NOTORIOUS (2009) - (Movie Review) | By: Conan Milne

The Hip-Hop community loves Big Poppa. It is a love that is seemingly unconditional. Christopher Wallace emerged as a weighty MC both literally and otherwise, candid and unforgiving about his sordid lifestyle. He sold drugs in order to provide for his daughter, and, although doing so inevitably harmed his community, we sympathized with his plight. He could be unflattering towards women on wax, but was similarly insulting about himself when he proclaimed to be, "Black and ugly as ever." His rags to riches ascent risked alienating his onetime peers, but B.I.G. dismissed fame with the summary, "Mo' money, mo' problems." With affinity for the deceased King of New York as strong as ever, Fox Searchlight aims to reveal more of the complex, imperfect individual with "Notorious."

The decision to tell this particular story is a brave one. Loyal fans will expect the picture to enlighten them on uncovered facets of Wallace's past. Curious bystanders will instead anticipate a film that helps them to understand why B.I.G is so cherished. Initially, the film does well to please both audiences. A young Christopher Wallace is played sweetly by his son, and seeing the legendary recording artists boy drop a tear on camera provokes chills within many. Angela Bassett is also well utilized as Voletta Wallace, the rappers put-upon mother. She serves as a dignified voice of reason throughout, bringing home the reality of her sons reckless actions without rendering him a monster.

Jamal Woolard is equally worthy of praise. It is quickly apparent that this man instinctively understands who Biggie was and, perhaps, why he did what he did. It is a testament to Woolard's endearing presence that his character can be seen peddling drugs to a pregnant woman, and remain roundly likable. The uneducated spectators will revel in his compelling turn, while the initiated will find themselves fascinated by the way Woolard nails every considerable wheeze and thick, rolling lyrical pronounciation. Such lyrics feature prominently, and in many ways they seem to serve as a counteract to B.I.G.'s more abhorrent behaviour. While we see B.I.G. lash out at those close to him and betray spouse Faith Evans, we are almost immediately then treated to his incredibly adept rhymes. The film isn't brash enough to explicitly suggest that the man's talent justified such behaviour, but one could argue that it is an underlying implication.

Sadly, an inability to grapple its subject when necessary isn't Notorious' single flaw. Biggie's friend turned rival Tupac Shakur played an integral part in his life, and as such his role required an actor as fitting as hefty, aspiring MC, Woolard. Anthony Mackie is a fine actor, but his turn as the brash, contradictory Shakur is oddly muted. When the script pushes confrontation between the two Hip-Hop icons, it seems forced and almost amateur theatrical. Anyone who has heard "Hit 'Em Up" can testify to Tupac's unbridled rage during the heavily touted East Coast, West Coast fallout - Mackie appears incapable of channeling this doomed mans anger.

There have been several unfair criticisms lobbied at this generally admirable attempt to tell a Hip-Hop legend's story. Many have snipped that Notorious fails to inform its audience who Biggie really was. Was he, as the film itself asks, "A bad boy trying to be good? Or a good boy trying to be bad?" The obvious answer is that Christopher Wallace was only twenty four years old when he was killed - his journey was far from complete. Notorious isn't the first account of the mans life to conclude that he had not truly discovered himself by the time of his death. It is unlikely that it will be the last. However, several criticisms are just. Twelve years after his demise, audiences were undoubtedly ready for a biopic as raw and unforgiving as Biggie was capable of being. With his mother and mentor Sean Combs sitting in the producers chairs, this was destined to be a safe and sanitized retelling of Wallace's rise. We're left, then, with a passion project that is only fleetingly insightful. Unfortunately, this isn't enough to make either the film itself or its subject register with the layperson. For the enlightened, however, it is proof that the Hip-Hop community will always love Big Poppa regardless.

 

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