Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

Better than you might think
Very loosely autobiographical, this film tells the story of the rise from hard beginnings of the wildly successful rapper "Fifty Cent," who plays himself. In the hands of director Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot," "In America"), it also becomes a story of a man's struggle to find his father (or whatever his father symbolically stands for, his own identity perhaps) and to learn the value of family in his life. His mother is killed, and his childhood sweetheart taken away. Two characters who may be his father are feuding, and he ends up taking sides, ultimately becoming responsible for the death of one of them. As is usually the case in such hard luck stories, the hero Marcus manages to overcome long odds and win his way back to love and success.

As that plot summary suggests, the general story lacks originality, or a more flattering description would be: it has an archetypal appeal. I prefer the latter interpretation. I liked this filim better than the other reviewers here. To...

Entertaining
I'm not a big fan of 50 Cent. I'm not even, particularly, a big fan of rap. But, I did like Eminem's "8 Mile" so I gave this movie a chance. It's got the same formula basically...Multi-platinum rap star stars in a fictionalized version of his life story, with an uplifting message, and an odd director. "8 Mile" was directed by Curtis Hanson (who has directed L.A. Confidential and In Her Shoes), this film is directed by Jim Sheridan who (in the past) has is Irish and white. You may remember Sheridan as the director of "In America." Anyway, it's hard to say what movie is better; "8 Mile" or this, both films are very different...Both films feature surprisingly superb performances. Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent plays Marcus. We meet Marcus as he and his crew rob a small store; They all escape, but Marcus is subsequently shot on his way back home. The film jumps backwards as we see Marcus grow up with his loving mother, who happens to be a drug dealer, who ends up being killed...

50 CENT fans only
this movie is basically an 8 MILE starring 50 cent. the movie is losely based on 50 cent life and how he became who he is today. if you like 50 cent this is right up your alley. ----brett

Click to Editorial Reviews