The Wood is a comedy-drama coming of age film released in 1999, and directed by Rick Famuyiwa and co-written with Todd Boyd. The film is founded on a recollection of a three-friends who recount their childhood life when the three friends are trying to get one of their friends nearer to his wedding, in the city of Inglewood, California.
The Wood Movie Cast is renowned due to its true-to-life representation of friendship, youth, and the upbringing in an almost Black neighborhood in Los Angeles. It is important to know the cast to comprehend how the movie removes the emotional appeal. This is all you need to know about The Wood Movie Cast.
Principal Wood Movie Cast Members
Below are the primary members of The Wood movie cast, their roles, and why they matter:
| Actor | Role | Notes / Character Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Omar Epps | Michael “Mike” Tarver | One of the central characters. Mike serves as a narrator of sorts, reflecting on his childhood and guiding the audience through the story. |
| Richard T. Jones | Laveinio “Slim” Hightower | A long-time friend of Mike and Roland. Slim is also facing his own challenges as the wedding progresses and as past memories resurface. |
| Taye Diggs | Roland Blackmon | The groom in The Wood. Roland is having doubts about marrying Lisa, which sets much of the present-day conflict in motion. |
| Sanaa Lathan | Alicia | Alicia is a childhood friend who re-enters Mike’s life as they all confront their pasts and present. Her relationship with Mike adds emotional texture. |
| LisaRaye McCoy | Lisa | Roland’s fiancée. Her character is part of the tension around Roland’s uncertainties leading up to the wedding |
Younger Versions & Supporting Cast
Because The Wood movie cast involves flashbacks, younger versions of characters appear, along with supporting roles that round out the world of the film.
| Younger / Supporting Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Sean Nelson | Young Mike |
| Duane Finley | Young Slim |
| Trent Cameron | Young Roland |
| Malinda Williams | Young Alicia |
Other supporting characters include:
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De’Aundre Bonds as Stacey, Alicia’s big brother.
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Antwon Tanner as Boo, Stacey’s friend.
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Tamala Jones as Tanya, Roland’s ex-girlfriend.
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Jascha Washington as Mike’s younger brother.
There are also many smaller but memorable roles in The Wood movie cast, such as people from the “gangs,” neighborhood folks, kids at dance, etc., which serve to make the setting feel lived-in and real.
Behind the Cast: Key Crew & Context
Though we are talking about The Wood movie cast, it may be also helpful to know about creative team which contributed to shaping those performances:
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Rick Famuyiwa – Co-writer and director. The effectiveness of his vision of The Wood was reflected in the speed of the story, the shifts between the time and the past, the emotional depth of the story.
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Todd Boyd – Co-writer. Added to the story format, in particular the flashback framing.
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Tone and feeling were also set by cinematography by Steven Bernstein, editing by John Carter and music by Robert Hurst, playing major roles.
Why the Cast Works Well Together
The strength of The Wood movie cast lies in chemistry and the ability of the actors to transition between past and present. Some of the reasons the cast resonates include:
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Authenticity: The actors who play the younger versions are sufficiently convincing in their teenage struggles first love, peer pressure, identity, etc unlike in the older versions.
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Ensemble Performance: The emotional load is shared to a great extent by the three friends, Mike, Slim and Roland. Their relationships are natural and subtle.
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Supporting Cast Impact: Alicia, Lisa, Stacey, Boo, and others provide more than just secondary roles; they influence the main characters’ decisions and growth. Their presence rounds the film out.
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Casting of Younger Versions: The younger versions are well done; they don’t feel like caricatures but as the foundation of what the adult characters become.
Box Office & Reception Related to the Cast
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The Wood opened in 1999, made on a budget of about US$6 million, and grossed approximately US$25 million in the United States.
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Critics generally praised the cast’s performance, citing believable characters and solid chemistry. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a score around 61% with consensus that the ensemble cast treats the “awkward and embarrassing moments in the rites of passage with affectionate hilarity.”
Full List (Expanded) of The Wood Movie Cast
Here’s a more complete list of The Wood movie cast, including minor roles:
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Omar Epps as Michael “Mike” Tarver
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Richard T. Jones as Laveinio “Slim” Hightower
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Taye Diggs as Roland Blackmon
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Sanaa Lathan as Alicia
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LisaRaye McCoy as Lisa
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Sean Nelson as Young Mike
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Duane Finley as Young Slim
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Trent Cameron as Young Roland
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Malinda Williams as Young Alicia
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De’Aundre Bonds as Stacey
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Antwon Tanner as Boo
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Tamala Jones as Tanya
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Jascha Washington as Mike’s younger brother
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Patricia Belcher, Cynthia Martells, Wyking Jones, Aiysha Sinclair, Melvin Lyons, Samuel Hiona, John Wesley, Oscar Dillon, Tia Gainer, Howard Thompson, Douglas Shamburger, Brandi Wilson, Crystal Grant, La’Myia Good etc. in various smaller and background roles.
Conclusion
The Wood movie cast is among the major factors that make The Wood a favorite movie. The movie is emotionally involving due to the presence of the experienced actors, good supporting performances and the young actors who add authenticity to their flashback roles. The cast of The Wood will be remembered by anyone interested in reading about friendship and adolescence, the relationships which shape us.
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