Get Rich or Die Tryin'

Marcus lives with his loving but drug dealing mother. After she gets murdered in a drug deal, Marcus is brought into the life by drug-lord Levar (Bill Duke) and his associate Majestic (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). He lives with his grandmother (Viola Davis) and grandfather (Sullivan Walker). As a teen, Marcus (50 Cent) gets arrested and quits school as he climbs the drug business. He writes his raps on the side and reunites with childhood love Charlene (Joy Bryant). He gets thrown in prison where Bama (Terrence Howard) saves him in a prison fight. Meanwhile Majestic sets up Levar in a cop killing and takes over the gang. Marcus gets out of prison and leaves the gang to pursue rapping with Bama as his manager. He refuses to sign with Majestic and gets shut out of the industry. Bama convinces him to rob a drug dealer.

50 is not a good actor. He's never going to get an acting award. He does have a natural understated charm which does come across on the screen. It's not the most original story but it's compelling enough. It has little insights like comparing drug dealing on the street corner to a minimum pay jobs. There is also an authenticity to the performance and getting the character shot 9 times is a little reminder. It doesn't have the intensity or the drama of 8 Mile but it's still a functional familiar story despite hitting some slow spots.