Movies like Brotherly Love are How She Move, Gracie, and Streetballers, among others. The film has also been compared to 1990s movies like Menace II Society and Boyz n the Hood.
Streetballers (2009)
- Director: Matt Krentz
- Stars: Jimmy McKinney, Matt Krentz, Adrieanne Perez
Streetballers tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two junior college basketball players, one Irish-American, and one colored, both trying to use streetball as their escape.
McKinney, a former University of Missouri basketball athlete, portrays Jacob Whitmore, the colored player, while director Krentz steps into the shoes of John Hoga, the white basketball player.
The two players are enticed into a world of crime and gambling on the courts of St. Louis' challenging Northside neighborhoods.
Amidst the struggles of alcoholism and drugs, Hogan and Whitmore seek sanity, discovering healing through their participation in one of the most competitive street courts in the United States.
It is a story fueled by passion, faith, and achieving goals.
It captures the poetic essence of street basketball, shedding light on the challenges confronted both on and off the court by the most genuine athletes.
How She Move (2007)
- Director: Ian Iqbal Rashid
- Stars: Rutina Wesley, Clé Bennett, Romina D'Ugo
How She Move is a 2007 drama film featuring the street culture of step dancing. The film is produced by Celluloid Dreams, Paramount Vantage, Sienna Filma, and MTV Films.
The movie follows a high school student compelled to abandon her private school and return to her former, crime-ridden neighborhood after her sister's tragic demise due to drug addiction.
In this environment, she unexpectedly reignites her passion for the fiercely competitive realm of step dancing.
The film garnered predominantly favorable reviews from critics, achieving a 67% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 79 reviews.
You can stream How She Move by purchasing or renting on Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, and Google Play. The title is also available for free on Pluto.
Gracie (2007)
- Director: Davis Guggenheim
- Stars: Carly Schroeder, Andrew Shue, Elisabeth Shue
Gracie is a 2007 American sports drama about a teenager who takes on the challenge of advocating for women's inclusion in competitive soccer, overcoming many obstacles along the way.
The film is set in 1978 New Jersey before 1972's Title IX had had much impact on women's college sports and when established women's soccer was still very rare in the US.
Gracie, the film's protagonist, overcomes the loss of her beloved brother by convincing her family and school to let her play varsity soccer on an all-boys team.
The storyline draws inspiration from the childhood experience of American actress Elisabeth Shue, who not only served as one of the producers but also played a role in the film.
She is also the wife of director Guggenheim.
The film attained a 62% rating from Rotten Tomatoes based on 92 reviews, scoring an average rating of 5.90/10.
Menace II Society (1993)
- Director: Hughes Brothers
- Stars: Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, June Kyoto Lu
Menace II Society is a 1993 American teen drama film set in the Crenshaw and Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles, California. It follows the life of Caine Lawson (Turner) and his close friends.
The film garnered attention for its depictions of violence, profanity, and drug-related themes.
It received critical acclaim for the performances of Turner, Larenz Tate, and Jada Pinkett, the skillful direction, and its authentic portrayal of urban violence and powerful underlying messages.
The film grossed $27.9 million in the US and Canada and $1.6 million internationally for a worldwide collection of $29.5 million.
It has received an 84% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 45 reviews.
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
- Director: John Singleton
- Stars: Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Hudhail Al-Amir
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American coming-of-age hood crime drama written and directed by Singleton on his feature directional debut.
The film follows the story of Tre Styles (Gooding Jr.), as he relocates to South Central Los Angeles to reside with his father, Furious Styles (Fishburne).
In 1984, ten-year-old Tre is living with his single mom, Reva, in Inglewood, CA. After the boy gets into a fight at school, his teacher calls his mom and says he is intelligent but is immature and disrespectful.
Frightened about his future, Reva sends him to live with his dad, who is strict but is also a caring and attentive father.
The film received an approval rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 70 reviews.
The website's critical consensus reads, "Boyz n the Hood observes urban America with far more depth and compassion than many of the like-minded films its success inspired."
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