“Luv” features a powerful performance from both Common and young actor Michael Rainey Jr. While the performances were strong, the film went from powerful and entertaining for its first half to unbelievable and farfetched by the second half which left me a bit disappointed. “Luv” is an average film that had the potential to become something better.
Image courtesy of © 2012 Luv Films 5, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
DVD TITLE: Luv
FILM RELEASE DATE: 2012
DURATION: 94 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Widescreen version presented in a “letterbox” widescreen format preserving the “Scpe” aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition enhanced for widescreen TV’s, English stereo, English 5.1 Dolby Digital Stereo
COMPANY: Vivendi Entertainment
RATED: R (For Violence, Language, Child Endangerment and Some Drug content)
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Directed by Sheldon Candis
Screenplay by Sheldon Candis, Justin Wilson
Produced by Jason Michael Berman, Gordon Bijelonic, Common, Derek Dudle, W. Michael Jenson, Joel Newton, Datari Turner
Co-Producer: Sean Banks, Eric Bannat, Kwesi Collisson, Caroline Connor, Franke Mele, Edward Parks
Executive Producer: Mcihael Finley, Thomas B. Fore, Dwayne Robinson, Steve Saxton
Associate Producer: Lindsay Fellows, Mollie A. Gallagher, Dawn Manning, Rodney Wilkins
Co-Executive Producer: Robert W. Hobson
Line Producer: James R. Rosenthall
Music by Nuno Malo
Cinematography: Gavin Kelly
Edited by Jeff Wishengrad
Casting by Lindsay Graham, Mary Vernieu
Production design by A.R. Brook Lynn
Art Direction by Illya Radysh
Set Decoration by Liza Grant
Costume Design by Amela Baksic
Starring:
Common as Vincent
Michael Rainey Jr. as Woody
Dennis Haysbert as Mr. Fish
Danny Glover as Mr. Fish
Danny Glover as Arthur
Charles S. Dutton as Cofield
Meagan Good as Beverly
Lonette McKee as Grandma
Michael Kenneth Williams as Det. Holloway
Russell Hornsby as Det. Pratt
Hayward Armstrong as Lil Baby
An 11-year-old boy joins his ex-con uncle in attempting to go legit, and finds his transition into manhood hastened after their ambitious endeavor fails to take shape. Ever since Woody’s mother went missing, the impressionable young boy has lived with his grandmother and his Uncle Vincent (Common). Recently paroled after nearly a decade in the penitentiary, Vincent walks with a swagger that captivates his young nephew, who currently teeters on the precarious cusp of adolescence. Eager to become the male role model that Woody (Michael Rainey Jr.) so desperately needs, Vincent offers the young boy the opportunity to join him in starting his own business. Unfortunately for Vincent, it just wasn’t meant to be. Later, when Vincent’s nefarious former boss Mr. Fish (Dennis Haysbert) enters the picture, young Woody is forced to grow up before his time. Danny Glover, and Charles S. Dutton also star.
From filmmaker Sheldon Candis (“Young Cesar”) and co-writer Justin Wilson comes the drama film “Luv”, one of the films nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
The film would star hip hop star Common (“Terminator Salvation”, “Smokin’ Aces”, “Wanted”), Michael Rainey Jr. (“The Butler”), Dennis Haysbert “24”, “Heat”, “Far From heaven”, “The Unit”), Danny Glover (“Lethal Weapon” films, “The Color Purple”), Charles S. Dutton (“Alien 3”, “Roc”, “Secret Window”, “Gothika”) and Meagan Good (“Think Like a Man”, “Stomp the Yard”, “Eve’s Bayou”).
And now “Luv” will be released on DVD courtesy of Vivendi Entertainment.
“Luv” is a film set in Baltimore and is about a young boy named Woody (portrayed by Michael Rainey Jr.) who lives with his grandmother (portrayed by Lonette McKee) and wonders when his mother will come back for him. One day, his Uncle Vincent (portrayed by Common) returns back home after serving eight years in prison. Dressed up in a suit, Vincent wants to make things right with his life. Help his mother pay the bills and get a loan needed to start his own crab shack.
While taking Woody to school, Vincent is shocked about how Woody lacks confidence. Wanting Woody to feel good about himself, he tells him that he won’t be going to school and learn about real life. So, he buys Woody a suit and takes him out on business meetings.
One meeting is to the bank but unfortunately, he is delinquent on the property where he wants to build his business and needs to raise $22,000 before the property is foreclosed. Vincent tells the banker that he’ll get the $22,000 by Monday.
Vincent goes to visit his friend Arthur (portrayed by Danny Glover) and learn that he and Fish (portrayed by Dennis Haysbert) are working on a business deal. Arthur warns him that there is a lot of trouble out there and many senseless murders.
When Vincent goes to visit Fish to ask for a loan for his business, Fish tells him that his money is not as much as he had eight years ago. But he would be willing to lend him the money if he does some business for him.
As Vincent agrees to do a pickup from a drug dealer, the man draws a gun at Vincent and Woody hides behind Vincent. After the pickup, Vincent tells Woody that he should never show them fear or be scared in front of them, or people will take advantage of him.
Meanwhile, someone has been tailing Vince taking pictures and two police confront him to tell him that since he got out, people are being murdered. They ask Vincent to give them information and they can help him out.
And while hanging out with his Uncle Vincent for the day, Woody learns how to drive a car but accompanies him to deliver the drugs to a dealer. But learns that he has been setup to be killed. As a fight ensues, Vincent scrams for Vincent to shoot the drug dealer but Vincent ends up killing the drug dealer.
Vincent start screaming at Woody and tells him the truth that his grandmother is unable to take care of him, his mother is not coming back and both of them have no one but each other. And he promises to take care of him.
But can Woody trust his Uncle Vincent?
VIDEO & AUDIO:
“Luv” is presented in letterbox format.   Picture quality for the film is very good as one can expect on DVD. Detail is very good and I saw no problems with compression artifacts. Audio is presented in English stereo and English 5.1 Dolby Digital stereo. Dialogue is clear and understandable and close captions are included.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Luv” comes with the following special features:
- The Making of Luv – (13:04) Featuring the making of “Luv” and filmmaker Sheldon Candis talking about how his relationship with his uncle inspired by the film.
- #SeeLuv: Common – (1:43) Short promo featuring Common
- #SeeLuv: Michael Rainey Jr. – (2:11) Short promo featuring Michael Rainey Jr.
- Deleted Scenes – Featuring three deleted scenes from “Luv”: Woody’s Dream, Lexington Market, Elevator
- Domestic Trailer – (2:17) The theatrical trailer for “Luv”
“Luv” is gritty drama series about a relationship between a boy and his Uncle.
A boy who’s mother had drug problems and is now living with his mother, not knowing if she’ll ever come back. But also a grandmother who is having a hard time taking care of him.
An uncle who just got out of prison, wants to turn his life around but is drawn back to the criminal underground.
As the Uncle named Vincent sees a lot of himself in the young Woody, he wants to toughen him up because he knows the reality on the streets of Baltimore, it’s not going to be easy for him while growing up and he needs to be strong and be a man. And through their time spending time together, he’s going to do all he can to make Woody become a man.
With an emotional performance by Common and a wonderful performance by young actor Michael Rainey Jr., it was great to see some well-known actors involved with this film. From Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert and Charles S. Dutton, it was rather interesting to see both Glover and Haysbert (Glover best known for his role as a cop in the “Lethal Weapon” films and Haysbert typically in the side of good for drama series such as “24” and “The Shield”)as men on the wrong side of the law.
While one side of the film was entertaining and seeing a boy being taught of how to be a man, and being taken to shady drug dealings. We know this happens in reality. People who work in that element don’t care about the safety of their children as long as they get paid.
But while the first half of the film is believable, the second half becomes absurd. Director and co-writer Sheldon Candis and co-writer Justin Wilson had done a great job setting up the first half of the film but decide that they must show how this timid young boy was changed to become a man within hours.
And without spoiling the film, I rather not go into what the boy ends up doing to prove that he’s man enough and brave enough. For any parent who has had children, knows well that trying to teach a child a lesson doesn’t happen overnight, nor does it happen within a few hours. From fronting a drug deal to teaching a young boy how to drive? It does get a bit farfetched and the realism goes out the door by the second half of the film.
Fortunately, I will say that the film’s performances does keep the viewer interested but not even the best acting can save a film that is too far off in believability. And it’s a shame because I thought the first half of the film was powerful and entertaining.
As for the DVD, “Luv” looks good for one what can expect on DVD. Lighting was well-done, details are good on DVD and saw no major problems with artifacts. Dialogue is pretty much dialogue-driven and special features comes with a making of, delete scenes and Common and Michael Rainey Jr.’s take on the film.
Overall, “Luv” features a powerful performance from both Common and young actor Michael Rainey Jr. While the performances were strong, the film went from powerful and entertaining for its first half to unbelievable and farfetched by the second half which left me a bit disappointed. “Luv” is an average film that had the potential to become something better.
