A Wealth of Life Onscreen

 

To say 50 Cent has had a full life would be an understatement.  Now he makes his feature film debut in Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, a film that is based in part on his own life.  Here 50 is Marcus, a kid who was raised on the streets after losing his mother.  Marcus grows to become a man who develops his music, his family, and his very persona based on all of his life experiences.

 

We get to see an emotional range out of 50 that one wouldn’t expect going into this film.  It’s not all about street shootouts, hard rapping, the drug deals and the like.  Director Jim Sheridan brings 50 to the brink and saves him, without losing any of his masculinity along the way.

 

For his film debut, not only is 50 working with the absolutely fabulous director Sheridan, but he has two really great up and comers in Terrence Howard (Hustle and Flow, Crash) and Joy Bryant (Antwone Fisher).  Sheridan gets the absolute best out of his entire cast including a surprisingly solid performance from 50 Cent.

 

All in all, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ is on the same level if not a half step behind the Curtis Hanson/Eminem release of 8 Mile last year.  As with Em, 50 has a bright future in whatever he decides to do as he is great at expressing emotions that one doesn’t usually look to a gangsta to provide.  50 Cent is every bit a superstar behind the mic, but with the wealth of life that he delivers onscreen, he is well on his way to becoming a star on film as well.

  

The Facts --

Get Rich Or Die Tryin

Common Guy Grade:  B

Starring:  Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Terrence Howard, Joy Bryant

Directed by:  Jim Sheridan

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, drug content, sexuality and nudity.

Studio Website:  http://www.getrichordietryinmovie.com

© 2005 Paul Hall, All Rights Reserved

 

Back to Now in Theaters Page
Back to Now on Video Page
Back to Home Page