Movie Preview: Notorious
Well the trailer is out. I can see movie theaters in Brooklyn selling out in January. Because the film of B.I.G. will be out to start 2009.
I have some bad news though. The movie is probably crap. I’m not saying this because of my personal belief that gangsta rap music is garbage overall. Nor is it because I think any film glorifying a criminal – drug dealing loser – is a bad idea. I think this movie is bad because it’s coming out January 9th. Movie studios reserve that time of year for what they view as the worst films they have. It’s the equivalent of taking out the trash.
I know there will be fans of current rap music that will hate to hear this. I am sure there are fans of this deceased drug dealer that still cherish his memory. I am obviously not one of them.
The fact that an ex-con, that sold death in a crack pipe, was able to become an entertainment star is a credit to the American way of life, and moreso to the ability and determination of music industry executives in promoting base images to the public. This movie, detailing the life of this small time hood, is only being made because of his sudden violent death. A death that occurred because of the most stupid reason I can think of; not over money or women or power, but because one group of drug dealing self-important entertainers thought they were better than another group of drug dealing self-important entertainers. In other words a pissing contest.
Do I think Christopher George Latore Wallace deserves a movie? No. Do I think a life that glorifies the business of killing people with poison for money and a life of degrading African Americans in society is worthy of a movie? No.
I have no doubt that Biggie smalls was loved by those close to him. I have no doubt that his mother cared about him. I have friends, both dead and alive today, that have served time in prison. Several lived lives that were less than stellar in their youth, and most paid the price of death for those lives. But to have a movie made about that, that seemingly highlights those moments of lechery and depraved indifference of life is bewildering to me.
What will this film feature? Christopher Wallace making a choice to sell drugs at 12, dropping out of school at 17 – because he preferred a life of crime, not because he had no other option. It should show him being thrown in jail for his crimes, and several arrests. It will show him performing, and gaining importance in the gangsta rap genre. It might show him attacking autograph seekers in Manhattan, or him beating friends of a concert promoter and robbing them. It will show him getting into a car accident and requiring him to need a cane. And the film will show Wallace being shot to death, and possibly place blame on someone for that shooting.
On balance I expect little to come of this film, except a renewed anger between West Coast and East Coast rappers. There is no beautiful moment to be expressed, no greater statement to be made. Christopher Wallace was not a great man, beyond his size. Biggie smalls did no great deeds. Notorious B.I.G. had no legacy nor made a lasting impact on life on this planet.
The film will make a profit, because this kind of film is cheap to make. How Angela Bassett was attached to this film is beyond me. I suppose she adds credibility to the film, and no doubt was the single greatest cost above or below the line. So it will make a profit, and possible start a trend of films about insignificant popular entertainers with no meaning or benefit other than to reinforce stereotypes and make tons of money for music and Hollywood executives.
It’s guaranteed you’ll hear more about this film soon. And some will try to spin this into a positive like politician’s polispeak about why the bailout will benefit America. But the honest thought is that this film does not deserve an audience, nor to make a profit. If you see it, you deserve to lose the brain cells it will kill and the waste of time it will suck from your life.
I have some bad news though. The movie is probably crap. I’m not saying this because of my personal belief that gangsta rap music is garbage overall. Nor is it because I think any film glorifying a criminal – drug dealing loser – is a bad idea. I think this movie is bad because it’s coming out January 9th. Movie studios reserve that time of year for what they view as the worst films they have. It’s the equivalent of taking out the trash.
I know there will be fans of current rap music that will hate to hear this. I am sure there are fans of this deceased drug dealer that still cherish his memory. I am obviously not one of them.
The fact that an ex-con, that sold death in a crack pipe, was able to become an entertainment star is a credit to the American way of life, and moreso to the ability and determination of music industry executives in promoting base images to the public. This movie, detailing the life of this small time hood, is only being made because of his sudden violent death. A death that occurred because of the most stupid reason I can think of; not over money or women or power, but because one group of drug dealing self-important entertainers thought they were better than another group of drug dealing self-important entertainers. In other words a pissing contest.
Do I think Christopher George Latore Wallace deserves a movie? No. Do I think a life that glorifies the business of killing people with poison for money and a life of degrading African Americans in society is worthy of a movie? No.
I have no doubt that Biggie smalls was loved by those close to him. I have no doubt that his mother cared about him. I have friends, both dead and alive today, that have served time in prison. Several lived lives that were less than stellar in their youth, and most paid the price of death for those lives. But to have a movie made about that, that seemingly highlights those moments of lechery and depraved indifference of life is bewildering to me.
What will this film feature? Christopher Wallace making a choice to sell drugs at 12, dropping out of school at 17 – because he preferred a life of crime, not because he had no other option. It should show him being thrown in jail for his crimes, and several arrests. It will show him performing, and gaining importance in the gangsta rap genre. It might show him attacking autograph seekers in Manhattan, or him beating friends of a concert promoter and robbing them. It will show him getting into a car accident and requiring him to need a cane. And the film will show Wallace being shot to death, and possibly place blame on someone for that shooting.
On balance I expect little to come of this film, except a renewed anger between West Coast and East Coast rappers. There is no beautiful moment to be expressed, no greater statement to be made. Christopher Wallace was not a great man, beyond his size. Biggie smalls did no great deeds. Notorious B.I.G. had no legacy nor made a lasting impact on life on this planet.
The film will make a profit, because this kind of film is cheap to make. How Angela Bassett was attached to this film is beyond me. I suppose she adds credibility to the film, and no doubt was the single greatest cost above or below the line. So it will make a profit, and possible start a trend of films about insignificant popular entertainers with no meaning or benefit other than to reinforce stereotypes and make tons of money for music and Hollywood executives.
It’s guaranteed you’ll hear more about this film soon. And some will try to spin this into a positive like politician’s polispeak about why the bailout will benefit America. But the honest thought is that this film does not deserve an audience, nor to make a profit. If you see it, you deserve to lose the brain cells it will kill and the waste of time it will suck from your life.
Labels: Angela Bassett, biggie smalls, Christopher Wallace, gangsta rap, movie preview, Notorious B.I.G., rap music, video clip
posted by M. Vass | 4:23 PM
2 Comments:
I don't always agree with you, heck most of the time I find some fault in what you say but this time... you were right on the money!!
It's sad that young people glorify this life style. Money has much if not all to do with it. Most of these young folk see this "gangsta" life style as a way out. Don't get me wrong, I don't excuse them but I think I understand them...alittle.
Now there is no excuse for wearing OVERSIZED clothing, no shoe strings in their sneakers and wearing their pants down below their buttocks. That's jailhouse! Who in their right mind would want to walk around like that? Well obviously, a whole lot of mis-guided people. I say take them to a lock-up with their pants like that and put them in the general populations shower and trhrow a bar of soap on the floor....I garantee you that when they come out they will wear their pants like Erkle did!!!!! That's a fact!
yeah, you have some great points, but people are drawn to anything that depicts violence and real life scenarios, i probably will watch it, but i wouldnt pay to see it, how about you?
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