Juice – Budget of $5 million – 1 hour and 35 minutes

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Raheem, Bishop, Q, and Steel are 4 friends that call themselves the Wrecking Crew.  While all 4 have loving families, they have issues.  Bishop’s father is physically present but mentally absent.  Raheem is a new father with no connection with the mother of his child Kiesha.  Q wants to move past the “local DJ” scene and on to bigger venues by winning a contest but his mother wants him to get a 9 to 5.  And Steel is teased at home and at school.  The 4 often skip school together, drink, and watch TV.  While skipping school, Q and Raheem see Bishop being harassed by a local gang and step in to help.  Also, the 4 are chased by the truancy police, Steel is caught and brought back to school.  Then, Q runs into Blizzard at a local pool hall.  Blizzard warns Q that he is going to rob the hall and ask if he wants a piece of the action.  Q says no and leaves.  Later, the Wrecking Crew hears that Blizzard was shot by the police during the robbery.  Most are worried by Bishop is inspired.  Bishop is tired of running from gangs and the police.  He wants respect.  He wants the Juice.  So, Bishop convinces Raheem and Steel to rob a local convenience store and use Q’s DJ contest as their alibi.  Q doesn’t want to but is convinced it will be one quick job that would earn money and respect.  At the end of the story, out of the Wrecking Crew, 2 are dead, 1 is shot, and the other has the Juice.

This is a sad tale of a one poisonous apple ruining the bunch.  While all 4 members of the Wrecking Crew were not angels, no one could have foreseen what would become of their friendship.  While fighting for alpha male status, Bishop and Q are often at odds.  One aspect that is missing from the movie is Bishop’s conversation to convince Steel and Raheem to rob the store.  At first, they called him crazy and said no, the next scene they were hardcore down to do the robbery.  It just happened too fast.   While some would want to hear Bishop’s internal dialogue, it’s not needed.  Bishop’s feeling of betrayal, anger, resentment, and fear are written all over the actor’s face.  This movie is a great film to lose yourself with a strong storyline, interesting characters, and many different interpersonal relationships in a group dynamic.  Could you stand up to Bishop? Could you handle the Juice? Watch and decide for yourself.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

Yeah, I thought so – Raheem

You’re out of there – Steel

If you want respect, you got to earn it – Q

If you gotta go out, that’s how you go out – Bishop

I’ve been working out. You don’t mind a little sweat do you – Yolanda

You slid down a razor blade into an alcohol bath – Trip

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