Have you ever not completely understood how systematic racial inequality plays out in some individual's daily lives?
Is it sometimes difficult for you to conceive the fact that gang violence is a daily reality for some people?
Have you ever wondered how "good kids" can find themselves crawling up the slippery slope into a world of crime?
Do you have a ton of nostalgia for the 90s?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, then you should turn your next Netflix and chill into Netflix and discourse with the 2015 film "Dope."
"Dope" follows the exploits of protagonist Malcolm and his two best friends, Diggy and Jib, as they continue on their journey from The Bottoms, a gang violence-riddled California neighborhood, to college. On this journey, the trio also finds themselves grappling with identity, each proud to stand out from their peers because of their obsession with the 90s aesthetic and with other things their classmates attribute to white people.
The film is not only visually enticing and incredibly entertaining, but also deals with major issues that face millennials in a way that is subtle yet palpable. While socioeconomic inequality and racial injustice are pressing issues for our generation, like Malcolm, Diggy and Jib, we are also concerned with finding authentic ways to grow into our own respective identities and share a longing for a time when things were simpler. "Dope" takes the model of the 90s gangster flick, builds upon it with the traditional coming-of-age high school experience, and adds even more meaning to the text by layering in some of the most divisive political issues of the day. The film's intentions and messages are not overt, and that's what makes them even more interesting. All millennials will find a level with which they identify with "Dope" and there is an added potential for those who recognize how the lives of many are not as privileged as their own. For me, this makes the film an entirely worthwhile watch outside of its purely cinematic value.
The film's homage to the 90s and the diverse personalities of its characters make for an all around enjoyable watching experience. The plot will keep you on the edge of your seat and its social undercurrents will leave you feeling like there's something being left unsaid. The film's final scenes do a great job of highlighting the film's major themes of the journey of self-discovery as well as of the daily battle many people fight against systematic inequality and oppression.