Juice (The film)

A fantastic film I originally owned and played to deaf on VHS (ask your Dad) and I thought I was modern as a lot of friends were still on Betamax (ask your Grandad). Anyway, I digress.

The film is a story of 4 tight friends Q, Bishop, Raheem and Steel with Q (Omar Epps) and Bishop (Tupac Shakur) being the focus of the story.

“We run from the cops, we run from Radames, we run from security guards, we run from old man Quiles in a fucking bullshit’s store when he comes at us with a bullshit gun. All we do is fuckin’ run, feel like I’m on a goddamn track team.”

2Pac (Bishop)

They grow up together in the hood getting into the usual scrapes and bunking off school etc., then as they become more exposed to the realities of life growing up experiencing things they shouldn’t have to experience a wedge starts to be driven between Bishop and the others as he sees the opportunity to make easy money in the form of armed robbery whilst Q has an altogether more positive influence of becoming a champion battle DJ.

This film was part of what shaped me as a kid growing up but thankfully I’ve ended up with a huge record collection rather than jail time!

I won’t tell you anymore as you can watch the full film here but suffice to say it is a well-told fast-paced story where you quickly get to know the characters and the driving forces behind them. I’m not a fan of Tupac as an artist but his performance is superb in this 90s classic.

Oh and another thing, look out for many cameos throughout the film, superb!