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Get Rich or Die Tryin' (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Get Rich or Die Tryin' is a 2005 American crime drama film written by Terence Winter and directed by Jim Sheridan. It stars
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in his feature film acting debut, alongside Terrence Howard, Joy Bryant, Bill Duke, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Omar Benson Miller, Ashley Walters and Viola Davis. The film, which contains autobiographical elements from 50 Cent's life, follows his character, Marcus Greer, a drug dealer who turns away from his criminal life to pursue his passion of rap music. The film's title is shared with 50 Cent's 2003 debut album of the same name.
Plans for a film starring 50 Cent were revealed in 2004, following the success of the 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' album. It was known during production as 'Locked and Loaded'. Similar to the 2002 film '8 Mile' starring Eminem, which it used as a template,[http://www.radiotimes.com/servlet_film/com.icl.beeb.rtfilms.client.simpleSearchServlet?frn=45031&searchTypeSelect=5 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' film review - Radio Times] the film took inspiration from 50 Cent's childhood experiences as a drug dealer. Filming began on April 11, 2005 and ended in June of that same year. The filming locations included New York City, Canada (in Toronto & Wasaga Beach) and Ireland (in Bray & Dublin).
Originally scheduled for a 2006 release, 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' had its world premiere at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood on November 2, 2005 and was released in the United States one week later. The film received generally mixed-to-negative reviews from critics for its pacing, direction and lack of originality, though 50 Cent's performance received praise. It was also a box office disappointment, making $46.4 million on a budget of $40 million.
Plot
After Marcus Greer and his friends rob a Colombian safe house, an unidentified shooter points the gun to Marcus' head and shoots him several times (similar to 50 Cent, who also was shot in real life). The film then flashes back to his childhood.
Marcus is a quiet young boy who adores his loving mother Katrina, and the two live a relatively comfortable life on her drug-dealing income. She often has to leave him with his grandparents while she conducts business. Marcus enjoys the company of his friends, especially his love interest Charlene. He writes Charlene a song and sends her a cassette tape, though it is deemed inappropriate by her stepfather. As a result, she is forced to be sent away to live with her grandparents. Meanwhile, Katrina is murdered by an anonymous figure in an apparent drug deal gone wrong.
Forced to live with his grandparents full-time, they themselves also having children to look after, Marcus finds his life less appealing as his grandfather works long hours to support the family. No longer able to get the shoes his mother could afford, Marcus turns to selling drugs in order to afford new shoes. As he grows older, he rejects the idea of legal work and decides to deal drugs, buying new clothing and a gun. Eventually he abandons high school to sell drugs for local kingpin Levar and his underling, Majestic, full-time. Majestic, however, plans to become a major drug lord himself, often conspiring with a rap artist he manages named Dangerous.
Years later, Marcus reunites with Charlene and the two become intimate. Later, one of his close friends, Antwan, got shot and is paralyzed at a club by a Colombian named Raul. The gunman initially aimed for Marcus. In retaliation, Marcus attacks Raul, but stops short of murdering him when he realizes it's not worth throwing away the rest of his life, and instead shoots Raul in the legs multiple times as payback for Antwan.
When Raul refuses to identify Marcus as the shooter in a police line up, he is allowed to go free. After an anonymous tip off, cops raid his house and find a gun and drugs, which didn't belong to Marcus. Marcus is jailed, and during his time in prison, he befriends an inmate named "Bama". Meanwhile, Majestic makes his move to seize control of the local drug trade: he sets Levar up to go to prison, and then frames Levar's second-in-command Odell for it. After publicly torturing and murdering Odell for his "betrayal", Majestic then takes over Levar's empire as the new kingpin.
After encouragement from Bama, Marcus leaves the drug trade behind to pursue and fulfill his lifelong dream of being a rapper, calling himself Young Caesar. Bama joins as his manager and producer. Bama gets out of prison before Marcus, but promises he will see him again.
When Marcus leaves prison, Bama, Justice, Majestic, and June Bug are waiting for him. Majestic invites Marcus to become his right-hand man (taking June Bug's place), but Marcus tells him of his aspirations to being a rapper, which Majestic laughs off. Marcus leaves with Bama and takes Justice with him.
Justice and Bama initially have a clash of personalities, but Marcus calms them after a roadside stop. Unconvinced of Marcus' dream, Justice informs Majestic of his activities. As Marcus more seriously pursues music, Majestic tries everything in his power to sabotage his success, threatening record label employees, DJs, and more, even going as far as to threaten Charlene and Marcus's newborn son while at the hospital. Marcus, however, refuses to stop and retaliates by taunting Majestic and Dangerous in his songs.
Despite Marcus' insistence at avoiding crime, Bama convinces him to carry out one last robbery on a Colombian safe house. While this happens, Majestic targets Marcus for death. After Marcus and his crew complete the robbery, the film returns to the first scene. It is then revealed that Marcus got shot outside of his family's home by Justice, eventually being saved by his grandparents. After being hospitalized, and going through a period of self-loathing and pity, Marcus reevaluates his life, prioritizing his family. After a long and painful recovery, he records music again.
Angered with Justice's failure to kill Marcus, Majestic kills Justice. Shortly after, Marcus meets with Levar in prison, who remorsefully reveals that he is Marcus' biological father and regrets not being there for him and his mother to protect them. Marcus then organizes his concert debut, using his stage name "Young Caesar" with the support of his family and friends.
The night of his concert, Marcus organizes protection for his family and Charlene's family from Majestic. As he prepares to go on stage, Majestic shows up with his goons and tries to intimidate Marcus, but to no avail. In the ensuing confrontation, Majestic reveals he killed Marcus's mother years earlier for spurning his affections. In a fit of rage by Marcus, a fight ensues, and Marcus prevails.
Before he can finish off Majestic once and for all, Bama persuades him to start the show, citing that Majestic isn't worth him killing and urging him think about his family. As Marcus starts to walk out on stage, Majestic tries to stab him, but Bama shoots Majestic. Majestic begs for Marcus to kill him, but Marcus refuses. As he walks out towards the crowd, Bama shoots Majestic again, killing him. Marcus steps onto the stage, removes his bulletproof vest and performs "Hustler's Ambition".
Cast
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was released on November 8, 2005. In December 2005, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album platinum.[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Get%20Rich%20or%20Die%20Tryin&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 RIAA Searchable Database - "Get Rich or Die Tryin"]. Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed May 21, 1932. The album has so far sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
Controversy
Samuel L. Jackson publicly turned down an offer to co-star in the film, citing that he did not want to lend credence to what he believed was an inexperienced and unproven actor. Film critic Roger Ebert wrote of Jackson's decision: "...Jackson is arguing against the anti-intellectual message that success for young black males is better sought in the worlds of rapping and sports than in the classroom." Jackson and 50 Cent later co-starred in the 2006 film 'Home of the Brave'.
Reception
'Get Rich or Die Tryin' holds a 16% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes based upon 117 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "While it may be based upon 50 Cent's own life experiences, 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' is too similar to many other rags-to-riches stories to resonate."[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/get_rich_or_die_tryin/ 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'] at Rotten Tomatoes 'Radio Times' criticized the film, saying that "as a vehicle for hip-hop superstar Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson, this [film] runs out of gas a fair few kilometres short", giving it a "could be worse" rating of 2/5 stars. CinePassion stated that "[Jim] Sheridan's surface vividness is applied around a vacuum."[http://www.cinepassion.org/Archives/GetRichKissBang.html CinePassion's review of 'Get Rich or Die Tryin']
'FilmFocus' said that the film's "real danger is that it sets a precedent for the director; if the price is right he's on board".[http://www.filmfocus.co.uk/review.asp?ReviewID=20609 FilmFocus.co.uk] The BBC was not entirely impressed with the film, saying that "while it boasts a first-class director and is loosely based on the rapper's own life-story, the results leave you feeling a little short-changed".[https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2006/01/17/get_rich_or_die_tryin_2006_review.shtml BBC - Movies - Review - Get Rich Or Die Tryin']
Jonathan Ross gave a positive review, calling 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' "gripping" and suggesting that it had "excellent performances". Roger Ebert also praised the film, giving the film a 3 out of 4 rating and saying that it was "a film with a rich and convincing texture, a drama with power and anger".[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051110/REVIEWS/51107001/1023 Roger Ebert's review of 'Get Rich or Die Tryin']
In retrospect, Director Jim Sheridan, said: 'Get Rich' came out the wrong way. I thought 'I can do this.' I'm there directing 50 Cent and he's looking blank, and I'm thinking 'this is great. The American audience will get this. When they look at John Wayne and his face is blank, they know exactly what he's thinking. So I'm thinking 'this is like John Wayne.' I was wrong. He also added: "When you look at 50 Cent and his face is blank you go 'what ... is he thinking?' He's not John Wayne. My empathy tripped me up. I got it, so I assumed the audience would. They didn't."
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade "A" on an A+ to F scale.
'Get Rich or Die Tryin' grossed $12,020,807 in its opening weekend. Altogether, the film grossed $46,442,528 in total worldwide.
Home media
'Get Rich or Die Tryin' was first released on DVD on March 28, 2006. It was later released on Blu-ray.
See also
* '8 Mile'
* 'Notorious'
* 'All Eyez on Me'
* List of hood films
References
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