John Singleton (1968-2019)

Way too young...but the numbers were definitely against him as we’ve been reminded about the alarming statistic of black men dying from a stroke...

Still, his career never matched Boyz in the Hood in beginning to end enjoyment. Higher Learning was laughably bad, Poetic Justice was a mess, despite some really fine chemistry between Tupac and Janet Jackson. After Rosewood, I don’t think I’ve seen anything else he directed.

knives · #7 Post by **knives** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:02 pm

His Shaft is fun.

hearthesilence · #8 Post by **hearthesilence** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:03 pm

knives wrote: Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:02 pm His Shaft is fun.

I was just about to post this. His Shaft film is actually pretty good for a reboot (or rather a follow-up of sorts).

He also did the video for Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" (Jackson's last great single) and Baby Boy is supposedly one of his better films too though I haven't seen it.

black&huge · #9 Post by **black&huge** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:08 pm

Glad to see some good words about Shaft. It always pops in my head every few years and I always remember how enjoyable it is.

bearcuborg · #10 Post by **bearcuborg** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:13 pm

I was just about to say that I’ve been reminded of MJ’s video, Remember the Time... That was very much a must watch event in the 90s. Even if it has aged, all the stars make it fun. I’m surprised Michael would want himself portrayed as a chubby cat! It must have been his or John’s maybe...

#11 Post by **domino harvey** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:28 pm

Wasn’t his Fast and Furious sequel the highest grossing film by a black director until Black Panther?

knives · #12 Post by **knives** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 12:09 am

Close, but Fate of the Furious beat it there.

#13 Post by **domino harvey** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 12:16 am

Interesting list, thanks. I’ve never even heard of Tim Story, but he dominates that list!

knives · #14 Post by **knives** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 12:52 am

A true journeyman's hero.

Forrest Taft · #15 Post by **Forrest Taft** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 2:40 pm

Four Brothers is also worth a watch, a loose remake of The Sons of Katie Elder.

knives · #16 Post by **knives** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 3:17 pm

That was actually his first film I saw so it has a special place for me regardless of quality.

DavyGallagher · #17 Post by **DavyGallagher** » Wed May 01, 2019 8:24 pm

Terrible news. I read more than one "never lived up to his potential..." comment online which might be true but he worked hard throughout his career and didn't want to be a spokesman for anything more than his films.

ando · #18 Post by **ando** » Mon May 06, 2019 10:30 pm

Props. Poetic Justice fan.

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