that Mike could have followed her as he did get accepted into New York University. The boys finally make it to the wedding and Roland apologizes to a furious Lisa for leaving her worried. Before the ceremony begins, Mike has a fond exchange with a now-grown Alicia while Roland and Lisa get married. Mike reminisces on the homecoming dance, declaring that he, Roland and Slim will be the boys from "the Wood".

Cast

  • Omar Epps as Michael "Mike" Tarver, who narrates how he and his friends grew up together in "The Wood".
    • Sean Nelson as young Mike, a newcomer from North Carolina who just moved to Inglewood at a new school. He became friends with Roland and Slim.
  • Richard T. Jones as Laveinio "Slim" Hightower, he and Mike help Roland get back to the ceremony to get married.
    • Duane Finley as young Slim, raised up in "The Wood", best friends with Roland growing up and then meeting Mike. He was always asking for Roland to hook him up.
  • Taye Diggs as Roland Blackmon, the groom who has second thoughts about getting married and is found drunk by his two best friends.
    • Trent Cameron as young Roland, a self-proclaimed ladies man who gets no play most of the time.
  • Sanaa Lathan as Alicia, an old childhood friend that grew up and came back to see Mike.
  • LisaRaye McCoy as Lisa, a bride getting ready to marry Roland, and gets upset about his disappearance.
  • De'Aundre Bonds as Stacey, Alicia's big brother that takes up for her when she is younger. He's also a "Bloods" gang member. Stacey reappears in the film Dope.
  • Antwon Tanner as "Boo", Stacey's friend and member of the "Bloods".
  • Tamala Jones as Tanya, Roland's ex-girlfriend
  • Jascha Washington as Mike's younger brother

Reception

The film holds a 61% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 56 reviews, with the critical consensus: "A charming piece of work with believable characters." Reviewing for the Chicago Sun-Times in July 1999, Roger Ebert called it "a sweet, lighthearted comedy" and applauded Famuyiwa for capturing members of the cinematically marginalized African-American middle class. "The movie feels a little uncertain, as if it's moving from present to past under the demands of a screenplay rather than because it really feels that way", Ebert wrote in conclusion. "But the growing-up stuff is kind of wonderful."

Awards and nominations

2000 Black Reel Awards

  • 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)

2000 NAACP Image Awards

  • Outstanding Motion Picture (nominated)

2001 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards

  • Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures—Joe, Jolyon Skinner: "I Wanna Know" (winner)

Soundtrack

Main article: The Wood (soundtrack)

A soundtrack was released on July 13, 1999, by Jive Records featuring rap and R&B music. The soundtrack found great success, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on August 25, 1999.

Television series

In August 2021, Showtime gave a pilot order to a television series adaptation of the film. The project was set to be produced by Paramount Television Studios, with Justin Hillian writing and Famuyiwa directing the pilot. In April 2023, Showtime announced the network would not be moving forward with the series.

References

  1. ^ "The Wood". Box Office Mojo.
  2. "The Wood". Rotten Tomatoes.
  3. Ebert, Roger (July 16, 1999). "The Wood movie review (1999)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 29, 2020 – via rogerebert.com.
  4. "The Wood (1999) Awards & Festivals". Mubi.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  5. "The 31st NAACP Image Awards Nominees List". Blackfilm.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  6. Petski, Denise (August 24, 2021). "Showtime Orders 'The Wood' Comedy Pilot Based On Movie From Justin Hillian & Rick Famuyiwa". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  7. "'Heist 88' Moves To Showtime As Network Picks Up 'Seasoned' To Series, Passes On 'The Wood' & Cancels 'Ziwe' After 2 Seasons". Deadline Hollywood. April 5, 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.

External links

Rick Famuyiwa
Films directed
Films written only
MTV Films
1990s
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