Jason KingNOTORIOUS ($7.50)
March 18th 2009 05:54
Category: No Category
NOTORIOUS ($7.50)
Review by Dave
NOTE: HUGE SPOILERS.
But if you know the “gist” of Biggies life then nothing here will be a shock.
‘Notorious’ is a film far more concerned with it’s soundtrack then it is with it’s actual content.
It details the rise and literal fall of the famous “East Coast” Hip hop/ Rap artist Christopher Wallace; universally known as ‘Notorious B.I.G’ and/or ‘Biggie Smalls’. He was lovingly referred to as ‘Biggie’ by most, shorthand if you will, a nickname Wallace coined himself to presumedly steal the thunder from those who would ignore his lyrical ability because of his excessive weight.
Biggie was of course a fat obese man, but that didn’t stop him from womanising, as the film goes to great lengths to showcase. He begins a life with a single mother who is struggling to support him and an absent father who doesn’t care for him whatsoever, so he fails in school. He turns to dealing drugs, gets pinned for it and thus decides to clean up through the power of love* Ahem, Rap.
And thus begins an endless stream of fan service.
We see every rapper known to man and they all get about a minute each preceding entire song performances and there is the constant repetition of Biggie meeting a woman, charming her then dumping her for the next “hot mama”.
Having a kid doesn’t deter him from cheating, breaking up, ignoring people that care about him, taking drugs, swears like a bastard, but in the end we are supposed like him because he had a “tough” upbringing; a very strong relationship with his mother as well as his faith in people, but ultimately it’s Biggies desire to get himself out of the mire that helps us engage with him.
The only area of contention is all this great characterization is dropped half an hour into the film, and in turns into rap fantasy. It must be said that the ‘evils’ of glamorising gangster culture, and idolization of money and whatnot, is delved quite deep into, but we never get a true sense that Biggie is part of it, it happens all around him but not with him…and that is the issue.
This great character becomes so extremely passive that it becomes really difficult to connect with what is happening.
It just becomes a series of rap performances and situations with “guns, bitches and money.” Thinking about it though, I suppose the film isn’t that far of the truth…
However, this is meant to be a film about ‘Biggie’ Not about rap culture. You might think the opposite…but I believe that’s where Notorious ultimately fails, we came to learn about what makes Biggie tick, and not just that he was killed because of a feud, we all know that already…even if you don’t know going in, the opening scene is his shooting. The last half an hour up to that point offers nothing but an extreme degradation of Tupac Shakur; it’s only purpose being to place Biggie on a pedestal. Let me digress first…
Basically the film preaches to the choir, it doesn’t offer any insight whatsoever. The greatest shame is that we can learn infinitely more about Biggie by listening to the soundtrack of this film. And you know how it goes, we go to see a movie to look, it’s a visual medium, otherwise why would we bother going out to the theatre anyway. Arguably Notorious may have been better suited as a midday movie on television.
It is possible the film- makers expected the audience to know each and every little detail of Biggies life and to love him already. Which I suppose is fine; the film just may be a little too much for the uninitiated. There is just so much music here. But it’s mostly Biggies most commercial songs “Juicy” and “Hypnotize” over and over again. You hear those two songs about three times in their entirety.
The opening section of the film is very tight, well acted and engrossing. His upbringing is very well handled with some great acting from Angela Bassett who portrays Biggies mother. The middle section is mostly just music and sex; the final section of the film is where it all goes to hell.
The “feud” between the East Coast Rappers and those of the West Coast (Tupac is the big deal from the West/ Biggie East) is laughably handled. There is no idea of what is going on to those uninitiated. And as this is a film about Biggie produced by Biggie supporters it is horribly, horribly bias, Tupac is painted as a one-note idiot who is irrational and foggy minded. Whereas Biggie has this angelic paint on him, he is a victim. In reality the feud did happen, but like in this film? I don’t really think so.
Note: the following is a very limited description of the events that transpired. It is a list of exactly what is known. Everything including: who killed who is all conjecture. No suspects were ever caught.
Tupac Vs. Biggie 101:
Tupac gets shot at a recording studio. He survives.
Biggie gets the blame from Tupac.
Tupac dies in a drive by.
Biggie gets the blame.
Biggie gets shot in a drive by and dies.
Then the film adds:
Everyone feel sad because Christ got gunned downed tonight.
Everyone cry the sad music is playing. Oh look they play Juicy again...I didn’t see that coming.
Oh Archive footage. Yay.
In the end Notorious is an entertaining diversion, albeit a very broad and clichéd one. (It follows the pattern of the typical autobiography film 1) start at the end 2) flash to childhood 3) progress to end. Include tragedy, hope etc, It’s Walk The Line but about Rap), but it’s also handsomely shot, extremely well acted and has very slick production values.
Its soundtrack is great, but the film forgets that it is a movie: more importantly a character study: the life of a man. Endless musical scenes and irrelevant subject matter does not have a place. Bias and characters that drop off the film constantly do not either.
Isn’t it supposed to be all about the music though?
If that’s all you want to go and see Notorious for you may be satisfied.
WORTH: $7.50 and OUT NOW
Review by Dave
NOTE: HUGE SPOILERS.
But if you know the “gist” of Biggies life then nothing here will be a shock.
‘Notorious’ is a film far more concerned with it’s soundtrack then it is with it’s actual content.
It details the rise and literal fall of the famous “East Coast” Hip hop/ Rap artist Christopher Wallace; universally known as ‘Notorious B.I.G’ and/or ‘Biggie Smalls’. He was lovingly referred to as ‘Biggie’ by most, shorthand if you will, a nickname Wallace coined himself to presumedly steal the thunder from those who would ignore his lyrical ability because of his excessive weight.
Biggie was of course a fat obese man, but that didn’t stop him from womanising, as the film goes to great lengths to showcase. He begins a life with a single mother who is struggling to support him and an absent father who doesn’t care for him whatsoever, so he fails in school. He turns to dealing drugs, gets pinned for it and thus decides to clean up through the power of love* Ahem, Rap.
And thus begins an endless stream of fan service.
We see every rapper known to man and they all get about a minute each preceding entire song performances and there is the constant repetition of Biggie meeting a woman, charming her then dumping her for the next “hot mama”.
Having a kid doesn’t deter him from cheating, breaking up, ignoring people that care about him, taking drugs, swears like a bastard, but in the end we are supposed like him because he had a “tough” upbringing; a very strong relationship with his mother as well as his faith in people, but ultimately it’s Biggies desire to get himself out of the mire that helps us engage with him.
The only area of contention is all this great characterization is dropped half an hour into the film, and in turns into rap fantasy. It must be said that the ‘evils’ of glamorising gangster culture, and idolization of money and whatnot, is delved quite deep into, but we never get a true sense that Biggie is part of it, it happens all around him but not with him…and that is the issue.
This great character becomes so extremely passive that it becomes really difficult to connect with what is happening.
It just becomes a series of rap performances and situations with “guns, bitches and money.” Thinking about it though, I suppose the film isn’t that far of the truth…
However, this is meant to be a film about ‘Biggie’ Not about rap culture. You might think the opposite…but I believe that’s where Notorious ultimately fails, we came to learn about what makes Biggie tick, and not just that he was killed because of a feud, we all know that already…even if you don’t know going in, the opening scene is his shooting. The last half an hour up to that point offers nothing but an extreme degradation of Tupac Shakur; it’s only purpose being to place Biggie on a pedestal. Let me digress first…
Basically the film preaches to the choir, it doesn’t offer any insight whatsoever. The greatest shame is that we can learn infinitely more about Biggie by listening to the soundtrack of this film. And you know how it goes, we go to see a movie to look, it’s a visual medium, otherwise why would we bother going out to the theatre anyway. Arguably Notorious may have been better suited as a midday movie on television.
It is possible the film- makers expected the audience to know each and every little detail of Biggies life and to love him already. Which I suppose is fine; the film just may be a little too much for the uninitiated. There is just so much music here. But it’s mostly Biggies most commercial songs “Juicy” and “Hypnotize” over and over again. You hear those two songs about three times in their entirety.
The opening section of the film is very tight, well acted and engrossing. His upbringing is very well handled with some great acting from Angela Bassett who portrays Biggies mother. The middle section is mostly just music and sex; the final section of the film is where it all goes to hell.
The “feud” between the East Coast Rappers and those of the West Coast (Tupac is the big deal from the West/ Biggie East) is laughably handled. There is no idea of what is going on to those uninitiated. And as this is a film about Biggie produced by Biggie supporters it is horribly, horribly bias, Tupac is painted as a one-note idiot who is irrational and foggy minded. Whereas Biggie has this angelic paint on him, he is a victim. In reality the feud did happen, but like in this film? I don’t really think so.
Note: the following is a very limited description of the events that transpired. It is a list of exactly what is known. Everything including: who killed who is all conjecture. No suspects were ever caught.
Tupac Vs. Biggie 101:
Tupac gets shot at a recording studio. He survives.
Biggie gets the blame from Tupac.
Tupac dies in a drive by.
Biggie gets the blame.
Biggie gets shot in a drive by and dies.
Then the film adds:
Everyone feel sad because Christ got gunned downed tonight.
Everyone cry the sad music is playing. Oh look they play Juicy again...I didn’t see that coming.
Oh Archive footage. Yay.
In the end Notorious is an entertaining diversion, albeit a very broad and clichéd one. (It follows the pattern of the typical autobiography film 1) start at the end 2) flash to childhood 3) progress to end. Include tragedy, hope etc, It’s Walk The Line but about Rap), but it’s also handsomely shot, extremely well acted and has very slick production values.
Its soundtrack is great, but the film forgets that it is a movie: more importantly a character study: the life of a man. Endless musical scenes and irrelevant subject matter does not have a place. Bias and characters that drop off the film constantly do not either.
Isn’t it supposed to be all about the music though?
If that’s all you want to go and see Notorious for you may be satisfied.
WORTH: $7.50 and OUT NOW
| 57 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I still want to watch it though - it looks so slick and totally phat homeboy!
Comment by ellman
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Adventure Toes
Techno Stuffs
boxing sound
Business Rope
Comment by Sim1
Fish on Film
Fair play though, that's the beauty of different people reviewing one and the same thing. If you read my review of Notorious, you will discover that I cried like a pathetic school girl, because I loved it so much.
Anyhoo, I enjoyed reading your version of events, let's hope we never have to give each other alibis.
Sim1