The Wood
Encyclopedia
The Wood is a 1999 romantic comedy
, written
by Rick Famuyiwa
and Todd Boyd. Famuyiwa also directed
the film, which stars Omar Epps
, Richard T. Jones
, and Taye Diggs
.
) is getting married(and is currently missing) and Slim (Richard T. Jones
), who scoffs at the idea of marriage, but is furious at Roland for disappearing. The story reminisces back to Mike's (portrayed as a youth by Sean Nelson
) first encounters with Roland (Trent Cameron
) and Slim (Duane Finley), his first real crush on a girl named Alicia (Malinda Williams), and the three young men's misadventures as teenagers. Shy and awkward, Mike sticks out like a sore thumb on his first day, but is quickly befriended by Slim and Roland.
On a dare from Slim and Roland, Mike runs and grabs Alicia's butt, leading to a big fight with her big brother Stacey (De'Aundre Bonds
), a violent gang member. While he is thoroughly beat down, Mike earns Stacey's private respect for fighting back like a man. Meanwhile in present day, Mike and Slim go find Roland for his wedding, when they get a call from Tanya (Tamala Jones
) saying that she has him with her and that he is very drunk. They get to her house to pick him up to take him back to the wedding to marry his bride Lisa (LisaRaye
) because they only have two hours before the ceremony begins.
Back to their old school times, they go to their first dance of the year, go to a store that gets held up by Stacey and almost gets arrested by two cops while the three are riding in a car with Stacey. Mike's quick thinking prevents it and they are let go. Impressed, Stacey apologizes for their prior run in but explained that he was protecting his sister, and, seeing how much Mike likes her, gives him advice on how to win her heart. When they get back to the dance it is almost over and Mike gets to dance with Alicia and at the end of the dance he gets her number. In the present day while reminiscing Roland gets sick, throws up all over Slim and Mike and now they only have an hour left before the wedding and they have to get cleaned up, then they take their clothes to the cleaners. Mike returning back to their memories, they were now juniors in high school, thinking about sex, ways to get it and making a lot of bets. Mike, now hiding his still present shyness with a veil of over confidence, reconnects romantically with Alicia. It's revealed in the present time that after High School, Alicia and Mike went their separate ways for good. The boys finally make it to the ceremony to have Roland apologize to a furious Lisa for leaving her worried before the wedding ceremony. Before the ceremony begins Mike sees Alicia (Sanaa Lathan
) his childhood crush, and finally Roland and Lisa get married. Mike tells his last childhood memory, and its when they go to a homecoming dance for their school and that they will be the boys from "The Wood".
Critics Reviews Average Grade: B-
culturevulture.net,
"...there is substance given to the characters' lives." more... B-
Nitrate Online, Cynthia Fuchs
"...involves basic boy-bonding." more... C+
Orlando Weekly, Philip Booth
"...a coming-of-age tale that's only occasionally too sweet." more... B-
ReelViews, James Berardinelli
"...a pleasant but relatively inconsequential movie..." more... B-
More Critics Reviews...
2000 NAACP Image Awards
2001 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
featuring rap and R&B music. The soundtrack found great success, peaking at #16 on the Billboard 200
and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
, and was certified gold by the RIAA on August 25, 1999.
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
, written
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
by Rick Famuyiwa
Rick Famuyiwa
Rick Famuyiwa, born on June 18, 1973, is an emerging Nigerian American Hollywood writer and director of films such as The Wood , Talk To Me , and Brown Sugar . His most recent film is the...
and Todd Boyd. Famuyiwa also directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
the film, which stars Omar Epps
Omar Epps
Omar Hashim Epps is an American actor, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His film roles include Major League II, Juice, Higher Learning, Scream 2, The Wood, In Too Deep, and Love and Basketball. Epps' television work includes the role of Dr. Dennis Gant on the US medical drama series ER,...
, Richard T. Jones
Richard T. Jones
Richard Timothy Jones is an American film and television actor.Jones was born in Kobe, Japan and raised in Carson, California. He is the son of Lorene, a computer analyst, and Clarence Jones, a professional baseball player and the hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians. He also has an older...
, and Taye Diggs
Taye Diggs
Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs is an American theatre, film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Broadway musical Rent, the motion picture How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and the television series Private Practice...
.
Plot
Roland (Taye DiggsTaye Diggs
Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs is an American theatre, film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Broadway musical Rent, the motion picture How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and the television series Private Practice...
) is getting married(and is currently missing) and Slim (Richard T. Jones
Richard T. Jones
Richard Timothy Jones is an American film and television actor.Jones was born in Kobe, Japan and raised in Carson, California. He is the son of Lorene, a computer analyst, and Clarence Jones, a professional baseball player and the hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians. He also has an older...
), who scoffs at the idea of marriage, but is furious at Roland for disappearing. The story reminisces back to Mike's (portrayed as a youth by Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson (actor)
- Biography :Nelson was born in the Co-Op City section of Bronx, New York, of Jamaican/St. Thomian descent. He began his acting career at age 10 when he landed a role in an off-Broadway play Hey Little Walter. Sean Nelson turned 13 shortly before beginning principal photography on his debut film,...
) first encounters with Roland (Trent Cameron
Trent Cameron
Trent Joseph Cameron is an American actor best known for his role as John Lee Malvo in D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear and as Young Roland in The Wood.- Filmography :...
) and Slim (Duane Finley), his first real crush on a girl named Alicia (Malinda Williams), and the three young men's misadventures as teenagers. Shy and awkward, Mike sticks out like a sore thumb on his first day, but is quickly befriended by Slim and Roland.
On a dare from Slim and Roland, Mike runs and grabs Alicia's butt, leading to a big fight with her big brother Stacey (De'Aundre Bonds
De'Aundre Bonds
De'aundre M. Bonds is an American actor. The actor Samuel Monroe Jr. is his 'God' brother.Bonds has mostly appeared as a guest actor on television shows; however, he was also featured in the Spike Lee film Get on the Bus, Tales from the Hood and the Rick Famuyiwa film The Wood...
), a violent gang member. While he is thoroughly beat down, Mike earns Stacey's private respect for fighting back like a man. Meanwhile in present day, Mike and Slim go find Roland for his wedding, when they get a call from Tanya (Tamala Jones
Tamala Jones
Tamala R. Jones is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the movies Booty Call, The Wood, Kingdom Come, The Brothers, and Two Can Play That Game...
) saying that she has him with her and that he is very drunk. They get to her house to pick him up to take him back to the wedding to marry his bride Lisa (LisaRaye
LisaRaye McCoy-Misick
LisaRaye McCoy , commonly known as LisaRaye, is an American actress and fashion designer. She is also the ex-wife of Michael Misick, a former Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands...
) because they only have two hours before the ceremony begins.
Back to their old school times, they go to their first dance of the year, go to a store that gets held up by Stacey and almost gets arrested by two cops while the three are riding in a car with Stacey. Mike's quick thinking prevents it and they are let go. Impressed, Stacey apologizes for their prior run in but explained that he was protecting his sister, and, seeing how much Mike likes her, gives him advice on how to win her heart. When they get back to the dance it is almost over and Mike gets to dance with Alicia and at the end of the dance he gets her number. In the present day while reminiscing Roland gets sick, throws up all over Slim and Mike and now they only have an hour left before the wedding and they have to get cleaned up, then they take their clothes to the cleaners. Mike returning back to their memories, they were now juniors in high school, thinking about sex, ways to get it and making a lot of bets. Mike, now hiding his still present shyness with a veil of over confidence, reconnects romantically with Alicia. It's revealed in the present time that after High School, Alicia and Mike went their separate ways for good. The boys finally make it to the ceremony to have Roland apologize to a furious Lisa for leaving her worried before the wedding ceremony. Before the ceremony begins Mike sees Alicia (Sanaa Lathan
Sanaa Lathan
Sanaa McCoy Lathan is an American actress and voice actress. She has starred in numerous movies, including the box-office hits Love & Basketball, Alien vs. Predator, Something New, and The Family That Preys. Lathan was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun...
) his childhood crush, and finally Roland and Lisa get married. Mike tells his last childhood memory, and its when they go to a homecoming dance for their school and that they will be the boys from "The Wood".
Cast
- Omar EppsOmar EppsOmar Hashim Epps is an American actor, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His film roles include Major League II, Juice, Higher Learning, Scream 2, The Wood, In Too Deep, and Love and Basketball. Epps' television work includes the role of Dr. Dennis Gant on the US medical drama series ER,...
as Mike, and he tells the story about how he and his friends grew up together in “The Wood”. - Richard T. JonesRichard T. JonesRichard Timothy Jones is an American film and television actor.Jones was born in Kobe, Japan and raised in Carson, California. He is the son of Lorene, a computer analyst, and Clarence Jones, a professional baseball player and the hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians. He also has an older...
as Slim, he and Mike helps Roland get back to the ceremony to get married. - Taye DiggsTaye DiggsScott Leo "Taye" Diggs is an American theatre, film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Broadway musical Rent, the motion picture How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and the television series Private Practice...
as Roland, he is supposed to get married and has second thoughts about it and is found drunk by his two best friends. - Sanaa LathanSanaa LathanSanaa McCoy Lathan is an American actress and voice actress. She has starred in numerous movies, including the box-office hits Love & Basketball, Alien vs. Predator, Something New, and The Family That Preys. Lathan was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun...
as Alicia, an old childhood friend that grew up and came back to see Mike. - LisaRaye McCoy as Lisa, a bride getting ready to marry Roland, and gets upset about his disappearance.
- Sean NelsonSean Nelson (actor)- Biography :Nelson was born in the Co-Op City section of Bronx, New York, of Jamaican/St. Thomian descent. He began his acting career at age 10 when he landed a role in an off-Broadway play Hey Little Walter. Sean Nelson turned 13 shortly before beginning principal photography on his debut film,...
as young Mike, is new from North Carolina, and just moved to Inglewood at a new school and became friends with Roland and Slim. - Duane Finley as young Slim, raised up in “The Wood” best friends with Roland growing up and then meeting the new kid on the block Mike. He was always asking for Roland to hook him up.
- Trent CameronTrent CameronTrent Joseph Cameron is an American actor best known for his role as John Lee Malvo in D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear and as Young Roland in The Wood.- Filmography :...
as young Roland, he is hip, fresh, and cool, gets all the ladies, and he gets no play most of the time. - Malinda Williams as young Alicia, she was hardcore, but sweet and in time she began to like Mike.
- De'Aundre BondsDe'Aundre BondsDe'aundre M. Bonds is an American actor. The actor Samuel Monroe Jr. is his 'God' brother.Bonds has mostly appeared as a guest actor on television shows; however, he was also featured in the Spike Lee film Get on the Bus, Tales from the Hood and the Rick Famuyiwa film The Wood...
as Stacey, and is Alicia's big brother that takes up for her when she is younger. He also is in a gang and reps with set called “BloodsBloodsThe Bloods are a street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs...
”. - Antwon TannerAntwon TannerAntwon Tanner is an American actor, mostly known for his role as Antwon "Skills" Taylor on the CW drama series One Tree Hill.-Biography:...
as Boo, Stacey's homie and member of the “BloodsBloodsThe Bloods are a street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs...
”.
Critical Reviews
Critical ConsensusCritics Reviews Average Grade: B-
culturevulture.net,
"...there is substance given to the characters' lives." more... B-
Nitrate Online, Cynthia Fuchs
"...involves basic boy-bonding." more... C+
Orlando Weekly, Philip Booth
"...a coming-of-age tale that's only occasionally too sweet." more... B-
ReelViews, James Berardinelli
"...a pleasant but relatively inconsequential movie..." more... B-
More Critics Reviews...
Awards and nominations
2000 Black Reel AwardsBlack Reel Awards
The Black Reel Awards began in 2000 and were designed to annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of black people in feature, independent and television films...
- Best Actor (Theatrical) — Sean Nelson (nominated)
- Best Actress (Theatrical) — Malinda Williams (nominated)
- Best Director (Theatrical) — Rick Famuyiwa (nominated)
- Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) — Rick Famuyiwa, Todd Boyd (nominated)
2000 NAACP Image Awards
- Outstanding Motion Picture (nominated)
2001 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
- Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures — JoeJoe (singer)Joseph Lewis Thomas , usually credited simply as Joe, is an American R&B singer and record producer.-Early life:Joe is a native of Cuthbert, Georgia and later moved to Opelika, Alabama. The son of two preachers, Joe spent much time in church singing, playing guitar, and even directing the choir...
, Jolyon Skinner: I Wanna KnowMy Name Is Joe (album)-Biography:My Name Is Joe is the third studio album from R&B Singer, Songwriter and Producer Joe . It was released on 18 April 2000....
(winner)
Soundtrack
A soundtrack was released on July 13, 1999 by Jive RecordsJive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
featuring rap and R&B music. The soundtrack found great success, peaking at #16 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
, and was certified gold by the RIAA on August 25, 1999.