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Reviews
Notorious (2009)
Great True Life Story
I have to say that after hearing about this movie I wasn't too excited. However, once I saw a trailer for the movie on TV, I was hooked and decided I had to check it out. I was a teenager growing up when all of this East Side - West Side stuff was all taking off so it threw me back to when I was a kid. I decided I would give it a try and I was happy I did. The movie shows Biggy growing up from child to teen. Struggling in B-town until he finally finds his outlet of music. I think this is what 8 Mile was trying to show, but just didn't get by with because of the over-written drama...it just didn't seem "real." Anyways, After seeing Notorious I was particularly surprised at the filming and framing of characters in the "artsy" format...with heavyended phone calls leaving half-empty screens of black...it really helped convey some deep emotions on screen. Now the only reason this is getting an 9 and not a 10 is because of the way the film leans towards East Side more. (maybe because P Diddy was producer) but the film makes the West Side (mainly 2 Pac) look like a bunch of straight up nancy boys. Now 2Pac was a Thug and he was a lil more intense then this movie showed. I know it's a film about Biggy, but it didn't dive into the E/W rivalry enough to hook me and think it was real. Now the films actors are nothing short of magnificent. The guy who plays Big should win an award. He had an amazing on-screen talent. I thought that I was really watching Big at most moments on screen. When he shows up with the cane and the pin-stripe suit and those Cazelle sunglasses. That was the perfect attire to show he was B.I.G. Overall...if you are a fan of Biggy..then you will like this film. If you liked VH1 Behind the Music TV Shows...you will like it...If you are a fan of rap music...you will like this. if you are a hardcore West Side Lover..you will hate it.
If you like this you may also enjoy Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story (VH1 Made for TV Movie) Summer Dream (The Beach Boys True Life Story)
Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story (2001)
Excellent movie.
This made for TV movie was an excellent depiction of MC Hammer's rise and fall in the rap music industry. Full of B-list actors, the movie captures the true life story of Hammer. From 2Pac to Shuge and the tie-in with Death Row Records brings a side to MC Hammer very little people out there know...this movie was all around entertaining and begs me to ask VH1...WHEN WILL THIS BE A DVD RELEASE??? I am sure I am not the only one left wanting to watch this again. Excellent editing, writing, and acting really bring this life story to reality. A great history of when pop-rap from the late 80s starts to fall and gangsta-rap of the mid to early 90s was on the rise. If you are a fan of this you may also be into:
Notorious (Biggy Smalls Life Story Movie) Summer Dreams (Beach Boys Life Story Movie)
Both of them are equally as entertaining.