Just watched it last night. Had a real feel to it. It concentrated more on the day to day lives of these kids. It wasn't just about blowing guys away or drug use or dealing on the street corner. The movie was very low key but had its good up tempo parts also. Very realistic. Had no idea that Oliver Stone did this movie. A very underrated film. I also felt that more information on Rapaport's character's mother could have been shared. To go even deeper, more on why Nikki moved to Detroit would have been a plus. Those are minor suggestions though. Still a movie to see if you haven't. I have not seen "Save the Last Dance" so I can't compare. I did like it better than "Jungle Fever".

A well-intentioned and rather interesting study into condemnation and the culture of the youth in the 1990s, there is however little that is done with the material. Too much time is spent on showing why the relationship is not approved, and the film spends too little time showing how and why the relationship has resulted. The film has some important things to say in terms of prejudices in society, but, it never manages to present them in a way so that they do not seem hackneyed. Either way, some fine acting - from both the leads in particular - solidifies the movie when the other elements do not suffice.

Saw this for the first time because I come from the Detroit area. Granted, I am from the Detroit area circa 1956 so the culture may have changed by 1992 but I thought the issues were similar for a white guy growing up in a black dominated inner city. The issues rung true for any of the "rust belt" cities of Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, etc.

I thought Michael Rapaport was credible as were the largely black supporting cast. The school administrator who said "Stick with your tribe" reflected what most people would have said about multi-racial dating. The plot was somewhat predictable, BUT nonetheless believable and worthy of Oliver Stone's endorsement of the story by lending his name to the production. In short, it was definitely worth seeing.