After watching Notorious for a second time, I’ve still got a few complaints I’d like to get off my chest. First off, I’ve gotta say that the depiction of Tupac in the film, while mellow for a biopic of his so-called rival, was riddled with mockery and disregard. A particular scene in which the only dialogue coming from ‘Pac is “Westside, nigga, Westside” (repeatedly) strikes a chord; but I also felt it was pretty crummy to highlight the detail that ‘Pac was shot just above his testicles. I took this as a deliberate attempt to castrate and emasculate ‘Pac’s character as the male inferior to B.I.G.’s superior alpha male imagery. Of course, this is all symbolism, and being that this was just a movie about a rapper – as opposed to a classic, award-garnering masterpiece – perhaps there’s not quite so much room for deep interpretation. My objection still remains.
I also found it dissatisfactory that whilst ‘Pac was portrayed as nothing more but a hot-headed thug, B.I.G. was portrayed as a humble, zen-like figure. It’s clear that the people around B.I.G.’s life were deeply involved in the development of Notorious. The story is told strictly from an autobiographical point of view, as opposed to a balanced, historical retelling of the mid-‘90’s East Coast/West Coast beef. Just as he did with B.I.G.’s music, Puffy’s corny imprint is all over this film, for better or for worse. Mostly for worse. Full of melodrama, Notorious makes a big hoopla over the woman in B.I.G.’s life, treating the scenario as a giant headache to overcome. But what was going on in ‘Pac’s life during this segment? Off-duty officer shot down. Trial. Rape case. Trial. Jail time. Shots fired… Mortality proven.
After ‘Pac was gunned down in the recording studio’s lobby, the film portrays him as a delusional, violent thug. B.I.G. is treated as the victim, due to his innocence. Personally, I don’t believe that B.I.G. was involved in the shooting, and the film does a great job of documenting B.I.G.’s grief. But let’s remember who the victim truly was here. ‘Pac was the one who took those shots. He even had the strength to give the camera the middle finger whilst he was being hauled off into an ambulance. It’s no surprise to note that I find 2Pac to be the superior of the two. Not simply for his music, but for his message. Both of these men liked to flash their achievements and live large. But raised against a backdrop of crooked cops and Black Panthers, ‘Pac had a grittiness that B.I.G. could never possess.
Despite my grievances over Notorious’ handling of 2Pac’s side of the story, I can’t help but note the film’s value in portraying the rags-to-riches story of Christopher Wallace. The film is a commercial-level success because it documents the life of a commercial-level artist, the Notorious B.I.G. Though 2Pac himself achieved great commercial standing – more so than B.I.G, in fact – I don’t believe that a biopic would ever be able to truly capture his life story – neither from a West or East Coast angle. A documentary perhaps, but certainly not a big-budget film like Notorious. Maybe I’m wrong.
To cap things off, I’d also like to make note of the fact that any influence of Jay-Z or The Lox in B.I.G.’s life is decidedly cut out of the film. The presence of these emcees isn’t felt in the slightest, not even making any brief appearance(s). It would have seemed fitting if you ask me… The final verdict is that putting all flaws aside, I’d still recommend you check out Notorious – that is, if you haven’t already.
Notorious is in stores now.
I also found it dissatisfactory that whilst ‘Pac was portrayed as nothing more but a hot-headed thug, B.I.G. was portrayed as a humble, zen-like figure. It’s clear that the people around B.I.G.’s life were deeply involved in the development of Notorious. The story is told strictly from an autobiographical point of view, as opposed to a balanced, historical retelling of the mid-‘90’s East Coast/West Coast beef. Just as he did with B.I.G.’s music, Puffy’s corny imprint is all over this film, for better or for worse. Mostly for worse. Full of melodrama, Notorious makes a big hoopla over the woman in B.I.G.’s life, treating the scenario as a giant headache to overcome. But what was going on in ‘Pac’s life during this segment? Off-duty officer shot down. Trial. Rape case. Trial. Jail time. Shots fired… Mortality proven.
After ‘Pac was gunned down in the recording studio’s lobby, the film portrays him as a delusional, violent thug. B.I.G. is treated as the victim, due to his innocence. Personally, I don’t believe that B.I.G. was involved in the shooting, and the film does a great job of documenting B.I.G.’s grief. But let’s remember who the victim truly was here. ‘Pac was the one who took those shots. He even had the strength to give the camera the middle finger whilst he was being hauled off into an ambulance. It’s no surprise to note that I find 2Pac to be the superior of the two. Not simply for his music, but for his message. Both of these men liked to flash their achievements and live large. But raised against a backdrop of crooked cops and Black Panthers, ‘Pac had a grittiness that B.I.G. could never possess.
Despite my grievances over Notorious’ handling of 2Pac’s side of the story, I can’t help but note the film’s value in portraying the rags-to-riches story of Christopher Wallace. The film is a commercial-level success because it documents the life of a commercial-level artist, the Notorious B.I.G. Though 2Pac himself achieved great commercial standing – more so than B.I.G, in fact – I don’t believe that a biopic would ever be able to truly capture his life story – neither from a West or East Coast angle. A documentary perhaps, but certainly not a big-budget film like Notorious. Maybe I’m wrong.
To cap things off, I’d also like to make note of the fact that any influence of Jay-Z or The Lox in B.I.G.’s life is decidedly cut out of the film. The presence of these emcees isn’t felt in the slightest, not even making any brief appearance(s). It would have seemed fitting if you ask me… The final verdict is that putting all flaws aside, I’d still recommend you check out Notorious – that is, if you haven’t already.
Notorious is in stores now.
P.S. "Big Beef"? No homo...
31 comments:
If this film was trying to be true to the events Puffy's side issues and how they affected Biggie would have been more prevalent.
To say a major movie about Pac wouldn't sell is laughable at best. It would sell hotcakes at a diabetic convention. But you will have to admit it too will be slanted.
That slant is what made the rivalry so all encompassing, without it neither story will truly sell it its base audience. What amazes me is that pac's story hasn't made it on screen yet. But given the evidence of how long it took each others respective tribute songs to come out should have been a clue.
1 luv
When I said that a Tupac motion picture could never be a success, I didn't mean in terms of money. Like I said, both B.I.G. and 'Pac were commercial successes, and films about them both would rake in big bucks. But whereas a film about B.I.G. is all about glam and Hollywood hype/glitz, a Tupac movie would be too political, too radicall.... in short, too black for Hollywood to stomach.
Feel me?
@ Anon #1: Perfect point. Notorious definitely wasn't made with the hip hop head/devotee in mind.
@ Anon #2: Elaborate.
When his mum and Puffy are involved, and people like Kim, Charli and Jay are not then you know its not gonna be balanced. BIG was a woman-beating drug dealer. Im sure the movie wont dwell on these minor details....but I'll watch it before judging.
I recommend Biggie and Tupac, the documentary by Nick Broomfield. It takes a good look at their 'beef'.
A Tupac movie would have to be raw to be accurate but im sure they'll do a watered down version for the mainstream.
As Dr. Frances Cress Welsing wrote:
Currently, the players on the Black side of the chessboard are in a continuous state of checkmate (a losing streak that is centuries long). This has happened because of our failure to understand the game.
soulguru adds: Don't be fooled by the Obama victory, he's still part of the game & playing the "white" side of the chessboard.
Back to Welsing:
Heretofore, non-white people have not decoded white genetic survival. (soulguru adds: castrating a TRUE alpha-male like 2Pac)
Back to Welsing:
...I was sensitive to the symbols in the behavior system of white supremacy once it had been defined and decoded.
...Symbols communicate from one person's subconscious to the subconscious of another who share the same identity and survival necessity. Such communication transpires at subconsconscious levels when the conscious levels of brain-computer functioning cannot bear to address certain issues. White supremacy is a topic that few can or dare discuss discuss in depth at the conscious level of brain-computer functioning. (soulguru adds: remember the Anons babbling during the Blackbird browser comments?)
Back to Welsing:
...Few dare to probe or research white supremacy as this could lead to the dismantling of the system. ...There will be those who demean the attempt to decode symbols and ridicule their value.
Isis Papers Introduction, pages X-XII
The irony never ceases to amaze me.
The main problem i have with this movie is they do not add detail such as the people who influence him, how the beats were really made, and they did not really show the reasons why Biggie was such a good lyricist such as him being excellent in English actually he was a straight A student, they only showed brief scenes..
You seen WatchMen right? How many positive Negro (Black) images did you see in that movie?
@ Rahsaan: You bring up some good points (I didn't know about the potential Marvin flick), but you can't really blame the film Watchmen for its lack of positive Black characters since it was based on the novel.
also, i was talking recently to some friends who argue that this movie does a great social service - it humanizes BIG, makes him a loving father who learned "the error of his ways" and tried to make it all right before he was killed. for critics of hip hop, the movie ends with the death of a sinner seeking absolution, not with a "thug"... is that necessary?
The film portrays him as such - a zen-like, fallen saint who later found his way; an almost ethereal presence amongst the backdrop of his friends, family and confidantes.
I'd expected such corny melodrama and hype from Mr. Diddy.
My opinion -Who hurt Hip-Hop? Puff Daddy did.
Has any artist on Badboy made it 2 second album or third?
Big=Dead, shine=locked up, G-dep= ??, Mark Curry,Mase, Dream, Black Rob, Craig Mack .... get my drift?
The only one who's made any real money... is Puffy.
so fuck him.
Anonymous said...
How do you portray someone in a movie who spent the last years of his life thinking and acting as if he were a character in a movie?
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Imagine having a film about John F. Kennedy. Shouldn't the Nixon portrayal be apt and accurate?
I'd personally like to see a movie where they show how overstating a gangster persona, inflated ego, personal rivalry and keeping bad company cause the loss of life of a million as that is the important moral of the story that people could learn from.
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