Vibe.com, November 9th, 2005
So killing a dramatic or comedic portrayal of his own persona should be technically simple. But you'll just have to wait until Nov. 9, 2005, when he makes his acting debut in the cinematic feature, Get Rich Or Die Tryin', to find out. Our guess is that he'll earn copious amounts of cha-ching at the box office.
But in the meantime, this is the scenario: Get Rich or Die Tryin' is an urban drama that represents a fictional account of the ill-famed rapper's own life. Sounds familiar doesn't it? Of course it does. His mentor Eminem was successful paralleling his own life on the big screen as the star of 8 Mile. Em made selling out the box office look easy. It's no wonder that 50 is ready to do the same.
This tale comes at a time when African-American movies are mainstreaming. From 'hood tales like Hustle & Flow, to family-based stories like Roll Bounce, to faith-based films like The Gospel. And while 50 Cent is capable of crossover appealing all on his own, a stellar cast and quality director are satisfying complements.
As well as the film draws from his own life, viewers old enough to recognize will find similarities between this film and successful blaixploitation flicks of the '70s.
But in this film, Marcus, played by 50 Cent, evokes empathy from the onset based solely on the nature of his life. (That's not to say that your boy isn't demonstrating acting skills.) At a young age the boy learns to fend for himself, after losing his drug dealing mother. Faced with emptiness, the character moves into his grandparents' overcrowded home, where his eight aunts and unles live. Used to the luxuries his mother afforded him and having his own space, Marcus turns to the streets.
Under the wing of of a powerful crime boss named Levar, played by actor Bill Duke, Marcus becomes a successful street gangster. And though he has reservations about his illegal lifestyle, the lure of the financially enhanced lifestyle makes it difficult for him to step out of the game. This is where the film begins to arc, sending our leading man through many tests. First, his apartment is raided and then he's locked up on false drug charges. This is when Marcus first meets Bama, played by Terrence Howard, who helps him out during a bath-time scuffle.
Marcus, who’s already claimed the rapper name Young Ceasar, decides to pursue a career in rapping, and recruits Bama as his manager. His new crime Majestic, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje isn't feeling Marcus' artistic moves and puts limits on his situation. Low on money, and no luck with record labels, Marcus and Bama decide to do a robbery. He gets shot in his body eight times after leaving the scene, and finally a ninth bullet makes its way into his cheek. (Wait a minute, haven't we heard this story before?)
Marcus recovers with the aid of his girlfriend Charlene, played by Joy Bryant. Now this is starting to sound a lot like the album of the same name, as Marcus begins to record a demo based on the gritty tales of his street life, in the process he puts some dudes on blast, and has to make harsh decisions.
50 comes off honestly raw, demonstrating a strong range of emotion. Whether crying, smiling, or playing dirty, the character comes off credibly realistic. But then again, it's a lot like his life.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ is directed by Jim Sheridan, best known for his work on My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father. It opens to national release Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005.
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