Luv (2012)

A special day of bonding takes a dark and dangerous detour for an 11-year-old boy when his uncle's violent past dramatically changes both their futures in "Luv," a poignant and gritty coming-of-age story featuring standout performances by Common, Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert, Charles S. Dutton and newcomer Michael Rainey Jr. With his mother in rehab and his father out of the picture, young Woody Watson (Michael Rainey Jr.) lives with his grandmother (Lonette McKee) in suburban Baltimore and longs for his family to be reunited. His charismatic Uncle Vincent (Common) has just returned home after eight years in prison, determined to straighten out his life by opening a high-end crab shack. One morning, instead of dropping Woody off at school, Vincent decides to give the boy a tutorial on how a man gets things done. After a trip to a tailor to get Woody a custom fitted suit, the pair heads to the bank to sign off on the loan Vincent needs to fulfill his dreams. But when a problem with the collateral puts the brakes on Vincent's plans, his lack of legitimate business experience and his criminal record leave him with no good options. Desperate not to lose his only chance at success, Vincent throws back in with his former associates, convinced that one last score will set him free. With Woody in tow, he plunges into the violent world he thought he had escaped, running a drug deal for his ex-employer, Baltimore crime boss Mr. Fish (Dennis Haysbert) and Fish's brother Arthur (Danny Glover). In the course of one harrowing day, Woody comes face to face with double-crossing thugs and brutal turf wars, and sees his beloved uncle in a tragic and frightening new light. Ultimately, the boy will have to decide whether to follow his flawed hero...or become his own man.