Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (Director: Jim Sheridan)
Sheridan's debut was My Left Foot, and almost everything he's done since has been Oscar bait, going on to do The Field, In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, and In America. He follows in the footsteps of Curtis Hanson (8 Mile), a guy who doesn't seem to be the first choice to direct a gritty urban drama but his professionalism can't be beaten. Written by "The Sopranos" veteran Terence Winter.
Indeed, the Irish Sheridan would seem to be the last director to take on a picture about thugs trying to escape the life. But Sheridan has taken on the American Dream before with In America. Although the story about Irish immigrants making it in New York don't have outlaw lifestyles, it's the same sort of goal in the end--take care of your family and get out of the poor house.
In this autobiographical attempt to chronicle rapper 50 Cent's rise to pop music, the names have been changed but I guess the story is the same (I don't consider myself a 50 Cent connoisseur). Marcus (Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson) is a drug dealer with dreams of being a rap star, a story that mirrors this summer's Hustle & Flow, which starred Terrence Howard, who also stars here. As a child (Marc John Jefferies), he watched his mother (Serena Reeder) deal drugs and eventually get killed in a turf war, and it seems his life is destined for the same. He's a rising star in the dealing community, helped out by mentor Majestic (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who is a recent addition to "Lost"), and headed by "godfather" Levar (Bill Duke). Along the way, he gets re-acquainted with his childhood sweetheart Charlene (the gorgeous Joy Bryant, who was in The Skeleton Key). As a war escalates between the business and a gang of Colombians, gang politics land him in jail, and while there, the power structure of the community changes, and Majestic becomes the leader. It doesn't sit well with him when Marcus says he wants to rap instead of deal, and it especially doesn't please him that the lyrics Marcus fires out disrespect him. Ahh, conflict.
This is actually pretty good. There's been a lot made of 50 Cent's performance. I've not read any reviews, but I kept hearing he was terrible. This isn't true. I wouldn't say it's overwhelmingly awesome or anything, but I didn't cringe. I think at times the movie can be a bit messy, trying to handle a lot of characters at once, but the performances are what draw you in, even though you may have seen this thugs-to-riches story before. And Joy Bryant...man is she hot.
Anyway, most readers of this blog will probably not have this one on their list, but you can certainly do worse this year. And for those who care about such things, I did find an official answer to why Regal is only putting this in a limited amount of theatres (none in the Nashville area). The story is that Regal wanted Paramount to pay for extra security on the opening. They balked, and Regal didn't want to pay for it either, and so there was a stalemate.
posted by Chris @ 11/09/2005 04:05:00 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Well now that is an interesting reason for Regal not to carry the film.
I wonder if "violent movies with controversial stars causing violence in theaters" is an issue that's been on their minds recently and just built to a head on this film...or if they're just quoting that as a reason to cover up an issue of box office demands by the studio.
While I can see this film possibly bringing out an audience that may indeed want to emulate Mr. Cent...this doesn't seem any more likely to cause in-theater violence than any of the other films Regal has opened along the way.
Also, is this stance by Regal a racial issue? I'm not asking Chris, as though he'll know the insider scoop...I'm asking if we think there are racial implications of making a claim that this film needs extra security.
8-Mile is essentially the same concept, as is Hustle and Flow, and those films screened at Nashville Regals. So the "security" thing doesn't really fly with me...not when I know so much about how Regal relies on demographic speculation.
Seems to me that Regal could say, "more than being worried about blacks...we were worried about drug dealers who might share 50's dream of becoming a rapper, and drug dealers are likely to come with violence attached." But then the same argument should have applied for pimps in Hustle, right?
I'm no great thinker on the subject of race. But it seems to me that if the country as a whole is going to question the possible racism of a government after a hurricane...we should be also questioning the possible racism of Regal demanding extra security for a film with a mostly-black cast and a mostly-black intended audience.
If there's no racism here...then I want to suggest that maybe there's a problem when the music community and the country as a whole give so much praise and press to a drug dealer who becomes a rapper. Have we glorified 50's transition into a rap star, glossing over his crimes and seedy former life?
Or is it much more wide-spread than rap? Martha Stewart goes to jail and comes out an even bigger star. Paris Hilton stars in a self-made porno and attains new heights of celebrity.
Man, why am I being so deep and introspective tonight? I sound like a college professor trying to engage his class in a discussion.
Sorry about that. I just can't help but feel that Regal's demands of extra security are, at least at their core, partly racist.
It's funny, I'm not a guy who likes to jump on the race card very easily, but this is clearly racism whether it's intended or not.
The problem likely stems from the bad pub from the Vibe Awards, where Nashville's own Young Buck (who is in 50 Cent's rap group G-Unit) was accused of trying to stab Dr. Dre. There's no doubt that is fresh in people's heads, and there's a fear that the "wrong crowd" will attend this movie and start up a gang war.
There have been isolated incidents in the past (NEW JACK CITY, anyone?) and I think theatre owners have gotten a little gunshy about violent black movies--but this is hardly a shoot-em-up.
But where I believe it gets into the territory of racism is where you don't see white-dominated violent movies causing a security concern...like say, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE.
I understand the concern, but thugs attend other movies than just these kind. They attend movies like SAW II as well. If a movie like this is prone to attract the "wrong crowd" than any other handful of movies that are released have the same kind of power. And given that the public violence of the past was isolated and not constant, it's an unsubstantiated fear.
http://www.kstreetfriend.blogspot.com provides the following on his site.
I write the following because Tom Birdsong, Assistant Managing Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on Wednesday, November 9, 2005, said, �No one is going to write about your family�s plight.� Thereafter, Mrs. Estelle B. Richman�s staff (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania�s Secretary of Welfare) became very rude and indifferent to our emergency situation. In fact, Ms. Richman�s chief of staff, Linda Hicks no longer accepted our calls. Christian Bowser actually laughed about our situation. Inez Titus, became even more stubborn with her unlawful position. The Executive Director for Western Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, Tim Cornell (Mrs. Titus� supervisor) has yet to return any of our calls.
Nonetheless, a man was shot to death in a cinema lobby shootout after watching gangsta rapper 50 cent�s movie �Get Rich or Die Tryin�,� prompting the Loews Cineplex at the Waterfront in West Homestead (just east of Pittsburgh) to stop showing the film. I was there with my family (common-law wife and three minor children). That is, although determined eligible, my family has again been denied the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (�LIHEAP�) federal entitlement for the fourth or fifth straight year. Without heat during the cold winter months a theater provides temporary shelter (allowing my family opportunity to give relatives �a break� from our nightly sleep-overs).
What happened at the Waterfront? Shelton Flowers, 30, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, was shot three times and died later at a local hospital. Flowers had just watched the movie and got into a confrontation with three men in the bathroom. A fight ensued and spilled out into the concessions area, where Flowers was shot. Immediately, Loews Cineplex pulled the movie as a precaution. The R-rated movie is based on Curtis �50-cent� Jackson�s own life which includes drug dealing, time in prison, and getting shot nine times. Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom, Inc., removed billboards for the movie near some inner-city schools after Los Angeles area community leaders complained last month.
Wilkinsburg, just east of Pittsburgh, is a town that was once synonymous with white supremacy. It is a town that had a mere 502 black residents in 1950 when its population hit 31,000, and only 224 more black residents 10 years later. But, over the next few decades, almost like a prophecy, the black population rose to 90 percent. That is, just a little more than 200 years ago Andrew Levi Levy, Sr. named the town �Africa.�
The borough grew from Levy�s land and other plots (such as the curiously named �Pious Purchase,� and others called Rippeyville, McNairsville and Sterrett Township). It was incorporated some 118 years ago and given the name Wilkinsburg after Judge William Wilkins, the Secretary of War under President John Tyler. Nonetheless, many of its current residents still believe Wilkinsburg is no different today than it was in the 1920's when hooded knights of the Ku Klux Klan cavorted. They say whites still control the town with black �puppets� politicians.
While other cities the size of Pittsburgh has seen a steady growth in gun crime, our gun violence trajectory appears to have exploded. Community activists, politicians and crime experts all have brainstorm strategies for stemming violence. The residents here had hoped for a comprehensive plan of action that would have addressed part of the root causes that lead our neighbors to take up guns. But, the answer given is more of the same. The local politicians have taken a page from the George W. Bush handbook (Madison Avenue to sell our reputation).
We have our three rivers, a beautiful skyline, a romantic culture district, a few of the country�s best hospitals, excellent universities, and the like. But, there's never anything mentioned about our blighted downtown business district, the high unemployment rate of black males, increased gun violence, and the growth of conservative republican complacency.
It's no secret any more that economic conditions for blacks in Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities is precarious. Black residents rank low compared to the national average of income, employment, and education. We have chronic problems of gang and drug violence, family breakdowns, soaring incarceration rates for young black males, and abysmally failing public schools. Wilkinsburg residents are, in fact, the best example of the 13 percent of the United States� (black) population still living chained in by a Bush presidency, with our eyes riveted on the wall of the white media (Madison Avenue) in front of us, where we see nothing but shadows made by powerless leaders hiding behind us.
We could debate endlessly the role of such squeamishness in concealing and exacerbating the problem with race relations in both Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania. We could also discuss the minor role played by gangsta rap music. But, what we should consider is how right-wing conservatives, such as Senator Rick Santorum, have convinced so many blacks that shadows from behind (self-indulgent grab for expensive cars, clothes and money of black republican conservatives living in our affluent North Hills neighborhoods) are reality.
Many of the black residents of Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities believe a lot of the Madison Avenue nonsense. They believe things that are just not true. And, the Republicans gets their strength from this.
The bottom line: The root cause of the shooting at the Loews Cineplex is the apparent political cleansing of true democrats from local politics. Gerrymandering and electoral manipulation (just plan �punk ass� democrats) have left the city with zones of endemic poverty, an absence of social services, crumbling infrastructure, and appalling schools. After the radicalized poverty of black America was laid bare in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina almost everyone expected some change from white America. But quickly the Bush administration and the Republican party have lapsed back into policies to further divide America.
In the 1990's white America built prisons to house the disproportionately black inmates it had planned to toss into jail (in the years that followed) to reassure the affluent majority it complacency with race issues. One of every eight black males between 25 and 29 years old is behind bars on any given day according to the Sentencing Project, a nonprofit group that seeks to reduce incarceration rates. If this rate continues, one of three black males born today will be imprisoned at some point in their lifetimes.
A local daily �conservative right� newspaper, �The Pittsburgh Tribune Review� recently feature an article written by Walter Williams, a professor of economics at George Mason University. In the article �Ammunition for Poverty Pimps� Mr. William suggested the Census Bureau�s 2004 current Population Survey found two segments of the black community. One segment suffers only 9.9 percent poverty rate and another suffers 39.5. He surmised that one would be a lunatic if they believed white people practice discrimination. He concluded, among other things, that the only distinction between the two segments was marriage. Adding, �If today�s black family structure were what it was in 1960, the overall black poverty rate would be in or near single digits."
I guess Mr. Williams failed to consider the proof that demonstrates blacks are denied opportunities in forms of employment, education and even human treatment. For example, on October 18, I borrowed a little more than $50 to buy a bus ticket to travel halfway across the state for an oral test given by the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission. I was well dressed in a dark business suit and could have been easily mistaken as a black republican conservative. However, while on the elevator headed for the floor for the testing, a white woman asked me if I was allowed on the floor where the testing was being held. She suggested that because I was black, "I had no business on their elevator." She ordered me off the elevator on a lower floor and said that she would have to call up stairs to let the staff know I was on my way.
Soon thereafter she was advised that I was scheduled for an oral test on the floor I was trying to get to. But, she still refused to compromise. She announced that I wasn't permitted to travel through their office without an escort. Interestingly, it was additionally odd that the State required a monitor to sit in with me during my testing.
Nonetheless, getting back to the LIHEAP issue, the federal entitlement program provides waivers and reduced heating rates to low-income households. It is a federal program that assists those who cannot pay their bills. Eligible households can receive assistance through a direct payment to energy vendors that supply their fuel, or through a crisis component during weather-related emergencies. To be eligible for the program, household income cannot exceed 135 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines: $12,920 for a one-person household; $17,321 for two persons; $21,722 for three persons; $26,123 for four persons; $30,524 for five persons. For larger households, the guidelines increase by $4,401 for each additional person. Homeowners, renters (including those whose rent includes heat), roomers and subsidized housing tenants may be eligible.
I have a good understanding of the program because I was previously employed by Allegheny County as a planner and wrote grant applications for the agency that implements the program. However, in 1989, I was fired in retaliation for organizing a union. The political sub-division said I was terminated for being tardy four times in a four-month period. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission ("PHRC")identified a white female working in the same office as having been tardy 71 times during the same time period and not disciplined. But, the PHRC ruled it was bad management and not discrimination.
Ever since my termination the political-subdivision has found some way to retaliate against my household, i.e., always reaches from any available loophole to frustrate the process and deny my family the federal entitlement. In the past, I have complained to the State, federal government (FBI), courts and media to no avail.
Consider this, when the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan passed through Western Pennsylvania in September 2004, the LIHEAP offered free water heaters and furnaces. Income restrictions were waived allowing the affluent to participate. My family was denied relief because the deed to our house is recorded in our minor son�s name. But, LIHEAP allows renters and other non-homeowners to participate.
The current issue involves Duquense Light Company�s termination of our electric service immediately following the close of last year�s LIHEAP program (March 31, 2005). Although they already had $371 as a security deposit the utility company terminated service and demanded $866.01. And, despite the fact that we didn�t have any electrical service, the next month we received an unexplained bill for almost twice that amount actually due: $1,646.17. Because we are current living on �food stamps� we were forced to go without electric until the start of the 2005-2006 LIHEAP program.
As a �food stamp� participant we received our LIHEAP application early and returned it weeks before the November 7 start. In fact, as we do each year, we contacted Mr. Cornell�s office to advise him of our situation (requested that he process our application to allow the electrical service to be restored on November 7 without a 72-hour wait). Mr. Cornell didn�t respond.
Mrs. Titus, Mr. Cornell's assistant did call on November 7, just before the closing (3:00 p.m.) of her office. She advised our application would be denied - "Duquense Light now demanded $2,600.� To memorialize the outrageous response I requested permission from Mrs. Titus to allow a "three-way" connection with the local media Channel 4). I called Channel 4 because I was given its �gold medal� for outstanding community service in 1989. However, during the three-way conversation Ms. Titus refused to acknowledge her previous position (Duquense Light demand of $2,600). She would only say our family was being denied the federal entitlement. Immediately, I voiced a complaint to Mr. Cornell�s secretary. She suggested that I call Harrisburg (Department of Welfare�s main office). She provided me the number.
Precious Perry answered the Secretary of Welfare�s telephone. She transferred me to Ms. Richman�s chief of staff (Linda Hicks). Mrs. Hicks promised to have Christian Bowser call before five p.m.. But, it never happened. At 9:00 a.m. the next morning (November 8), I called Mr. Cornell�s office and left another message requesting a return call. I also called Mrs. Hicks again and questioned why Mrs. Bowser never called.
This time, Mrs. Hicks promised to have Ms. Bowser call before 11 a.m.. Mrs. Hicks asked us to �call back if Mrs. Bowser failed to call.� It never happened.
I did call Ms. Hicks at 12:00 noon but she rushed me off the phone. She gave me Mrs. Bowser�s telephone number and requested that I call her directly. I called the number but got Mrs. Bowser�s voice mail. I left a message explaining the situation. Mrs. Bowser never called back.
On November 9, 2005, I called Mrs. Hicks again to advise Mrs. Bowser' failure to call. But, Mrs. Hicks quickly rushed me off the phone again. She said that she would no longer address the issue. She said �communicate with Ms. Bowser from that point.�
Thereafter, I called Mrs. Bowser�s and spoke with her secretary. I left another message. Even more frustrated now, I called the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I spoke with Mr. Tom Birdsong. I advised him of our situation and asked if he would investigate the issue in a �confidential� manner. He said that he would forward the information to Larry Walsh. I informed him that in the previous years I have communicated with Mr. Walsh but nothing was done. I even told Mr. Birdsong that I once connected a Post-Gazette columnist, Tony Norman, and allowed him to participated with a three-way telephone call (allowed him opportunity to monitor a call to prove how rude the LIHEAP program staff was acting). Mr. Birdsong said he would have Mr. Walsh call.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., I was finally able to get Mrs. Bowser on the telephone. She laughed at our situation!
After laughing, Mrs. Bowser would only reiterated Mrs. Titus position, �Duquense Light can demand funds that are not owed.� She added, �Mrs. Titus� position is final.� She said she would have Mrs. Titus send us a rejection letter.
Immediately, I called Mr. Birdsong. But, he became rude. The conversation concluded with Mr. Birdsong saying �No one is going to write about your family�s plight.�
50 cents, during an interview on ABC�s �The View,� said he was saddened by the fatal shooting: �I feel for the victim�s family in this situation.� He added, �But you know, these weren�t kids. This was a 30-year-old man (who) had a dispute with three other guys.�
I�m older than 30. But, what is rage? How come I�m able to control my anger? Would I have controlled my anger if one of my family members was hit by a stray bullet during the shootout?
http://www.kstreetfriend.blogspot.com
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