Dope (2015) – Coming-of-Age and Crime

Coming-of-age films are a dime a dozen in both Hollywood and the indie scene. Everyone goes through their own journey of self-discovery as they grow into adulthood, but on the cinematic side few find themselves merging that story with a crime one as well. That combination is what we find in writer and director Rick Famuyiwa’s 2015 film Dope. Starring Shameik Moore, the film follows '90s hip-hop nerd Malcolm, mixed in with the wrong crowd as he attempts to apply to an Ivy League school, despite being from Compton. While it ebbs and flows as most coming-of-age stories do, what sets Dope apart from the rest is its infectious style and engaging performances by its lead trio of Moore, Kiersey Clemons and Tony Revolori.