The Hughes twins — Albert and Allen — were 20 in 1993 when they directed Menace II Society, a shattering debut film that spoke to a generation about random street violence. Dead Presidents, their follow-up film, goes beyond their direct experience to speak of Vietnam and the trauma of readjustment. But in pushing to craft an epic social document — a black Deer Hunter — the brothers' reach exceeds their grasp.

Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate) is 18 when he joins the Marines in 1968. His buddies from the Bronx, in New York, Skip (Chris Tucker) and José (Freddy Rodriguez), tag along. War trains them to kill. Returning home in 1972, Anthony is changed, and so is his neighborhood: It's now a sludge of violence, drugs and cynicism. Seduced by a chance for money (dead presidents) and respect, the vets — faces painted white — rob an armored car. What emerges is an uneasy blend of didacticism and juiced-up bloodletting (the brothers don't know when to stop with the exploding squibs) that bury the film's message and its good intentions.

“Time to Pretend”

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”