With Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Jada Pinkett, Vonte Sweet, Glenn Plummer, Bill Duke, Charles S. Dutton, and Samuel L. Jackson.

NEWYORKER: Menace II Society

In the early scenes, which introduce the main character (Larenz Tate) and his friends and family, the Hugheses find a natural humor and a soulful rhythm.

NEWYORKER: Dead Presidents

Richard Schiff as Jerry Wexler. (Others in the excellent cast include Clifton Powell, Aunjanue Ellis, Harry Lennix, Terrence Howard, Larenz Tate and David Krumholtz.) Although the filmmakers were constrained by a limited budget, you'd never know it from Stephen Altman's resourceful production design, or Pawel Edelman's scintillating cinematography.

WSJ: A Performance With Soul