I love it when you call me Christopher Wallace
Peter Banuelos
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: Diversions
Notorious
Bystorm Films
Four stars
Runtime: 100 minutes
Starring: Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, Naturi Naughton, Antonique Smith
Plot: March 9, 1997: the Notorious B.I.G. was shot in Los Angelos and left a legacy of greatness. In this biographical film of the life and times of East Coast's most influential Rap god, shows us just how a boy with big dreams grew up to be a man that even after death-could shine and become larger than life.
Some boys grow up wanting fame. Some want money. Other boys grow up wanting pure power. But, most of all, boys just want to be giants.
Young Christopher Wallace (Christopher Jordan Wallace, played by son of notorious rapper) was a good boy who did his homework and listened to his mama. Young Wallace's mother, Voletta Wallace (Angela Bassett, "Meet the Browns") walked her son home from school to keep him out of trouble. But, her son had giant plans of his own.
No one grew to be bigger than Wallace. And it's not only the size of the legendary rapper from Brooklyn, whose 6'3", 300-pound exterior allowed him to tower over anyone who crossed his path. But Christopher Wallace, who grew up to become Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard, rapper), East Coast's most dominating, heavy-weight champion of the Rap World (later considered one of the best of all time), wasn't always at the top of the charts - he started out as just a fat little boy with big dreams of superstardom.
In fact, the only thing bigger than Biggie, former king of Brooklyn, was this film's potential. There was potential for greatness, but there was also the possibility of failure.
A biographical film like "Notorious" can't just show the life and death of a rap superstar: the events and moments that led to the rise of the musical monster, the Big Papa of Rap. But, there was definite humor (Biggie was a big clown), drama, tragedy (his ultimate death) and the glamour that only Brooklyn's best and his entourage could bring.
And the film also showed the many women that stood behind this great man. There was his mother, who only wanted one thing for her son - to become a man. Then there was the very sexual Lil' Kim (Naturi Naughton, "Fame"), whose career flourished due to Biggie, and Faith Evans (Antonique Smith, "Across the Universe"), the woman he later married. All of them brought out the best and worst in the Babe Ruth of Rap. And yes, Biggie Smalls loved all of these women. But, the only girl who truly made Biggie Smalls a man was his baby daughter, but this seemed to happen a little too late - Christopher Wallace was gunned down March 9, 1997, at the age of 24.
From beginning to end, this biographical film was almost stunning, entertaining, and almost as big as the man Christopher Wallace, a man who once ruled the planet.
Peter Banuelos
diversions@dailybarometer.com
Bystorm Films
Four stars
Runtime: 100 minutes
Starring: Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, Naturi Naughton, Antonique Smith
Plot: March 9, 1997: the Notorious B.I.G. was shot in Los Angelos and left a legacy of greatness. In this biographical film of the life and times of East Coast's most influential Rap god, shows us just how a boy with big dreams grew up to be a man that even after death-could shine and become larger than life.
Some boys grow up wanting fame. Some want money. Other boys grow up wanting pure power. But, most of all, boys just want to be giants.
Young Christopher Wallace (Christopher Jordan Wallace, played by son of notorious rapper) was a good boy who did his homework and listened to his mama. Young Wallace's mother, Voletta Wallace (Angela Bassett, "Meet the Browns") walked her son home from school to keep him out of trouble. But, her son had giant plans of his own.
No one grew to be bigger than Wallace. And it's not only the size of the legendary rapper from Brooklyn, whose 6'3", 300-pound exterior allowed him to tower over anyone who crossed his path. But Christopher Wallace, who grew up to become Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard, rapper), East Coast's most dominating, heavy-weight champion of the Rap World (later considered one of the best of all time), wasn't always at the top of the charts - he started out as just a fat little boy with big dreams of superstardom.
In fact, the only thing bigger than Biggie, former king of Brooklyn, was this film's potential. There was potential for greatness, but there was also the possibility of failure.
A biographical film like "Notorious" can't just show the life and death of a rap superstar: the events and moments that led to the rise of the musical monster, the Big Papa of Rap. But, there was definite humor (Biggie was a big clown), drama, tragedy (his ultimate death) and the glamour that only Brooklyn's best and his entourage could bring.
And the film also showed the many women that stood behind this great man. There was his mother, who only wanted one thing for her son - to become a man. Then there was the very sexual Lil' Kim (Naturi Naughton, "Fame"), whose career flourished due to Biggie, and Faith Evans (Antonique Smith, "Across the Universe"), the woman he later married. All of them brought out the best and worst in the Babe Ruth of Rap. And yes, Biggie Smalls loved all of these women. But, the only girl who truly made Biggie Smalls a man was his baby daughter, but this seemed to happen a little too late - Christopher Wallace was gunned down March 9, 1997, at the age of 24.
From beginning to end, this biographical film was almost stunning, entertaining, and almost as big as the man Christopher Wallace, a man who once ruled the planet.
Peter Banuelos
diversions@dailybarometer.com
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