most of the people who gave this a bad review are probably the same people that gave eminem's film 8 mile a good review. both films depict the life's of the two rappers and in my opinion this film is better because 50 Cent has been through MUCH more in his life than Eminem has. the only difference is that 50 cent is black. People hatred for 50 cent and or maybe gangster rap probably have given them a tainted view on this film. it is not glorifying drug dealing etc like other films such as American gangster with denzil washington or film series such as breaking bad does, it is just merely telling a story of someones life. The fact that most of it is a true story should be enough to help people sit back and learn about the upbringing of one of the biggest stars this century. not a great film but no where near terrible.
307 Reviews
Average at best...
derek28110 November 2005
This movie was as stated earlier was extremely predictable. For 50 to be as articulate and clear in his interviews, he talked as if his mouth was full of food in this flick. He didn't show as much emotion as i figured he would, but he's an OK rapper so you all would expect that. Sadly, he kind of left us at the end to believe there might be a sequel (I hope not). Overall to be "loosly" based on someones life, there was too much fantasy going on for us to think Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is as "gangsta" as he proclaims to be. For 50 Cent die hard fans this is the movie for YOU, but if i didn't pay my 5.50 to see this already, i think i could've done good to wait for this to be released on DVD. The rest of the supporting cast did and pretty cool job such as my boy Terrence Howard whom most know from "Hustle & Flow", he supplied the comic relief and out shined 50 in the scenes featured with him.
A great modern gangster movie
Rainer25513 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I was expecting much from watching this movie but I was surprised. I could tell 50 was a mediocre actor from the previews but he did is best. The rest of the supporting cast were great especially Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje(Majestic)as the evil drug lord. Now it was hard distinguishing what was 50's real life and stuff just added to the movie. The scenes where he was a child were excellent and I felt his pain when his mother died. As he got older things took a turn for the worse betrayal from mostly everyone he ever trusted. I am still trying to figure out if I think is name is Dangerous is Ja rule. I finally know why he got shot 9 times. This movie does not promote the use or selling of drugs. People fell to see him trying to get his life together. Great gangster movie to see if you enjoy these types of movies.
One of the best rap movies out there?
ludwigstrandh27 April 2019
BLOODY Awful
jeremevr68 November 2005
50 Cent should fake his death after this 2 hour embarrassment.
It is 100% pile of steamy crap with corn and flies. The script was if it was written by someone in the third grade.
The acting was deafeningly stale. The scene with the knifefight in the steamy shower slipping on soap was worthy of being left on the cutting room floor.
It went on and on and on.
Boring and more boring and wait! Even more boring still.
I am embarrassed for rap music after seeing this.
I want my DMC and Public Enemy.
It is 100% pile of steamy crap with corn and flies. The script was if it was written by someone in the third grade.
The acting was deafeningly stale. The scene with the knifefight in the steamy shower slipping on soap was worthy of being left on the cutting room floor.
It went on and on and on.
Boring and more boring and wait! Even more boring still.
I am embarrassed for rap music after seeing this.
I want my DMC and Public Enemy.
This film is underrated!
mikeb_clifton10 July 2006
I have read through all of these comments, and am astounded at the amount of negativity towards it. I cannot believe that any film within the IMDb database can be voted as 1 out of 10, thats just stupid. Alrite, i agree its not an Oscar winning film, but I enjoyed it! OK, 50 cent's acting is brilliant, but he pulls it off! The film boasts a reasonable story based on his life, and to be honest it wasn't amazing, but it was generally enjoyable! Lost's Mr Eko played his character well, as did Terrence Howard! And Bill Duke, as the Ghetto Godfather is astoundingly brilliant! 8 Mile was a good film, and this is as good! So please, ignore the negative views and watch this film!!!!
Lousy film from start to finish
peterlineton20 January 2006
You know when you wish to descibe a film to a friend,who hasn't seen it yet,you usually start by outlining the plot,as you understand it,the perhaps commenting on the actors,and so on and so on. How on earth you do this with a film that is so toe-curlingly and stomach-churningly bad is another matter. The plot which is supposedly semi-autobiographical seems to be saying that murder and drug-dealing is an acceptable way to music stardom. That is bad enough,but when it is cliché- ridden, boring nastiness that is just too much. The star (Ha.Ha)50 Cents has the screen presence of a plastic toilet seat and mumbles his incomprehensible way through the film,which is so predictable from start to finish with all the familiar stereotypical South American drug barons,shootings and small-time hangers on we would expect.
Some of the supporting cast,who tried hard to make something out of the terrible script must have been dying with embarrassment to associated with such a load of nonsense and if they have any pride will deny any involvement on their C.V's. A film to be avoided at all cost
Some of the supporting cast,who tried hard to make something out of the terrible script must have been dying with embarrassment to associated with such a load of nonsense and if they have any pride will deny any involvement on their C.V's. A film to be avoided at all cost
Not the greatest movie of all time, but worth seeing
bcphilli13 November 2005
The criticism of this film reminds me of that received for Jarhead. People said Jarhead was not a war movie, and the Get Rich or Die Trying had to little to do with rap. My question is, why doesn't this make it a bad film? And to make one last comparison, this film way out did anything 8 Mile attempted (much more of a social critique).
The strength in this film is derived from it's black and white presentation of the "dope game" and how for fifty it was either sleep in a cellar, or buy a Mercedes. Sheridan did a good depiction of how selling drugs is an easy escape, a way to make you feel like a man. The best and most powerful scene in this film is when someone slips a razor blade in his solitary cell in order for him to kill himself. He remarks, "I thought about it". I also enjoyed the non-romanticized violence, and how the drug game was not altogether glorified.
The downfall of this film is it's over dramatized scenes, and it may be a little to long, however, a good critique of Black Urban society, and well worth your 8 dollars.
The strength in this film is derived from it's black and white presentation of the "dope game" and how for fifty it was either sleep in a cellar, or buy a Mercedes. Sheridan did a good depiction of how selling drugs is an easy escape, a way to make you feel like a man. The best and most powerful scene in this film is when someone slips a razor blade in his solitary cell in order for him to kill himself. He remarks, "I thought about it". I also enjoyed the non-romanticized violence, and how the drug game was not altogether glorified.
The downfall of this film is it's over dramatized scenes, and it may be a little to long, however, a good critique of Black Urban society, and well worth your 8 dollars.
Horrenous, keeping this lifestyle alive.
tomduo14 November 2005
This movie is horrendous. The terrific directing cannot separate the fact that this movie is perhaps one of the worst 'I sell records, why not make an album?' movies ever. He cannot act, sounds like he is reading his lines from a textbook, and his feelings range from dumb to ohmygod! The visual style of this movie acts, and the whole film seems like a horrible stereotype developed by racists (of all colors) who see inner city blacks as nothing but criminals. It is a shame that nice movies set to an African American theme flop, but movies that showcase the worst in society that affect kids do so well.
If you act like a criminal, you will be rich. Nice.
If you act like a criminal, you will be rich. Nice.
Better Than I Expected...
shk_okwd10 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Get Rich Or Die Trying' is the first starring film for rapper 50 Cent, similar to that of his mentor Eminem ('8 Mile'). 50 Cent plays Marcus and the story follows follows his life from a child to his pre-fame career. His mother's death, selling crack, jail, having a child, being ball blacked in the music industry by 'Dangerous' (a.k.a. Ja Rule), feuding with local drug kingpins, being shot 9 times and eventually making a come back to the stage.
50 Cent said this was a 75% accurate portrayal of his life and I can see that. If you know about his life before coming into this movie and not just 'he got shot nine times. now he's a rapper.' you'd see who most of the characters are based off. The script is well written to his story, although could use some work with some of the stupid lines characters say and some of the things are not fully explained. When the guy who shot 50 said '...But I shot him like... 9 times!' even though there was no chance in hell he was able to count the amount of times he shot him since more than 9 bullets were let off.
50 Cent's acting in this film, uh, sucks. He doesn't open his mouth when speaking once, making him sound like a cross between Napolean Dynamite and Kanye West with his jaw wired shut. He wasn't as terrible as I was expecting and I was surprised when he showed emotion more than 'I'm a hard gangsta', especially with nudity and crying in afew scenes. The rest of the actors are all great as they usually are, so that makes up for 50's lack of talent.
The film is above average if you go into it not embarrassed to enjoy it. Go into it with an open mind and you'll watch a pretty decent film only brought down by 50's crappy acting. His life story is perfect for a movie.
6.5/10
50 Cent said this was a 75% accurate portrayal of his life and I can see that. If you know about his life before coming into this movie and not just 'he got shot nine times. now he's a rapper.' you'd see who most of the characters are based off. The script is well written to his story, although could use some work with some of the stupid lines characters say and some of the things are not fully explained. When the guy who shot 50 said '...But I shot him like... 9 times!' even though there was no chance in hell he was able to count the amount of times he shot him since more than 9 bullets were let off.
50 Cent's acting in this film, uh, sucks. He doesn't open his mouth when speaking once, making him sound like a cross between Napolean Dynamite and Kanye West with his jaw wired shut. He wasn't as terrible as I was expecting and I was surprised when he showed emotion more than 'I'm a hard gangsta', especially with nudity and crying in afew scenes. The rest of the actors are all great as they usually are, so that makes up for 50's lack of talent.
The film is above average if you go into it not embarrassed to enjoy it. Go into it with an open mind and you'll watch a pretty decent film only brought down by 50's crappy acting. His life story is perfect for a movie.
6.5/10
Terrible
skegyuk18 November 2005
Well I am going to open a court case against 50 cent because I want my 2 hours back, that was quite possibly the worst film ever.
It was like a couple of school kid's got together and wrote a play about the "ghetto" It also shows young people (and old alike) that if you become a gangster you will have sexy women at your feat and too much money that you can't spend it fast enough.
If you are thinking of watching this film don't unless you are going to rate it 1 and spread the word of how bad it is, but don't pay to see it that is one mistake I will never make again with a 50 cent film (I am just praying they are not making a sequel)
It was like a couple of school kid's got together and wrote a play about the "ghetto" It also shows young people (and old alike) that if you become a gangster you will have sexy women at your feat and too much money that you can't spend it fast enough.
If you are thinking of watching this film don't unless you are going to rate it 1 and spread the word of how bad it is, but don't pay to see it that is one mistake I will never make again with a 50 cent film (I am just praying they are not making a sequel)
It isn't *that* bad.
katyiana18 January 2006
I don't see why everyone has such a problem with this movie - I thought it was okay, it wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, and it didn't have the best acting ever, but it certainly wasn't the worst movie ever.
The ending wasn't too good, but the movie wasn't too shabby, the storyline was good and it proved to keep me entertained for the full two hours. I learnt a lot about 50 cent during the movie, even though I'm not a fan of rap and/or 50 cent himself, I still enjoyed it.
The movie gives you inspiration, if 50 cent can go through a lot and come out of it a billion dollar rapper at the end, it makes you think that you could probably do something on the same level.
You don't have to like rap and/or 50 cent to enjoy this movie and read into it. If you enjoyed the trailer, don't let the bad reviews put you off, that's what I did, yet I liked the movie.
The ending wasn't too good, but the movie wasn't too shabby, the storyline was good and it proved to keep me entertained for the full two hours. I learnt a lot about 50 cent during the movie, even though I'm not a fan of rap and/or 50 cent himself, I still enjoyed it.
The movie gives you inspiration, if 50 cent can go through a lot and come out of it a billion dollar rapper at the end, it makes you think that you could probably do something on the same level.
You don't have to like rap and/or 50 cent to enjoy this movie and read into it. If you enjoyed the trailer, don't let the bad reviews put you off, that's what I did, yet I liked the movie.
Good message but had some technical errors in the acting and the story.
byrddawg797 June 2006
I liked this movie because I thought 50 cent did a fairly good job acting being that it was his first movie, but he does need to improve his acting a bit more. I thought the story had holes in it because it did not show enough detail of how he developed as a rapper. He just went from drug dealer to rapper. There needed to be some progress between the two lifestyles because it is usually a struggle to become a good rapper. It would have been a better story if it showed how 50 really went from drug dealer to rapper. He met Jam master Jay of Run DMC who taught him how to rap. Anyway it is a good story because of the fact that it shows how it is in the inner city is educational to people who are blind to this kind of struggle and it shows him being able to get out the hood to pursue his dream. This will inspire young people in that position to do the same, maybe not with rap, but with their God-given talents.
Another lowlife "rapper" who cant act.
chaotic64613 November 2005
If I could have given this a score lower than a 1 I would have but unfortunately, thats not possible. The only reason I went to see this was because it was a first date movie and being the gentleman I am I let my date pick what to see. A lot of people who know me would say I'm just being biased since I absolutely despise hip-hop, rap, or whatever its called but this movie (and I use that term lightly) was utter crap. Horrible plot, horrible acting, and a horrible cast. I actually feel like I have lost a few I.Q. points from watching this disaster of a film. Whoever wrote, directed, and casted this film must really feel embarrassed right now, hopefully as embarrassed as I felt for them while I was watching it. And if anyone cares my date (who likes 50 cent) hated it as much as me.
A tale that forces the audience to choose whichever side is the lesser of two evils
grenadiangal1319 November 2005
Where do I start? OK here we go...last night 2 hours of my life were stolen. and who stole those hours is probably what you are wondering... Mr. Curtis Jackson and his fellow cast mates stole time out of my young life...you see I was deceived by the trailers...I believed that this would be a good movie...by no means did I think that the acting in Get Rich Or Die Trying would be so horrible...I thought that maybe 50 Cent would be the one to break the chain of great rappers turn awful actors (with the exception of Tupac of course). Obviously my faith was heavily misguided.
that said, the story line was not that bad...give the cast some acting lessons and try again...develop the the story a bit more and it would be worth my time.
but hey what am I complaining about, my viewing of this film was not paid out of my own pocket...and guess what...it was worth every penny!!!!!
that said, the story line was not that bad...give the cast some acting lessons and try again...develop the the story a bit more and it would be worth my time.
but hey what am I complaining about, my viewing of this film was not paid out of my own pocket...and guess what...it was worth every penny!!!!!
functional gangster rap drama
SnoopyStyle27 September 2015
Marcus lives with his loving but drug dealing mother. After she gets murdered in a drug deal, Marcus is brought into the life by drug-lord Levar (Bill Duke) and his associate Majestic (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). He lives with his grandmother (Viola Davis) and grandfather (Sullivan Walker). As a teen, Marcus (50 Cent) gets arrested and quits school as he climbs the drug business. He writes his raps on the side and reunites with childhood love Charlene (Joy Bryant). He gets thrown in prison where Bama (Terrence Howard) saves him in a prison fight. Meanwhile Majestic sets up Levar in a cop killing and takes over the gang. Marcus gets out of prison and leaves the gang to pursue rapping with Bama as his manager. He refuses to sign with Majestic and gets shut out of the industry. Bama convinces him to rob a drug dealer.
50 is not a good actor. He's never going to get an acting award. He does have a natural understated charm which does come across on the screen. It's not the most original story but it's compelling enough. It has little insights like comparing drug dealing on the street corner to a minimum pay jobs. There is also an authenticity to the performance and getting the character shot 9 times is a little reminder. It doesn't have the intensity or the drama of 8 Mile but it's still a functional familiar story despite hitting some slow spots.
50 is not a good actor. He's never going to get an acting award. He does have a natural understated charm which does come across on the screen. It's not the most original story but it's compelling enough. It has little insights like comparing drug dealing on the street corner to a minimum pay jobs. There is also an authenticity to the performance and getting the character shot 9 times is a little reminder. It doesn't have the intensity or the drama of 8 Mile but it's still a functional familiar story despite hitting some slow spots.
The worst movie i have EVER seen!
kick_the_baby_32112 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This abomination strapped to a piece of film has to be the greatest waste of time and money in the history of man. Let's start at the beginning. 50 gets shot, a lot(big surprise). We don't know 50's character so why would anybody care. The rest of the movie straps you down and drags you through an eternity of boredom. It was so slowwww! The acting will either make you gouge out your eyes or shove a sharp object in one ear and out the other(I left early to prevent such an occurrence). Worse yet, 50 is the narrator, and let's just say he's no Morgan Freeman. The plot will go from bad, to worse, to a steaming pile. The writer of this movie should go back to school and learn how to make a decent movie. The childhood scenes shouldn't have been added, they just deter from the rest of the movie and waste a whole of time. Some of the lines in this movie are so bad that you will want to laugh out loud. Things you should do with your money before going to see this movie:
-Get a gallon and a half worth in gas. -Eat your money. -Give it away to a homeless person. -Wipe your *beep* with your money. -Clean your fish tank with your money. -Throw it in the trash.
The list just goes on and on.
-Get a gallon and a half worth in gas. -Eat your money. -Give it away to a homeless person. -Wipe your *beep* with your money. -Clean your fish tank with your money. -Throw it in the trash.
The list just goes on and on.
I would get rich...
jpschapira12 July 2006
Jim Sheridan, by all means a winning director, can take any project and turn it into a successful motion picture event. The project (a movie) in his hands will not only be successful; it will also be good, or better than good. I know this without having seen any of Sheridan's previous films; but the story says there are directors that turn everything they touch into gold
And I don't mean money.
To compare this Sheridan film with Curtis Hanson's "8 Mile" is unavoidable: both movies are about the lives of rappers; 50 Cent an Eminem are intimately connected because the latter one helped launching the career of the first one; and last, both movies are controlled by recognized and respectable directors. If that wasn't enough, this film and "8 Mile" are equally good.
In "8 Mile", Eminem called himself "the Rabbit", when everybody knew he was telling the story of his life. Here, Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) calls himself Marcus, and goes rapping by the name of "young Caesar", which is a nice detail to put slices of fiction in the picture. However, many people know that 50 Cent almost lost his life; and that he had it rough.
The film's screenplay, by Terrence Winter, includes every detail of the language of the neighborhood, the gangs, the attitudes and the business. You see, 50 Cent was black, and he wanted to be and became part of the big business; but Eminem: he was a white boy who had a lot of talent with rhymes These are two different stories.
The way I see it, Sheridan did a fabulous work in getting the best out of Curtis Jackson's limited acting abilities. He doesn't achieve the high level that Eminem did in "8 Mile", but he doesn't stay behind either. Besides, his supporting cast (with the hand of the genius Avy Kaufman) accompanies him better than Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy and Mekhi Phifer accompanied Eminem.
50 Cent got Joy Bryant, who's good but still doesn't do it for me; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who's great and should have been Emmy nominated for his portrayal of Mr. Eko in "Lost"; Terrence Howard, a touch of class and unlimited talent; the ever respectable Bill Duke and some other names that make the ride entertaining.
Because 50 Cent also got into my heart, with his sassy smile and his peculiar way of rapping; his jokes and his fights The man had quite a life, and quite a way to put it into words. Jim Sheridan triumphs, 50 Cent triumphs, and the movie triumphs to; because of that simple smile it gets out of you when it's over.
It's not going to make you want to buy the rapper's albums as "Walk the Line" makes you want to buy Johnny Cash's entire career; but it will make you respect the artist's position, his talent and his success.
To compare this Sheridan film with Curtis Hanson's "8 Mile" is unavoidable: both movies are about the lives of rappers; 50 Cent an Eminem are intimately connected because the latter one helped launching the career of the first one; and last, both movies are controlled by recognized and respectable directors. If that wasn't enough, this film and "8 Mile" are equally good.
In "8 Mile", Eminem called himself "the Rabbit", when everybody knew he was telling the story of his life. Here, Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) calls himself Marcus, and goes rapping by the name of "young Caesar", which is a nice detail to put slices of fiction in the picture. However, many people know that 50 Cent almost lost his life; and that he had it rough.
The film's screenplay, by Terrence Winter, includes every detail of the language of the neighborhood, the gangs, the attitudes and the business. You see, 50 Cent was black, and he wanted to be and became part of the big business; but Eminem: he was a white boy who had a lot of talent with rhymes These are two different stories.
The way I see it, Sheridan did a fabulous work in getting the best out of Curtis Jackson's limited acting abilities. He doesn't achieve the high level that Eminem did in "8 Mile", but he doesn't stay behind either. Besides, his supporting cast (with the hand of the genius Avy Kaufman) accompanies him better than Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy and Mekhi Phifer accompanied Eminem.
50 Cent got Joy Bryant, who's good but still doesn't do it for me; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who's great and should have been Emmy nominated for his portrayal of Mr. Eko in "Lost"; Terrence Howard, a touch of class and unlimited talent; the ever respectable Bill Duke and some other names that make the ride entertaining.
Because 50 Cent also got into my heart, with his sassy smile and his peculiar way of rapping; his jokes and his fights The man had quite a life, and quite a way to put it into words. Jim Sheridan triumphs, 50 Cent triumphs, and the movie triumphs to; because of that simple smile it gets out of you when it's over.
It's not going to make you want to buy the rapper's albums as "Walk the Line" makes you want to buy Johnny Cash's entire career; but it will make you respect the artist's position, his talent and his success.
Who cares?
Snapsnbites22 May 2006
Few redeeming qualities here.
This film is a cheap, brainless waste of time and money glorifying a character you care nothing about from scene 1. As a protagonitst, 50 is very dull and unremarkable. The story of his life was enough to put me to bed twice. It took me 3 tries to get through this movie, and I can't say I'm any better for having seen it. I still have no interest in his music, or anything he does.
Pop Icons shouldn't have movies made about them until, at least 10 years after their death. 10 years from now, who the hell is going to care about 50 Cent? For that matter, who the hell cares about him now?
This film is a cheap, brainless waste of time and money glorifying a character you care nothing about from scene 1. As a protagonitst, 50 is very dull and unremarkable. The story of his life was enough to put me to bed twice. It took me 3 tries to get through this movie, and I can't say I'm any better for having seen it. I still have no interest in his music, or anything he does.
Pop Icons shouldn't have movies made about them until, at least 10 years after their death. 10 years from now, who the hell is going to care about 50 Cent? For that matter, who the hell cares about him now?
The plot is unoriginal and very predictable
Movieguy_blogs_com8 November 2005
In 'Get Rich or Die Trying' Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson plays Marcus, a drug dealer from the street who wants to get out of the thug-life and be a rap star. This movie is supposed to be about 50 Cent and his true-life struggle to be a success.
This film was good in that it seemed to parallel the life of 50 Cent. From what I know, it is fairly accurate to a lot of what he went through. My problem is that this plot has been done and redone. A story about a poor ghetto kid trying to be heard, clean up his life and make it as a rapper. Have we not seen this before ('8 Mile', 'Hustle and Flow', etc.)? Do not get me wrong, this is a good movie in its own right. However, the plot is unoriginal and very predictable; even if it is true to life. I would only recommend this to big 50 Cent fans or someone who has not seen '8 Mile' or 'Hustle and Flow'.
This film was good in that it seemed to parallel the life of 50 Cent. From what I know, it is fairly accurate to a lot of what he went through. My problem is that this plot has been done and redone. A story about a poor ghetto kid trying to be heard, clean up his life and make it as a rapper. Have we not seen this before ('8 Mile', 'Hustle and Flow', etc.)? Do not get me wrong, this is a good movie in its own right. However, the plot is unoriginal and very predictable; even if it is true to life. I would only recommend this to big 50 Cent fans or someone who has not seen '8 Mile' or 'Hustle and Flow'.
He looks like the missing link.
selfishbastid21 November 2005
I have nothing personal against 50 Cent, don't buy his records, kind of view him as a flash in the pan. But after being saturated with his face for the past 3 years I figured, why not see what all the hype is about...yeah his "music" is bubble-gum wannabe gangster rap that couldn't hold a candle to the originators of the genre...(i.e. N.W.A.,Schooly-D,etc.) The music will be forgotten in 5 years time...so maybe the movie will give him some validity, let's see if he can act. BAD MOVE, this guy makes DMX look like Sidney Poitier. The whole movie is the classic template, just plug in a one gear, multi-millionaire so-called rap artist. It just wasn't entertaining, I wasn't expecting the Godafther, but jeez...what a waste. So many other movies, steeped in hood reality have delivered far more...Menace 2 Society and Boyz N' The Hood all the way back to Cooley High. Hopefully the relatively dismal box office receipts will keep this guy out of the movies so he can concentrate on selling dull, bland pop music to the mouth breathing masses who hail him as the king of the streets.
Think Outside of the Box
seitanicvegan5 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this movie for one reason: Terrence Howard. As always, Howard is brilliant. The other performances are solid, including Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson who, for people who don't seem to understand this, plays himself. (If 50 Cent were to "act", as some maintain, then he would not be portraying his true self, and the entire movie would self-destruct into a moot point.) The camera shots, angles, and lighting are superb, the dialog is genuine, and the plot line is believable. But this is not run-of-the-mill Hollywood fare. There is no seamless stream of canned emotional music to fill in the gaps for underactive imaginations. There are no handy-dandy humor scenes for fluffy feel-good filling. There are no flat characters to artificially ease the main character into some orchestrated epiphany. There isn't even really a hero. There is only a man who is trying to live as best as he can in a self-serving world, a man who finds a measure of strength even as he runs from his fears. In order to truly appreciate the message that this movie has to offer, you have to think outside of your comfortable movie-watching box. This movie is gritty, powerful and raw. This movie makes no excuses. This movie is about as close as the big screen can get to portraying real life. No, it's not a pleasant movie. Neither is life.
Rappin is the new Black American dream?
UrbanFilmCritic8 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Film Synopsis: The story of Marcus Grier (Jackson), an orphaned street kid who gains rank in the drug trade but after a tragic shooting decides to leave the violence behind and become a rap artist. The film is based on Jackson's autobiography From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon A Time in Southside Queens. I had an opportunity to talk with 50 just days before the film was released. By his own words this movie is 70% accurate and 30% Hollywood.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Charles Drew, Thurgood Marshall, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, George Washington Carver all the great ones, right? Out of all the celebrated accomplishments of African Americans in the fields of medicine, science and the arts, when were we reduced to watching biopics about drug dealers who became rappers? When did that become the African American dream? And yet twice in 2005 some producer told the story of a wannabe rapper with all the intensity of Schindler's list and The English Patient put together. Just because the music is serious, doesn't mean I'll take it seriously.
Most of us justify our love of gangsta rap and their tales from the darkside of the streets with the cliché line: "It's not real. It's all a hype." Of course some guy in a tall T and Timbs will emphatically support the rapper saying, "Naw that's not true, he had a beef wit at the Hit Factory in 03. His manager got shot!" And then you go see a movie like Get Rich or Die Trying. A movie that is the exact embodiment of every gangsta rap song ever produced. Intro, verse, hook, verse, bridge, hook, out- remixed with a little 50-lore made this flick real predictable. Bad dialog, bad clothes and bad hair. What's worse, the actors that could have brought the pain like Terrance Howard, Mykelti Williamson and Viola Davis were not given enough screen time to make a difference in the quality of the film. And as with most mediocre screenplays the ending fell to pieces. As for Jackson's performance, he couldn't quite hold his own with the more seasoned actors in the cast. But in all fairness for a drug dealer who became a rapper who became an actor he wasn't that bad.
This movie raises a social problem. If it is all just hype then we put it under the Scarface category of gangster fiction and go to sleep still feeling like good people. However, if the premise of the story is indeed based in truth, then we have to ask ourselves where do we draw the line on entertainment? When does it stop being fun and start being wrong? I know my social conscience was not offended when it was just a song. Maybe rappers need to keep their stories on wax 50 believes his story is worth telling if for no other reason, it's a blueprint of what not to do. He wasted years dealing that he could have been rapping. I think that part of the message is lost in the film. He makes it look simple, worthwhile and cool. His tragic shooting has more value as street credit than as a hard life lesson. Mr. Jackson is very confident that his story will either inspire or make envy. In this writer's opinion, repulsion is also a possibility. However, it takes courage to tell such a shameful story and something has to be said for that.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Charles Drew, Thurgood Marshall, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, George Washington Carver all the great ones, right? Out of all the celebrated accomplishments of African Americans in the fields of medicine, science and the arts, when were we reduced to watching biopics about drug dealers who became rappers? When did that become the African American dream? And yet twice in 2005 some producer told the story of a wannabe rapper with all the intensity of Schindler's list and The English Patient put together. Just because the music is serious, doesn't mean I'll take it seriously.
Most of us justify our love of gangsta rap and their tales from the darkside of the streets with the cliché line: "It's not real. It's all a hype." Of course some guy in a tall T and Timbs will emphatically support the rapper saying, "Naw that's not true, he had a beef wit at the Hit Factory in 03. His manager got shot!" And then you go see a movie like Get Rich or Die Trying. A movie that is the exact embodiment of every gangsta rap song ever produced. Intro, verse, hook, verse, bridge, hook, out- remixed with a little 50-lore made this flick real predictable. Bad dialog, bad clothes and bad hair. What's worse, the actors that could have brought the pain like Terrance Howard, Mykelti Williamson and Viola Davis were not given enough screen time to make a difference in the quality of the film. And as with most mediocre screenplays the ending fell to pieces. As for Jackson's performance, he couldn't quite hold his own with the more seasoned actors in the cast. But in all fairness for a drug dealer who became a rapper who became an actor he wasn't that bad.
This movie raises a social problem. If it is all just hype then we put it under the Scarface category of gangster fiction and go to sleep still feeling like good people. However, if the premise of the story is indeed based in truth, then we have to ask ourselves where do we draw the line on entertainment? When does it stop being fun and start being wrong? I know my social conscience was not offended when it was just a song. Maybe rappers need to keep their stories on wax 50 believes his story is worth telling if for no other reason, it's a blueprint of what not to do. He wasted years dealing that he could have been rapping. I think that part of the message is lost in the film. He makes it look simple, worthwhile and cool. His tragic shooting has more value as street credit than as a hard life lesson. Mr. Jackson is very confident that his story will either inspire or make envy. In this writer's opinion, repulsion is also a possibility. However, it takes courage to tell such a shameful story and something has to be said for that.
its not as bad as people say it is!
McLoven2 February 2006
Warning: Spoilers
its not as bad as people say it is, don't get me wrong it isn't amazing it could be better but it absolutely does not deserve a 1. 50cent has done a lot in this film that most rapper actors wouldn't do. like crying, a sex scene and a shower scene. you can tell he really tried his best on this film and i feel that he has managed to pull it off. i think the reason most people who say they don't like this film just say it because they don't like 50 as a person most people are jellos because he came up so fast. but you can like it or hate the fact 50 has shone some real talent on the big screen. but like i said before this isn't the best movie of all time there are a few bits that could be made a lot better, like the ending for 1 and another bill duke just sounds like hes trying to do an impression of the god farther and he ant pulling it of well.
Holy CRAP
lovadoll17 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Awful just awful.Let's begin with the sad acting by none other than 50 cent.He has got to be the worst actor in the world and only made this film suck more.The brutal story and sickening dialogue shows you just how much effort 50 cent put into this load of garbage.Fans of 50 cent will flock to the theatre to see this but i don't even think this crap will satisfy them.This movie is just a vulgar piece of crap with a bad story,bad acting,and no creativity.This just goes to show you how much talent 50 cent has,absolutely none.I can only see this movie as something to make money off of due to the large popularity of 50 cent as a rapper.There is no chance in hell anyone put any thought into this and i will never watch this again.Get rich or die trying is a horrendous excuse for a movie that isn't even worth 50 cents.
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