Set It Off is a drama directed by F. Gary Gray and tells the story of four black women in Los Angeles. The director, F. Gary Gray directed Friday the previous year along with many R&B and rap videos. Set It Off stars Queen Latifah as Cleo, Jada Pinkett-Smith as Stony, Vivica Fox as Frankie, and Kimberly Elise as Tisean. The four women struggle to keep their head above water and their dignity in check. A series of events prompts them to rob banks in an attempt to better their circumstances.
Queen Latifah breakout role as the lesbian Cleo was spectacular. Her partner in the movie, while present in scenes, never uttered one word which became a running joke in the movie. Jada’s Stony character served as the voice of reason even though she experienced heartbreaking loss. Vivica’s Frankie role was the planner who discovered being good and loyal gave her nothing in return. Tisean is the baby who cannot juggle motherhood and work without repercussions. Co-stars include Blair Underwood, Dr. Dre, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, and Ella Joyce.
While the characters experience hardships, it also shows them attempting to take charge in their male dominated environment. This isn’t just another heist movie while robbing banks does play a part. It’s more about their sisterhood because no one stands up for them. They rely and trust only each other through thick and thin. Set It Off was released four years after the L.A. riots, and two years after the televised O.J. Simpson freeway chase. This movie depicts a similar injustice by the police against the four women. The soundtrack reached number four on the Billboard chart.
Set It Off remains a movie for the culture. The movie and the soundtrack still hold up well through the years. This is a movie that will never leave our movie collection.