Since making his highly acclaimed feature debut with the cult comedy Friday in 1995, F. Gary Gray has risen to become one of the most talented directors in Hollywood. In addition to helping Ice Cube find cinematic success, Gray has also been instrumental in giving Vin Diesel (A Man Apart) and Dwayne Johnson (Be Cool) big-screen opportunities when it wasn't so fashionable, proving what tremendous foresight Gray has as a mass entertainer.
Following a rare critical misstep with Men In Black: International, Gray is poised to return to the big screen with Muscle, a new action-comedy starring Vin Diesel that is currently in preproduction. Until then, it's worth highlighting Gray's eclectic cinematic resume to date.
Be Cool (2005): 5.6
While the long-awaited sequel to the stylish crime film Get Shorty failed to resonate as much as the original, the movie drew raves for Dwayne Johnson's hilarious breakout performance as Elliot Wilhelm, a flamboyant bodyguard with designs on becoming a song-and-dance man in Hollywood. A decent movie in its own right, Gray's film was partly a victim of super high expectations.
Plot-wise, the film returns loan-shark-turned-movie-mogul Chili Palmer (John Travolta), now interested in exploiting the music business. However, fans of Elmore Leonard's source novel felt the film failed to capture the writer's work in the way Quentin Tarantino did with Jackie Brown.
Men In Black: International (2019): 5.6
Perhaps Gray's biggest critical and commercial failure to date, Men In Black: International was viewed as a major letdown when it hit theaters in 2019. Rebuked by many for being too stolid, overly PC, and disconnected from series canon, others praised the blockbuster for being a fun family film with cool visuals and a much lighter tone than the other franchise entries.
While Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson acquit themselves well as Agents H and M, the glaring absence of the droll interplay between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones from the first three films left a lot to be desired. As such, it might be the last MIB film for quite some time.
A Man Apart (2003): 6.1
One of Gray's lesser-known titles includes A Man Apart, the hyper-violent Vin Diesel action-thriller in which he plays a mysterious drug lord named Diablo out to avenge his wife's murder. Despite being praised for a solid opening, the film has been criticized for being an average, run-of-the-mill revenge tale that doesn't elevate or add to the genre in any meaningful way.
It's worth noting that Gray has never been credited for writing any screenplays, including the films he's directed. He may make uncredited revisions, but one of the biggest gripes about A Man Apart is its weak script and derivative story, despite some of the stylistic visual tricks Gray incorporates.
The Fate Of The Furious (2017): 6.6
Gray revved up the turbo-charged action in The Fate of The Furious, one of the most well-received and financially successful movies in the mega-popular Fast franchise. The addition of action star Charlize Theron as the villainous Cipher certainly helped, as did Gray's exhilarating action set pieces that honor the series while progressing it forward.
The online response to the film largely entailed praise for being a well-executed marvel of slick action entertainment, delivering exactly what fans expected while adding new characters, ramped-up racing action, and relentless amusement.
Set It Off (1996): 6.9
Following his feature debut Friday, Gray proved what a terrific filmmaker he is with Set It Off, a touching, character-driven heist film about four Black women in South Los Angeles who resort to robbing banks due to their dead-end circumstances. With terrific performances by Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Vivica Fox, and Kimberly Elise, Set It Off is a must-see for fans of Gray's movies.
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From an incisively observed script by Kate Lanier, the film is much more about the loving bonds of friendship the four women demonstrate than the crimes they feel the need to commit due to their limited options. Defying conventional wisdom, Gray proves that heist films can be sentimental without being mawkish.
The Italian Job (2003): 7.0
Fourteen years before directing Charlize Theron as Cipher in The Fate of the Furious, Gray guided the actress in one of her first legit action roles via The Italian Job in 2003. The stylish and highly entertaining remake of the superb 1969 Michael Caine movie was a major critical and commercial hit, leading to a sequel called The Brazilian Job that is still in development hell nearly 20 years later.
As for the Italian Job, the star-studded affair is slick Hollywood blockbuster entertainment at its finest, pitting a group of an international team of thieves who concoct an elaborate scheme to liberate $35 million in gold bullion from a vault in Venice, Italy. The breathless pacing, unpredictable twists, and top-notch performances make The Italian Job a really fun time at the movies.
Friday (1995): 7.3
Two years after directing Ice Cube's iconic "It Was a Good Day" music video, Gray reteamed with the superstar rapper to make Friday, one of the funniest stoner comedy ever made. Cube wrote the beloved movie with DJ Pooh (Red), launching a bona fide movie franchise in the process to go with Cube and Gray's super successful cinematic careers.
With extremely funny and relatable characters, Friday's biggest strength is the tour-de-force comedic performance by Chris Tucker as Smokey, Craig's (Cube) perpetually high best friend who gets them both in a jam with the neighborhood weed dealer, Big Worm (Faison Love). The film turned a $3.5 million budget into a massive $28 million moneymaker, catapulting Gray as a major Hollywood player.
The Negotiator (1998): 7.3
Following Set If Off, Gray substantially upped the budget, thrills, and movie star status for his next crime film, The Negotiator. With riveting turns from Kevin Spacey and Samuel L. Jackson, the hostage-thriller proved that Gray could handle a massive production while directing A-list movie stars.
While the film lost money at the box office, The Negotiator was praised for its gripping tension, clever twists, and powerhouse performances by two all-time great actors in their prime.
Law Abiding Citizen (2009): 7.4
Despite boasting abysmal Rotten Tomatoes (26%) and Metascore (34) ratings, Law Abiding Citizen is one of Gray's most beloved movies among IMDb users. The visceral action film stars Gerard Butler as Clyde Shelton, an indefatigable vigilante who takes the law into his own hands when a plea deal frees the killer who took his family's lives.
Despite the by-the-numbers story and a woefully besmirched ending, the film has drawn high IMDb ratings for its awesome opening scenes, intense action, provocative morality play, and the amusing clash between Butler and Jamie Foxx.
Straight Outta Compton (2015): 7.8
Seemingly preparing his entire career for this particular film, it's only right that Straight Outta Compton ranks as F. Gary Gray's best movie to date. With as firm a grasp on the material as any director in Hollywood due to his long history with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, Gray tells the compelling biopic of the trailblazing gangster-rap group N.W.A. with the utmost honor and respect.
In addition to the fascinating story, terrific performances, and fast-paced editing, Gray proves that one does not need to be a rap music fan to enjoy the movie. As a poignant tale of true friendship clashing with the pursuit of the American dream, Straight Outta Compton poses tough questions while celebrating groundbreaking music.