First thing I need to say about LUV is that I can relate to it in such a visceral way. It's a story about an uncle named Vincent, played by the magnetic Common takes his nephew for the day. The nephew, Woody is played by newcomer Michael Rainey Jr., he's a charming young actor with a very bright future. Woody pines for his absent mother while living with his grandmother played by the very talented Lonette McKee. The reason I say I can relate is because I had an uncle just like Vincent, who has returned home after serving eight years of a twenty year prison stint, and he is determined to turn his life around. He's got big plans, legal plans and his entire drive is to make those plans come true. While driving his nephew to school, the two have a conversation and Woody makes the mistake of telling his uncle something that wasn't true. Vincent, instead of dropping Woody off at school, decides to show him what it means to be a man, and off they go.
The movie stars a who's who of amazing Black actors. Dennis Haysbert plays Mr. Fish, Danny Glover plays Arthur, Charles S. Dutton plays Cofield, the beautiful Meagan Good plays Beverly, the amazing Russell Hornsby is Det. Pratt, and the equally talented Michael Kenneth Williams plays Det. Holloway. That is an amazing collection of talent for a director shooting just his second full length feature film. As much as I like Jamie Foxx, forget Django. Anyway, Vincent takes nephew Woody around Baltimore with him as he conducts his business but first he has to dress his nephew in something other than his school uniform, he wants to dress him as a businessman. The scene where Woody is being suited up is so touching, you can't help but smile.
Vincent then heads to the bank to see about a loan for his dream, and if you know anything about the magnificent show The Wire, you will recognize the loan officer. Vincent is told he needs a certain amount of money by Monday or the deal will fall through. The scene where Vincent decides what he needs to do is intense. You can see the wheels turning as he chews his gum and this is the point in the film where the phrase "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" comes to mind. Vincent needs the money to turn his life around, but he has to swim with the sharks in order to get it, and you can see that moment happen so vividly on Commons's face. He does his best to get the money without doing anything that will get him thrown back in jail or worse, get him and his nephew killed, but that's not an option, so Vincent jumps headlong into those shark infested waters and takes his nephew with him.
There are so many tense scenes in LUV, where dialogue is spoken with the eyes or the face. But you, the viewer don't have to try to discern what's being said, eventually it all plays out. Danger is everywhere though, and it's real. Like the encounter between Vincent and Little Baby, played menacingly by Hayward Armstrong. That scene is rife with tension and danger. Vincent doesn't flinch but Woody cowers, which brings out Vincents wrath. This movie shows you clearly how one mans definition of what it means to be a man, can be so twisted, so wrong. Vincent shows Woody so many things this eleven year old boy should not be taught how to do at his age. Scored with a tautness by Nuno Malo, this film crackles. Then ending was a bit far fetched, bordering on fantasy, but if you can look past the last two minutes of this movie, you'll definitely have something special. I recommend it and I'll see you at the theater.
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