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Notorious (2009)

Director: George Tillman Jr

Time Out rating

Average user rating

23 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

As mainstream hip hop becomes ever more predictable, so do the biopics about its stars. Like the Eminem and 50 Cent movies before it, ‘Notorious’ tells of a fatherless ghetto child seduced into the thug life who achieves financial and personal salvation through music. And while George Tillman Jr’s film never tries to sugar coat the truth of Biggie Smalls’s short life, his inability to find a new angle on this timeworn tale leaves the film feeling stale and pedestrian.
‘Notorious’ is co-produced by Smalls’s mother, Voletta Wallace, with exec producer Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs looming large over proceedings. What’s surprising is how willing they are to showcase the darker side of Biggie’s personality: he’s a womaniser, willing to sell crack to a pregnant woman, ignore his children and attack his wife. An unconvincing third act redemption aside, this is a warts-and-all portrait.

But in every other aspect, ‘Notorious’ is exactly the film its pedigree would suggest. It checks off all the gangsta rap boxes: first street battle, first arrest, first live show. It’s directed in drab fashion and its characters are left unexplored: Voletta is the archetypal long-suffering saint, with Diddy as the reliable businessman keeping his charge on an even keel. And when it comes to the issue of commerce, the filmmakers try to have their cake and eat it, filling the screen with an orgy of hot cars and free-flowing Moët while still attempting to convince their audience that money ain’t everything.

Author: Tom Huddleston 2009-02-10 11:34:56

Time Out London Issue 2008, 12 -18 February, 2008

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User reviews of this film

Magic'Man said...

Posted on Feb 14 2009 15:28 DIS FILM IS GNA BE A HIT TRUS ME BUT RALLY N TRULLY DAY SHUD OV DUN 1 ABOUT 2PAC ALTHOUGH BIGGI GT A SIK FLO BUT 2PAC IS BIG N DA GAME TRUS ..... BUT IM GNA WATCH IT TMRW N I SEE HW IT IS .... - Appalling ! Just like the film.

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Rahman said...

Posted on Feb 14 2009 03:30 Films was amazing! Not to over done at all and alot more realistic unlike 50's get rich or die trying. Defo a film to be watched whether or not your a Biggie fan!

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Matt said...

Posted on Feb 13 2009 12:25 Leigh: he gave the film 2 stars because he was reviewing a film about Biggie's life... not Biggie's life itself.
I'm sure Biggie was indeed a playa, brought realism AND a touch of glitz [though realism and bling are kind of opposites, do you not think?]. I expect Biggie's life was a 5-star life, for as long as it lasted.
But Tom was reviewing the FILM, and he thinks the FILM is a dull and only deserves 2 stars. There's a difference.
Another example: I think the Dam Busters were amazingly brave and the mission was brilliant and daring. But the film was really fucking boring. See what I mean?

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adam1621 said...

Posted on Feb 13 2009 10:53 I mean translate what this means
DIS FILM IS GNA BE A HIT TRUS ME BUT RALLY N TRULLY DAY SHUD OV DUN 1 ABOUT 2PAC ALTHOUGH BIGGI GT A SIK FLO BUT 2PAC IS BIG N DA GAME TRUS ..... BUT IM GNA WATCH IT TMRW N I SEE HW IT IS ....
In english please?

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adam1621 said...

Posted on Feb 13 2009 10:51 Can someone translate into english what the first guy said.....................?

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kh4nv1ct said...

Posted on Feb 12 2009 21:00 DIS FILM IS GNA BE A HIT TRUS ME BUT RALLY N TRULLY DAY SHUD OV DUN 1 ABOUT 2PAC ALTHOUGH BIGGI GT A SIK FLO BUT 2PAC IS BIG N DA GAME TRUS ..... BUT IM GNA WATCH IT TMRW N I SEE HW IT IS ....

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shan said...

Posted on Feb 11 2009 21:10 i think this movie is great mann

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Leigh said...

Posted on Feb 10 2009 17:33 I don't know how Tom Huddleston can give the movie Notorious a 2 star rating unless he is a true follower of Hip Hop and listened to Biggie when he was alive (maybe you are a true follower and just did not like the movie). When Biggie first came on the scene I was 18, he bought an element of realism with a touch of glitz. Biggie began the Bling era (a term I'm sure you have used). Notorious gives you a true sense of that era, the music and the swagger. The downside to the movie the controversial Lil Kim could have been played by an actress with more depth. The sound track is right on point.

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