Open Road FilmsWhile indie cinema in general this year has struggled to reach the wide audience it deserves, the same can't be said for Dope, the wonderfully comical and insightful coming-of-age film written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa and starring Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori and Kiersey Clemons. Starting off in the vein of a movie about American urban subcultures, Dope quickly evolves into something with far more substance in mind as it follows the lives of three intelligent school friends desperate to make their mark in a challenging world. As the title at the beginning of the film implies, this Dope is about dope in all its various meanings, from drugs to those wonderful moments in life. The young cast are a revelation, and Rick Famuyiwa's lively direction and unique take on a subject usually mired in violence is refreshing. It's box office success should mean that cast and crew alike move onto bigger and brighter pastures.
