Search - GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN / (WS CHK) - GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN / (WS CHK) on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 7/8/2023...

50 Cent: Get Rich or Die Tryin' - 50 Cent knocked it out of the park in this one. A must watch!

Better than you might think

Wanda B. Red | Boston, MA | 07/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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 enjoy it you have to enter into the appreciation of rap music and specifically of Fifty Cent's deadpan mumbling style. He's a big overgrown kid, with a luminous bashful smile; at the same time, he is a dangerous gangster, a young man in his physical prime not afraid to trade on his charm. It's a charismatic combination, and Jim Sheridan does a good job of coaching Fifty Cent in the trick of conveying his innocence and his menace.

I also like this movie because it frankly crosses cultural lines, bringing ancient principles of storytelling and family loyalty to African-American gangster culture, interpreting this working underclass both to itself and to the rest of America. I think it's a big-hearted movie.

It's also a well made film. The violent scenes are tough enough to be believable without being gratuitous, and the film editing works effectively to underscore the movie's themes. In addition to Fifty Cent himself, who I think is charming on screen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaie as Majestic (gangster boss and one of Marcus's possible fathers) is riveting. Terence Howard is also excellent in the role of Bama, Marcus's friend and manager, and Marc John Jeffries is well cast as the young Marcus."

This is a great movie

Viper | Chicago IL | 01/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The idiots who are bashing this, frankly are only doing so because they hate 50 or rap in general. This was still a good movie despite what people say and it was powerful, inspiring, mooving, and had a great message about following your dreams. It's frankly too bad that this only opended in 1,600 theaters. This film shows that nobody has to succumb to a life of crime and drugs. I also recommend those who are pursuing a career in hip hop to watch this as well. One of the best films of last year. Get the soundtrack too."

Get Rich or Die Tryin'

Pablo J. Quinones | Howell, New Jersey United States | 03/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok where to begin.... to start off those who have negative things to say about the movie, about "oh it's so predictable" "50's acting isn't great' let's just put it out there. Movies that are based on the lives of others are usually predictable seeing as how they got to be who they are now. we knew 50 became a rich and famous rapper. How on earth did you expect the outcome to be different in the movie? and seeing as this is his first movie, acting will not be up to par with that of Will Smith. OK now that's done I can review this movie.

As you know this movie is somewhat based on the life of 50 Cent. the story unfolds as him looking back on his life. He narrates the entire movie, showing as to how he was brought up and life. the cast for this movie couldn't have been picked better. Terrence Howard acting overshadowed most of the otehrs by far. For the most part whenever him and 50 were in a scene together he took care of the acting for both of them. Not to say the other actors were bad. Joy Brant, Omar Benson Miller, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and 50 Cent's acting were all well done. Seeing as how this is 50's first movie you can't be to hard on his acting skills. It's just like making fun of someone who is just learning how to swim and is struggling.

The story itself was well played and written. Showing you how the drug world was operated and how people made it by day to day. And was only showed as predictable because it was based on a life people already knew about, even those who hate rap knew about 50's life for the most part. Many said it was a play off 8 Mile, and Hustle & Flow. It's be safer to say it was played off 8 Mile, but keep in mind that was also based on the life of someone everyone knew so the ending there 2 was predictable. Those who say it was a copy of Hustle & Flow also need to understand these 2 movies where being produced around the same time... so how much of a play off could it be when one movie was released into theaters only a few months earlier? Back to topic now... there were a few surprising scenes in this movie but in order to know about those yu need to either rent or buy this movie. all in all this movie did well on it's own. though critics gave this an unfair ruling. To be honest if yu hate 50 then you'll find ways to hate this movie. If you like him you will like this movie. If your indifferent then yu can really appreciate this movie for what it's worth. I myslef like 50. but i also enjoyed movies even before i heard him. I can honestly say that if I was indifferent i would like this movie. and once you see it you'd appreciate him more once you see what he went through. and if your one of those people who say "he should've been shot more than nine times for making this movie" your ignorant as hell! Stop hating on the fact he made money of his flow rather than his skills in rhyming, and learn to just appreciate the movie for what's it worth not who's in it."