Written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa and starring Zoë Kravitz, A$AP Rocky, Kiersey Clemons and Shameik Moore, “Dope” tells the coming-of-age story of three friends. While the storyline is like many other coming-of-age movies (high school teenagers going through a phase where they feel like they don’t fit in), “Dope”looks at the “hood” side of the stories.The friends are considered geeks in their high school, which is something you probably wouldn’t expect in a black film. The movie breaks these expectations by reframing the black youth in America. Many black films show the same side of the black youth: drug dealers, gangsters, raised by single mothers and living the tough life. “Dope”shows the side of the black youth that aren’t as well represented in the media while still keeping some of the typical characteristics of black film. The film starts with showing the life of the main character Malcom Adekanbi, played by Shameik Moore. Malcolm lives with his single mother in Inglewood, California in Darby-Dixon neighborhood referred to as “The Bottoms.” The first 10 minutes of the movie practically sets the scene for rest of the film. It shows the girl Malcom is after, what his dreams are, the negative things in his life and the cool kids that change his life. While I could go on about why “Dope” is one of the best films made and ruin it I will just give some reasons why you should watch it. Why you should put "Dope" on your Netflix Queue:The movie challenges black movie stereotypes. It doesn’t focus solely on the blackness of the characters. Instead, it shows their daily lives in their space. “Dope” has the dopest soundtrack. Pharrell Williams, executive producer and music supervisor for the film, helped put Awreeoh, Malcom’s band, together. Songs from well known artists and groups such as Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy and Kap G were also a part of the soundtrack. “Dope”is pure comedy. It also shows black excellence in a different setting (the hood).
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