A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life.A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life.A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 4 nominations
- Grocery Store Woman
- (as June Kyoko Lu)
- Man #2
- (as James Pickins Jr.)
- Teacher
- (as Nancy Cheryl Davis)
- Ronnie
- (as Jada Pinkett)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTupac Shakur was originally cast to play Sharif, but was fired which led to a physical fight with co-director Allen Hughes. Shakur was charged with assault and battery. Shakur bragged about the altercation on an appearance on Yo! MTV Raps (1988). A tape of the appearance was played at the trial as evidence against Shakur. Shakur was sentenced to fifteen days in jail.
- GoofsBefore the drive-by shooting at the end of the film, Illena's cousin is seen loading an Uzi machine pistol, and when the shooting is about to begin, he aims this gun out of the car window. However, when the shooting actually starts, he has changed over to a TEC-9, a completely different type of machine pistol.
- Quotes
[Caine Lawson reflecting after being shot]
Caine: After stomping Ilena's cousin like that, I knew I was gonna have to deal with that fool someday. Damn. I never thought he'd come back like this, blasting. Like I said, it was funny like that in the hood sometimes. I mean, you never knew what was gonna happen, or when. I'd done too much to turn back, and I'd done too much to go on. I guess in the end it all catches up with you. My grandpa asked me one time if I care whether I live or die. Yeah, I do. Now it's too late.
- Alternate versionsThe Criterion Collection director's cut on LaserDisc includes the following additional footage:
- An extra shot of bullets leaving the back of the guy Samuel L. Jackson kills
- An extra shot of Awax holding the gang member while he shoots him
- An small scene showing how Caine and O Dog brake into the car in the garage
- Two extra shots of bullet wounds during the final scene
- It also includes two deleted scenes; the funeral of Caine's cousin and a scene at his grandparents' house after the funeral
The violence used is also excessive and very graphic. There are brutal beatings as well as bloody shootings, all shot much better than your average action-movie. Like as in Dead Presidents, the directors aren't afraid of over-doing anything. Through slow-motion and impressive camera manoeuvering they're making great, exhilarating action.
Well, besides the violence the movie is great in many other ways. The shootings and bloodlettings are just to make it more realistic, which is pretty much the goal of the movie. In heartbreaking detail the main characters narrate us through youth criminality, drug-dealing, racism and a lot of other nasty stuff. The voice-over works really well, making Menace a sort of black "Goodfellas".
The story is great, in some points resembling some greek tragedy, with a storyline used successfully in other movies like Carlito's Way, Goodfellas, American History X and many others. It's about changing your life in time, before it's too late. If you don't change in time, all your past sins will come back to you. The movie is hilarious, sad, suspenseful and very educational for those who think there is racial equality in USA.
The Hughes' are young, aggressive and untouchable film-makers who intend to show you the real world, and do it with style.
- Oliver1984
- Mar 16, 2000
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $3,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $27,912,072
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,816,393
- May 31, 1993
- Gross worldwide
- $27,912,072
- Runtime1 hour 37 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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