The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give is a 2018 American drama film co-produced and directed by George Tillman Jr. from a screenplay by Audrey Wells, based on the 2017 young adult novel of the same name by Angie Thomas. The film was produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Robert Teitel and Tillman Jr., and stars Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, KJ Apa, Common, and Anthony Mackie, and follows the fallout after a high school student witnesses a police shooting.

Plot
Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds -- the poor, mostly black neighborhood where she lives and the wealthy, mostly white prep school that she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is soon shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and decide to stand up for what's right.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) The movie, along with the book, is a harrowing, realistic, and gut-wrenching look at police brutality, systemic racism, cultural appropriation, and race relations in the United States. It's also thought-provoking enough to spark discussion about how racial minorities, especially blacks, are viewed in the eyes of other people such as whites.
 * 2) *A major example is how the protagonist, Starr Carter, is able to code-switch from her hometown, Garden Heights, and the mostly white private school she goes to, Williamson High School.
 * 3) * It's not only about a police shooting; it's about fighting against injustice, the importance of family, finding true friends, and uniting communities; and for parents; supporting their kids as they find their voice.
 * 4) Amandla Stenberg gives off an amazing and career-turning performance as Starr Carter.
 * 5) Starr Carter is a strong character who stops at nothing to fight for justice for her childhood friend Khalil, who she witnessed die at the hands of a police officer.
 * 6) * She's also an inspiration for young people to find their voices in this world.
 * 7) Director George Tillman Jr. is able to cover many of the aforementioned serious topics in this movie that plague the United States and the rest of the world.
 * 8) It's also highly faithful to the original book by Angie Thomas.
 * 9) The movie's surprisingly funny at times, especially most of the scenes with Sekani, Starr's brother, helping ease out the drama.
 * 10) The soundtrack, full of hip-hop songs fit well with the hood setting.
 * 11) * Billie Eilish's "Ocean Eyes" appears in one scene; when Starr's boyfriend, Chris, appears for the first time.
 * 12) The chemistry between Starr and Chris is incredible.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) It waters down some of the book's viewpoints of the themes, possibly to obtain a PG-13 rating.

Reception
The Hate U Give received critical acclaim. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 97% based on 214 reviews, and an average rating of 8.13/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Led by a breakout turn from Amandla Stenberg, the hard-hitting The Hate U Give emphatically proves the YA genre has room for much more than magic and romance." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "universal acclaim." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it an 88% positive score and a 74% "definite recommend."

Trivia

 * Kian Lawley was supposed to play Chris, Starr's boyfriend in the movie but after a video of him using racial slurs resurfaced, he was replaced by KJ Apa.