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    • Review: Notorious The Movie

    notorious

    notorious-movie-trailer

    notorious_poster.jpg

    Where to begin? I first heard Biggie when my father played me Juicy. He told me with quite certainty that the Notorious B.I.G also know as Biggie Smalls was going to be BIG (pun intended) You see my father was a pioneer of sorts in the Canadian music scene and had a great ear for music and was extremely knowledgeable on the art, so when he played songs for me I listened. I immediately took a liking to BIG and his music and started following his career. My father used to stress the fact that BIG’s delivery was like no other rappers and his use of metaphors was pretty incredible and that he would change hip-hop forever.

    The movie starts off on the tragic night of March 9th 1997 when Christopher Wallace (played by Jamal Woolard) was gun down by an unknown assailant. The movie is a journey of the life of BIG and touching a bit on all the know aspects of his life. I don’t think the movie depicted any new information that was not known to the public.

    Jamal Woolard added an additional 50 pounds to his already large frame, making him look even more like Biggie than he already did. Not only did Jamal resemble Biggie’s physical appearance, he also walked the same path as he did as a child, dealing drugs and getting in lots of trouble. I think Jamal Woolard also know as Gravy really nailed BIG mannerism and even breathing patterns. Some scenes from the movie were so nostalgic and actually gave me shivers as times as the realness.

    Other people portrayed in the film that surrounded Biggie’s life, Voletta Wallace, Puff Daddy, Lil’ Kim, Lil Cease, and Damion ‘D-Roc’ Butler. I think the actress that played Lil Kim was bang on, I don’t feel that Derek Luke portrayed Puffy correctly, I felt at times that there was some over acting but I have to admit his dance moves were on point. Tupac was also portrayed in the movie by Anthony Mackie, which I don’t think was an accurate depiction. I felt they made Tupac look very amateurish and did not live up to the fame and realer than life persona he often portrayed. I don’t see Lil Cease being happy about the way he was portrayed in the film. I really enjoyed seeing Lil Kim interaction with Biggie and I think Angela Basset did a great job.

    This epic film was directed by George Tillman Jr., NOTORIOUS brings light to Biggie’s struggle from the Brooklyn drug world, to his rise to rap fame, to the East Coast Vs. West Coast rap/gang feud, and his untimely death.

    I believe that NOTORIOUS was a overall a great depiction of Christopher’s Wallace’s life and it might get better reception than Eminem’s 8 mile and 50’s Get rich or die trying. The movie touched me in so many ways and also made me reflect on the importance of life and cherishing the love ones around you. The real live footage from his funeral in Brooklyn was also a great added touched to the film. I remember where I was when Biggie Smalls the greatest rapper of all times died, do you?

    Rating: 8/10

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