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.

The Notorious B.I.G gets a movie - 8.9.2007.1

I’m sure there must be some hip-hop and rap fans that are dancing today. The good news for them is that the life story of Mr. Christopher Wallace is moving closer to the silver screen. If the name is not familiar, you may recognize his stage name, Notorious B.I.G. That’s right, a biopic film is about to be under way, once the titular lead character is found.

“In the typical Hollywood world, no one came to mind outside of Forest Whitaker who could capture that essence genuinely,” stated Mr. Wayne Barrow (a former manager of Mr. Wallace).

No, Mr. Whitaker is not going to be in the film, and he will definitely not be the title character. The ‘honor’ of portraying Mr. Wallace is going to be open to the public. Anyone can audition for the role, with or without acting experience. If this is of interest you can submit audition videos beginning 3 a.m. EDT Sunday to http://www.foxsearchlight.com/notorious or http://www.biggiecasting.com.

Those are the facts, and as I said, fans should be thrilled. Now for my opinion.

Why in the world is this being made? I’m not saying it can’t be, or that it shouldn’t. I just don’t think that Mr. Wallace was big enough to deserve a film of his life. The tragic end he came to was not deserved, as no murder is, but that does not warrant the adoration and almost cult status I have seen so many provide him since his death.

Perhaps it’s just me, but Mr. Wallace was a convicted crack dealer, had been arrested for drug and weapon charges after attaining fame (though I’m hard pressed to think of a gangsta rapper who hasn’t had the same sadly), and was convicted of at least beating (it was alleged he threatened to kill) 2 people looking for autographs. There is a hero.

He was deeply involved in tuning the gangster image that is now rampant in hip-hop and rap music. He was debatably deeply involved in the feud between east coast and west coast rappers, which I always found to be possibly one of the least intelligent squabbles among successful entertainers in music history. I may not have known the man, but his lifestyle and public persona indicate I would never want to, nor that he should be so revered.

What is it about dealing crack that is so much more interesting than New Jack City, or worthy of glamorizing? And a film about his exploits does glamorize what he did, in my eyes. I will give up the point that some found his lyric to be near gospel like in their quality. I don’t agree but that is one opinion. But so have dozens of other rappers, several far better than Mr. Wallace.

There may be something redemptive about his life, but I have not read a single word about that. The movie Ray was redemptive. Mr. Ray Charles had a life that was filled with real challenges that he had to overcome. Mr. Charles was not perfect, and he had flaws we all share, but he did strive to overcome them. His drug use was not a means of income, nor a tool to create his decades of musical entertainment. He did not glorify nor promote violence. His talent was universally understood and has lasted the test of time. What part of these things can honestly be said of Mr. Wallace.

I just don’t see the value or worthiness of a film for someone of the limited stature that is the actual Notorious B.I.G.

This is what I think, what do you think?