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The film opens at a party in Los Angeles on March 8, 1997 (a potrayal of the real life murder of Biggie Smalls). [[The Notorious B.I.G.|Christopher Wallace / Biggie Smalls / The Notorious B.I.G.]] ([[Jamal Woolard]]) is seen sitting at his chair smoking a cigar. People, including [[Faith Evans]] ([[Antonique Smith]]) and [[Sean Combs]] ([[Derek Luke]]), move to the music on the dance floor. Moments later, Biggie, Combs, and friends are driving away from the party. They stop at a red light, while a friend, [[Lil' Cease]], ([[Marc John Jefferies]]) is flirting with women outside. A black [[Chevrolet Impala]] pulls up and someone inside fires a single shot at Biggie.
The film opens at a party in Los Angeles on March 8, 1997 (a potrayal of the real life murder of Biggie Smalls). [[The Notorious B.I.G.|Christopher Wallace / Biggie Smalls / The Notorious B.I.G.]] ([[Jamal Woolard]]) is seen sitting at his chair smoking a cigar. People, including [[Faith Evans]] ([[Antonique Smith]]) and [[Sean Combs]] ([[Derek Luke]]), move to the music on the dance floor. Moments later, Biggie, Combs, and friends are driving away from the party. They stop at a red light, while a friend, [[Lil' Cease]], ([[Marc John Jefferies]]) is flirting with women outside. A black [[Chevrolet Impala]] pulls up and someone inside fires a single shot at Biggie.


The film then flashes back to Biggie's early childhood in 1984, recounting his tough upbringing in the [[Clinton Hill, Brooklyn|Clinton Hill]] section of [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]]. Biggie ([[Christopher Wallace, Jr.|Christopher "CJ" Wallace, Jr.]]) writes several rap songs, enduring the ridicule of some classmates, while his mother, [[Voletta Wallace|Voletta]] ([[Angela Bassett]]) struggles with two jobs and raising her "Chrissy-Poo". Biggie then starts selling drugs at the height of the crack epidemic. In 1990, after winning an important rap battle and meeting [[Lil' Kim]] ([[Naturi Naughton]]) for the first time, Biggie's mother, Voletta, throws him out of the house after discovering his involvement with drugs.
The film then flashes back to Biggie's early childhood in 1984, recounting his tough upbringing in the [[Clinton Hill, Brooklyn|Clinton Hill]] section of [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]]. Biggie ([[Christopher Wallace, Jr.|Christopher "CJ" Wallace, Jr.]]) writes several rap songs, enduring the ridicule of some classmates, while his mother, [[Voletta Wallace|Voletta]] ([[Angela Bassett]]) struggles with two jobs and raising her "Chrissy-Poo". Biggie then starts selling drugs at the height of the crack epidemic. In 1989, after winning an important rap battle and meeting [[Lil' Kim]] ([[Naturi Naughton]]) for the first time, Biggie's mother, Voletta, throws him out of the house after discovering his involvement with drugs.


In 1992, after spending two years in prison, he goes to see his girlfriend Jan ([[Julia Pace Mitchell]]), and their new daughter, T'yanna. After reconciling with his mother, he goes to find D-Roc and Lil' Cease and records a demo called "Microphone Murderer."
In 1992, after spending two years in prison, he goes to see his girlfriend Jan ([[Julia Pace Mitchell]]), and their new daughter, T'yanna. After reconciling with his mother, he goes to find D-Roc and Lil' Cease and records a demo called "Microphone Murderer."

Revision as of 18:51, 12 March 2009

Notorious
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGeorge Tillman, Jr.
Written byReggie Rock Bythewood
Cheo Hodari Coker
Produced byWayne Barrow
Edward Bates
Sean Combs
Trish Hofmann
George Paaswell
Mark Pitts
Robert Teitel
Voletta Wallace
StarringJamal Woolard
Angela Bassett
Derek Luke
Anthony Mackie
Naturi Naughton
Antonique Smith
Marc John Jefferies
Julia Pace Mitchell
Christopher "CJ" Wallace, Jr.
Narrated byJamal Woolard
CinematographyMichael Grady
Edited byDirk Westervelt
Music byDanny Elfman
Distributed byFox Searchlight Pictures
Release dates
United States
January 16, 2009
United Kingdom
February 13, 2009
Australia
March 12, 2009
New Zealand
March 19, 2009
Running time
123 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$40,800,000[1]

Notorious is a 2009 American biopic film about the life of hip hop star Christopher Wallace / Biggie Smalls / The Notorious B.I.G., who is played by Jamal Woolard. The film co-stars Angela Bassett as his mother Voletta Wallace, Derek Luke as Sean Combs, and Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur. Other roles include Naturi Naughton as Lil' Kim and Antonique Smith as Faith Evans.

The film was released in American theaters on January 16, 2009, by Fox Searchlight Pictures. A teaser trailer was released in late September 2008. An exclusive trailer was played during the BET Hip Hop Awards, showing more of what Biggie does and more of Tupac's part.

Plot

The film opens at a party in Los Angeles on March 8, 1997 (a potrayal of the real life murder of Biggie Smalls). Christopher Wallace / Biggie Smalls / The Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard) is seen sitting at his chair smoking a cigar. People, including Faith Evans (Antonique Smith) and Sean Combs (Derek Luke), move to the music on the dance floor. Moments later, Biggie, Combs, and friends are driving away from the party. They stop at a red light, while a friend, Lil' Cease, (Marc John Jefferies) is flirting with women outside. A black Chevrolet Impala pulls up and someone inside fires a single shot at Biggie.

The film then flashes back to Biggie's early childhood in 1984, recounting his tough upbringing in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn. Biggie (Christopher "CJ" Wallace, Jr.) writes several rap songs, enduring the ridicule of some classmates, while his mother, Voletta (Angela Bassett) struggles with two jobs and raising her "Chrissy-Poo". Biggie then starts selling drugs at the height of the crack epidemic. In 1989, after winning an important rap battle and meeting Lil' Kim (Naturi Naughton) for the first time, Biggie's mother, Voletta, throws him out of the house after discovering his involvement with drugs.

In 1992, after spending two years in prison, he goes to see his girlfriend Jan (Julia Pace Mitchell), and their new daughter, T'yanna. After reconciling with his mother, he goes to find D-Roc and Lil' Cease and records a demo called "Microphone Murderer."

Shortly thereafter, Biggie meets Sean Combs, an ambitious producer for Uptown Records. Combs promises Biggie that he will sign him to a record deal. Combs, however, will only accept Biggie if he gives up drug dealing. Biggie agrees and then leaves. Biggie nearly ruins his chances, however, a few days later. Biggie, along with his friend, D-Roc, has a run-in with the police which results in Biggie throwing his illegal gun into the bushes. They are caught by the police after a chase. D-Roc eventually decides to "take the fall" for the both of them because he believes that Biggie can succeed as a rapper.

Biggie learns that Combs has lost his job at Uptown Records. Frustrated and upset, he leaves Combs and goes back home only to discover that his mother has breast cancer. Biggie becomes depressed, but soon recovers when Combs begins his own record label, Bad Boy Records, and signs him. Biggie starts recording songs for his first album, Ready To Die, thereafter. He records his first single. Combs refuses the track saying there's another song that Biggie can record. The track is called "Juicy".

Biggie meets Faith Evans at a photoshoot. They begin a whirlwind courtship, marrying several days later. Meanwhile, Biggie continues to ignore his relationship with Jan and their child. When Faith discovers Biggie's relationship with Jan, she goes to confront Biggie, seeing him with yet another woman. The two later reconcile despite the fact that tensions between him, Faith, Jan, and Lil' Kim, yet another of Biggie's paramours, continue to grow.

Biggie begins a friendship with rapper/actor Tupac Shakur (Anthony Mackie). Biggie celebrates his album Ready To Die with Tupac, admiring the other rapper. When Tupac is shot in Quad Studios, however, he blames Combs, Biggie and Bad Boy Records for instigating it. At The Source Awards in 1995, Death Row Records executive, Suge Knight, makes a speech "dissing" Combs and Bad Boy Records, claiming Death Row is the better label. Soon the disagreement escalates into the East Coast-West Coast beef and attacks are made on both sides. The friendship between Biggie and Tupac is ruined. Tupac verbally assaults Biggie at a later time, but leaves when Biggie's security pulls out a pistol.

A track called "Who Shot Ya?" is released, a song which claims to diss Tupac. Biggie and Combs claim that "Who Shot Ya?" was recorded before Tupac was shot, but Suge and Tupac claim otherwise.

After seeing a magazine photo of Tupac and Faith hugging each other, Biggie becomes enraged. He interrupts an interview that is being conducted with Faith, running after Faith. Faith hides from Biggie and Biggie is forced to leave by one of his managers, Mark Pitts (Kevin Phillips). Later, Faith explains that she and Tupac met at the House of Blues and simply took a picture. Biggie tries to renew the relationship, but tensions continue to grow between them.

The East Coast-West Coast rivalry continues until September 1996 when Tupac is murdered in Las Vegas. Sometime afterwards, Biggie calls his mother, Voletta. Voletta states that Tupac probably died as a result of their arguments. Not only is Biggie shaken by Tupac's untimely death, he continues to have relationship problems with Faith, Jan and Lil' Kim. Biggie attempts to resolve these issues by meeting with Jan and their daughter more often.

Biggie and D-Roc renew their friendship after D-Roc is released from prison. Biggie decides to go Los Angeles to promote for his upcoming album Life After Death and bring D-Roc and Lil' Cease with him. The three men, along with Combs and Faith, all travel to Los Angeles. Biggie gets several death threats. Biggie reveals that Faith is pregnant.

Biggie is shot and killed moments after calling Lil' Kim to apologize and to set up a meeting with her. A few days later Voletta, Combs, Lil' Cease, D-Roc, Lil' Kim, Faith and others all grieve over the death of Biggie at the funeral.

Production

Development

Antoine Fuqua was originally set to direct[2] before director George Tillman, Jr. signed on to helm the project.[3] The film is being distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.[4] Producers on Notorious include Sean Combs, Voletta Wallace and Biggie's former managers Wayne Barrow and Mark Pitts.[3]

Casting

In early October 2007 open casting calls for the role of The Notorious B.I.G. began.[5] Actors, rappers and unknowns all tried out. Rapper Beanie Sigel auditioned[6] for the role but was not picked.[7] Eventually it was announced that rapper Jamal "Gravy" Woolard was cast as Biggie.[8] Other cast members include Angela Bassett as Voletta Wallace, Derek Luke as Sean Combs, Antonique Smith as Faith Evans, Naturi Naughton formerly of 3LW as Lil' Kim, Edwin Freeman as Mister Cee and Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur.[9]

Cast

Release

Theaters in USA: January 16, 2009 (1/16/09)

DVD in USA: April 21, 2009 (4/21/09)

Box office

The film grossed $24,000,000 on its opening weekend in 1,638 theaters in the United States on Martin Luther King weekend.[1] As of March 1, 2009, the film has grossed $36,813,000 in the United States alone and $4,000,000 internationally to bring the overall total to over 40,800,000.[10]

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes noted that 54% of film reviewers gave the film a positive review based on a sample of 84 reviews, with an average score of 5.8/10 indicating "Rotten" reviews. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus is that Notorious is "a biopic that lacks the luster of its subject" and a "generic rise-and-fall fare that still functions as a primer for those less familiar with the work and life of the hip hop icon." The "top critics" currently rate the film at 59% based on a sample of 27 reviews as of January 15, 2009.[11] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film received a 61 based on a sample of 31 critics, indicating "Generally Favorable Reviews."[12]

Its first United States showing on January 16, 2009, at The Grand 18 Four Seasons Station theater in Greensboro, North Carolina ended with one fan shooting another, 700 viewers having to be evacuated, and major news stories the next day in the Greensboro News & Record. Actor Jamal Woolard, who played Biggie in the movie, was present in the theater at the time of the shooting. Several violent altercations, likewise, erupted in Columbus, Ohio during the Saturday evening showings at Easton Town Center, necessitating the ejection of anyone under the age of 21 from the mall premises.

Soundtrack

Main article: Notorious (soundtrack)

A soundtrack was released on January 13, 2009, and features three unheard songs by Biggie from his demo tape, including a duet with his son CJ.

References

  1. ^ a b "Notorious (2009)". Box Office Mojo. 209-02-01. Retrieved 2009-02-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Kym Balthazar (February 26, 2007) 360 We Gon' Make It XXL. Accessed November 28, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Director Selected for Biggie Biopic, Diddy to Executive Produce XXL (August 13, 2007). Accessed November 28, 2007.
  4. ^ http://content.foxsearchlight.com/inside/node/2549 at Fox Searchlight Pictures. Retrieved on 2009-01-16.
  5. ^ Melena Ryzik (October 8, 2007) Dreaming Big About Acting Big NY Times. Accessed November 28, 2007.
  6. ^ Beanie Sigel Auditions for Role of Biggie Smalls in New Biopic XXL (October 3, 2007). Accessed November 28, 2007.
  7. ^ Sean Kingston: Big, But Not B.I.G. Vibe (August 30, 2007). Accessed November 28, 2007.
  8. ^ Brooklyn Rapper Gravy to Play Biggie in Upcoming Biopic XXL (March 6, 2008). Accessed March 6, 2008.
  9. ^ Gravy for Biggie Joblo.com (March 6, 2008). Accessed March 6, 2008.
  10. ^ http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=notorious08.htm
  11. ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009632-notorious/ at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 2009-01-14.
  12. ^ http://www.metacritics.com/film/titles/notorious/ at Metacritic. Retrieved on 2009-01-15.

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