Cake

When a trio of small-time marijuana dealers incur the wrath of the Mexican mafia, their American dream turns into a terrifying nightmare in the debut feature from director Juwan Chung. Everything seems to be going well for life-long friends-turned-petty pot peddlers Kash (Archie Howard II), Shane (Chung), and Bones (Ben Baller) until their trusted drive is busted during a routine run to Ohio, and when the naïve dealers try to recoup their losses by selling cocaine, they quickly realize that they've gotten in over their heads. With no one to trust and the Mexican mafia hot on their trail, Kash is soon thrown in jail and Shane and Bones left to fend for themselves as the hired guns close in. When survival instinct pits friend against friend, loyalties are tested and bonds broken for three friends who thought they had it all.

Directed by Juwan Chung, Cake leans on a strong ensemble — Ben Baller, Dewey Canton, Shawn Harris — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about crime titles of 2004.