*The LA Film Festival premiere of “Kicks” directed by Justin Tipping was recently held at ArcLight Cinemas in Culver City. Fans and family came out to support the modern day version of “The Wood.”
“Kicks” is a classic story that any sneaker fan will relate too. It reminds us of that famous quote from the late Notorious B.I.G.: “Mo Money, Mo Problems.” Yep, that’s the situation when it comes to people hating on what you have and they don’t.
Speaking of Biggie, ironically, this film features CJ Wallace, the son of the legendary rapper and a phenomenal remaining cast that includes Jahking Guillory, Christopher Meyer, Kofi Siriboe, and Mahershala Ali that delivers the goods as far as we’re concerned.
Maybe that’s because director Justin Tipping was inspired by a true life event of when he was robbed for his shoes at a younger age. Years later, he’s turned that experience into a film that will go down as a classic. “Kicks” is about realities of inner-city life, the concept of manhood and the fetishization of sneaker culture.
EURweb associate Jimmy V was on the red carpet chatting it up with the cast and Tipping about sneakers and what message they want this film to give out.
The scenario was: It’s a Friday night and you’re on the way to the mall. What brand of sneakers are you purchasing Jordan, Nike, or Adidas?
The cast was a mixed group with answers of all 3 brands but they knew once you put the sneakers on you felt like a new man. This feeling is what’s going to connect the audience with one another. This is a young cast with a lot of positive energy that’s going to deliver a positive message to all their fans.
Check out our exclusive red carpet interviews in the video below:
Here’s the official summary for “Kicks”:
In director Justin Tipping’s feature debut ‘Kicks,” nothing is as simple as it seems. 15-year-old Brandon longs for a pair of the freshest sneakers that money can buy, assuming that merely having them on his feet will help him escape the reality of being poor, neglected by the opposite sex and picked on by everyone — even his best friends. Working hard to get them, he soon finds that the titular shoes have instead made him a target after they are promptly snatched by local hood, Flaco.
Seemingly the embodiment of menace, Flaco harbors complexities of his own that will be revealed when Brandon goes on a mission to retrieve his stolen sneakers with his two best friends in tow. Boasting a strong ensemble cast, and featuring a memorable lead performance by newcomer Jahking Guillory, the film transcends a deceptively traditional hero’s journey to deliver an entertaining and sobering look at the realities of inner-city life, the concept of manhood and the fetishization of sneaker culture.
Visually and thematically rich, with an amazing soundtrack of both hip-hop classics and Bay Area favorites, “Kicks” creates an authentic and original portrait of a young man drowning in the expectations of machismo.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
