Notorious is the story of Christopher Wallace (Jamal Woolard) a quick witted, only child of a single mother, Voletta (Angela Bassett) living in Brooklyn, New York. Christopher is interested in Hip-Hop but he chooses to sell drugs instead. After a meeting up and coming music executive, Sean “Puffy” Combs (Derek Luke) Christopher is faced with a choice, music or the streets.
Director George Tillman Jr. does a good job of mixing a traditional biopic with homage in the film. Writers Reggie Rock Bythewood (New York Undercover) and Cheo Coker (ex Vibe writer) recreate many public moments of Big’s life that fans will remember. The costume department also does a great job of recreating the styles and outfits that helped define BIG, Lil Kim, Junior Mafia and Puffy.
The Brooklyn MC’s rise to stardom is rocky at best. Biggie struggles to give up the old life to live his dream, and a major sacrifice from a friend makes that future a possibility.
We get to see the nature of his relationships with those closest to him as they change over time. The movie does not gloss over BIG’s negatives, from his early relationship with high school girlfriend Jan (Julia Pace Mitchell), to his erratic relationship with Lil Kim (Naturi Naughton), and even his infidelity plagued marriage to singer Faith Evans (Antonique Smith).
The relationship between BIG and the late Tupac Shakur (Anthony Mackey) is explored, Pac is shown to be an early mentor and friend.
As far as performances go Wollard captures Biggie’s characteristic charm and humor, while doing a great job at sounding like him too. Derek Luke does a good job at portraying Puffy as an optimistic motivator and not the loudmouth showboat that his detractors make him out to be. Antonique Smith shines as BIG’s wife Faith. One of the best performances in the film is by Biggie’s real son, Christopher Jordan Wallace and he does a great job of playing BIG as a child.
The events in the film are so recent that it is a little odd to see Puffy, Faith Evens and Lil Kim portrayed in the film since they are currently in the public eye and have not aged much from the events in the film. That feeling wears off pretty quickly and you can really get in to the characters and story.
Notorious is the first real big screen Hip-Hop biopic (Krush Groove, 8 Mile and Get Rich or Die Trying were all mainly fictionalized) and is an entertaining and emotional look at the life of one of the biggest names in Hip-Hop.
CraveOnline rating: 7 out of 10
