LUV (2012)

LUV: Directed by Sheldon Candis. With Michael Rainey Jr., Tracey Heggins, Common, Lonette McKee. An 11-year-old boy gets a crash course in what it means to be a man when he spends a day with the ex-convict uncle he idolizes.

“If you take off your in-denial, self-righteous moral lens about a black movie actually shedding light on some of the problems that exist in black America and the extent of diffusion of the drug trade into black communities (even amongst the apparently upper-income, well-respected entrepreneurial and educated class), you will realize that this was simply a brilliant movie.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story-line was engaging and paced just right. The casting was sublime and the actors were excellent, completely immersed in their various roles, and the moral of the story–that in the complexities of the social ills our society has imposed upon us, and particularly on black males, there are still jewels of goodness, and valid learning opportunities that help us grow, that can still grow young boys into good men. That good black men can emerge who choose right paths, despite the fact that segregation in the North and South path-dependently constrained opportunities for their male predecessors, and that family is our bond.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat a brilliant movie. Much better than those complex Woody Allen movies about much less substantive issues that get lauded with awards and good reviews.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDonu0026#39;t believe the biased, negative reviews. This is one of the best movies you will ever see. I promise.”