Baby Boy [UMD for PSP] | ![Baby Boy [UMD for PSP]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MQKFNGE4L._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: John Singleton
Actors: Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P. Henson, Omar Gooding, Tamara Laseon Bass, Candy Ann Brown
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy New: $7.82
You Save: $7.12 (48%)
New (16) Used (3) from $7.49
Rating:  106 reviews
Sales Rank: 113449
Format: Color, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Korean (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Genre: Action Games
Rating: R (Restricted)
ESRB: Teen
Media: UMD for PSP
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 130 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: COLDU15102
UPC: 043396151024
EAN: 0043396151024
ASIN: B000FDFSFO
Theatrical Release Date: June 29, 2001
Release Date: July 4, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Professional assassin leon reluctantly takes care of 12-year-old mathilda a neighbor whose parents are killed and teaches her his trade. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 10/31/2006 Starring: Gary Oldman Natalie Portman Run time: 109 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com
A worthy companion piece to 1991's Boyz N the Hood, John Singleton's Baby Boy expresses compassionate but unforgiving criticism of young, African American black men who lead reckless, irresponsible lives while blithely blaming racism for their chronic disadvantage. That's already enough to make this a provocative and emotionally challenging film, but Singleton injects his drama with such passionate vitality that it never seems inflammatory; instead, in presenting this portrait of a confused and conflicted 20-year-old black man named Jody (Tyrese Gibson), Singleton is both affectionate and accusatory, lending Baby Boy an edgy, timeless wisdom that other, less courageous films could never hope to offer. Unemployed and living with his 36-year-old mother (A.J. Johnson), Jody has fathered children from two young mothers and seems destined for an early grave. He never knew his father, but his mother's new boyfriend Melvin (played to perfection by Ving Rhames) is an ex-con with streetwise maturity that Jody, in time, will come to recognize and respect. This generational dynamic is the lifeblood of Singleton's central theme; Jody can follow Melvin's example or fall into the trap of lawlessness personified by Rodney (Snoop Dogg), a violent gangsta who arrives to threaten Jody's tenuous chance at a respectable adulthood. Through a wealth of fine performances and blistering dialogue, Baby Boy presents hard questions with no easy answers, and although Singleton is prone to polemical melodrama, his blunt approach serves a noble and ultimately hopeful purpose. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 101 more reviews...
 Great Performance! March 31, 2009
Wonderful cast and Great Performance by Tyrese and Taraji Henderson. I have watched this movie over and over and wanted to upgrade to DVD. Add this one to your collection!
 good movie February 26, 2009
debo lisa (cedar hill tx)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I probaly need to purchase another one i have watched this so much good movie
 Baby Boy December 28, 2008
Geminigirl (Philadelphia, PA United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I saw this movie when it was released and not again till last night. I was a fan of John Singleton's work and understood from interviews that his movies up to this point were his own "triology" of Black male life experiences in South Central L.A. This movie touched on a lot of ills in the Black community but didn't offer solutions tied up in a bow at the movie's end so to me it is an episodic few weeks in the life of one character, Jody aka "Baby Boy".
After my second viewing this isn't a movie that I'd add to my favorite list or that I want to see in entirety again though I would probably watch my favorite scenes from time to time. The pacing of the movie seems uneven to me - it was moving along fine until the Snoop character "Rodney" bogarts his way into Yvette's apartment after his release from jail during the final third of the movie. Clearly the character was only introduced to add tension to the story but I wonder how it would've turned out if Singleton had just focused on the factors and/or experiences that Jody faces during the movie that might have caused him to grow up and be a man and real father to his children and left the gangster bs out.
Like another reviewer, I was a little dismayed that education is not stressed as an option for Jody and his cousin P but as in real life, people only promote what they know which is why Jody's mom (AJ Johnson) stressed that he work but never suggested that he go to college.
I gave the disc 3 stars because I really enjoyed the special feature which I guess aired on Cinemax prior to the movie's release. I enjoyed all of the actors' comments regarding their characters and was surprised to hear Singleton state that he'd written this script for Tupac Shakur. Once I heard that statement, I couldn't help but think about how different this movie would have been had he lived to portray this character...Tyrese was good in the role but Tupac would have been magnificent I believe.
One other positive factor for me is that there is excellent chemistry between the cast members so their performances are stronger & more believable - especially Tyrese/Ving Rhames and Tyrese/Taraji P. Henson.
 Clumsy movie that makes excuses for irresponsible Black men. October 31, 2008
SHAWN JAMES (Bronx, NY)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
John Singleton's baby Boy attempt to make a comment on the state of young black men in Los Angeles. However this irresponsible movie tends to glorify the irresponsible behavior of its male characters instead of explaining the reasons why Black men have such a hard time becoming responsible providers in their communities. Underneath all the violence, foul language and graphic sex of this film is the same disjointed writing, clumsy acting, unfocused direction and poor editing that is prominent in every John Singleton film. Why do they keep letting this guy direct movies?
Baby Boy follows the story of Jody, a 20-year-old black man who still lives with his mother. Sadly his chicken headed mother acts more like a sister than his mom. Jody has two girlfriends, and has two babies by them. He has no way to support himself and has no reason to. Mommy takes care of him and his baby mammas take care of the kids. She's trying to move on with her life doing gardening and a new man, an ex-con with two strikes against him. He's trying to start a business twenty years too late. Jody spends his days hanging out with an unbalanced homie P or driving around town in his baby mama's car. Most times Jody and the young men in this movie have no goals, no dreams, and no aspirations outside of getting drunk or high. Singleton's picture of young Black men in America is heavily distorted, full of stereotypes .
Pressured by his woman, Baby Boy starts selling stolen clothes out of the trunk of her car, and in beauty salons. She starts to get jealous when she sees him flirting with his attractive female customers. But Jody perseveres to the point where he does well for himself. Baby Boy's Mama's Man gives Jody some good advice, but Jody refuses to listen cause he doesn't like the thug who has more wisdom and experience than he does. Hello Pot? This is Kettle. You're black.
Jody starts blowing on worthless stuff like money on rims and clothes. A girl at baby mama's work starts noticing Jody and this is where the film starts losing its perspective. We get long scenes where his insecure baby mama gives him drama about cheating, and mixed signals about their relationship. The movie starts to completely fall apart when Snoop Dogg hits the screen. After a fight turns into domestic violence, Baby Boy abandons his family. Snoop fresh off parole moves himself and his pot-smoking homeboys in. After an attempted rape in front of Jody's son him and his pot smoking homies have it in for Jody. They plan a drive by which miraculously misses Jody. Later that night Jody and his mentally unstable friend plan a hit on Snoop to protect his family. The two men eventually murder Snoop. A terrified Jody returns to Mama's house and Her man helps him gets rid of the evidence. One irresponsible act leads to another irresponsible act and that puts Jody on the right track to responsible behavior. Nice message Singleton.
Baby Boy is solid in the first half, and starts to lose focus and perspective after that. The second Baby mama from the middle class neighborhood disappears after the hour mark. I never get the sense that Jody has learned his lesson despite the idealized happy ending. One thing that irked me was that there was no mention of education in this movie. Education is the most powerful tool out of poverty yet Singleton never plays it up in this movie. Also, he never explores the roots of this irresponsible behavior among black men: the long-term psychological effects of institutional racism in the black community. The Omar Gooding character who was becoming more and more mentally unbalanced and violent due to the effects of this discrimination seems to just change for the better after a baptism. I don't buy it just like I don't buy the characters in this movie have changed at all from their experiences.
Despite Singelton's unfocused direction and clunky writing, the cinematography in this movie is solid portraying the ghetto as a place that is stagnant in a world that is constantly progressing. Tyrese is Okay as Jody. He starts off weak, but gets better as the movie progresses. Ving Rhames gives a solid performance as the ex-con. Omar Gooding steals the movie with his chilling portrayal of a man about to lose his mind. Snoop Dogg is himself playing an evil gangsta without a soul.
Baby Boy is worth a rental at best. Pick this up with Hollywood Shuffle for some nice contrast.
Good Movie September 14, 2008
Amber (Georgia)
This is one of my favorite movies. Tyrese plays the character "Jody" so well and he's so sexy while doing it. Taraji P. Henson is one of my favorite actresses as well and she does a good job at playing "Yvette." This movie takes you through life in the hood and a young male struggling on his journey to manhood.
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