(2014) Englewood: The Growing Pains in Chicago DRAMA

Produced, written, directed and starring William L. Cochran, he plays Dennis or "D" for short who is also the narrator as he is telling a story of him and his two best friends of Josh (David Cowan) and Calvin (Rodney Harvey) as each of them are near graduation. The one that has the least amount of optimism is the narrator himself, Dennis, who has aspirations of becoming a poet. He is also a thug who robs people who lives with his pot smoking, mom. Shay(Raeja Thomas) and baby sister Didi. Anyways, while both of Dennis's friends are seeking for scholarships one for baseketball, Dennis's girlfriend, Toya is supposed to be expecting, with tragic results.

Low production values, both acting story, and perhaps with either a Spike Lee's touch or perhaps the late John Singleton as he was synonymous for "Boyz in the Hood" his movie may have been decent.

Englewood is a very good film about how family (or lack of) impacts our kids. It depicts home environments where there are 2 parents, another home with 1 grandma raising a son, and a home with only an addicted mother raising a son. Schools need to show this movie because the movie is very relatable. There is swearing language in the film, but kids hear that a lot these days anyway. There is no brutal violence in the film, but there is shooting depicted. The film shows when there is lack of support and loving environment, kids can't help but to do wrong. Survival is the key for kids with no support. A powerful film and an amazing effort by young 24-yr. old actor/writer/director William L. Cochran.