Watch Light It Up

Light It Up is a powerful thriller film directed by Craig Bolotin and released in 1999. The movie stars a young Usher in his acting debut along with Forest Whitaker and Rosario Dawson. The story revolves around a group of teens attending a run-down inner-city high school in New York City, struggling with numerous issues such as poverty, broken families, and the general disillusionment that comes with living in a neglected neighborhood. The students are a diverse group of individuals coming from different backgrounds, but they share one common goal: to bring attention to their school and the desperate need for resources to improve it.

The film's protagonist, Lester, played by Usher, is a bright student who is tired of putting up with the school's inadequate facilities and lack of resources. Along with his friends, they organize a protest to demand affordable books, better teachers, and more safety measures. However, everything goes south when the principal, Garcia, refuses to listen to their pleas, and a cop named Dante, played by Forest Whitaker, is called to handle the situation. The standoff between the students and the police quickly escalates into a full-blown hostage situation that leaves the teens trapped inside the school with no way out.

As the situation becomes more intense, the group becomes divided on how to handle the situation, with some advocating for peaceful tactics and others urging violent action. Meanwhile, a young woman named Stephanie, played by Rosario Dawson, shows up at the scene, becoming increasingly involved with the students' cause while juggling her own issues.

The movie explores a wide range of topics that are still relevant today, such as police brutality, racial profiling, and the public education system's failures. It highlights the struggles of many young people forced to navigate systems poorly designed for their success, putting them at risk of certain outcomes.

The film also excellently tackles trauma, homelessness, addiction, and family dysfunction disturbingly prevalent among students' daily lives. In a standout scene, one character reveals he's sacrificing his college dreams to pay for his mother's cancer treatment, while another is forced to manage a household and care for younger siblings due to a mentally unwell mother.

Forest Whitaker's performance is gripping as he plays a police officer struggling with the ethical dilemmas imposed upon him, balancing his job obligations against his desire to help the students. Usher also managed to convey a raw and realistic performance despite being new to acting at the time.

Overall, "Light It Up" is an honest, nerve-wracking watch that's been overlooked in the years since its initial release. The film's themes remain as powerful and relevant today as back then, urging viewers to acknowledge and confront the systematic oppression in our society. It's a must-watch for anyone looking for a thought-provoking drama with a surprisingly optimistic message.

Light It Up is a 1999 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 43.