By Tonisha Johnson

At the end of the day…what will you hang on too?

Rap star 50 Cent stars in a role that he’s prepared for all his life.

Marcus (Curtis Jackson) longs to know who his father is. And according to him it could be anybody because everybody loved his mother. Marcus’ world is hanging around the neighborhood with best friend Charlene and living in a crowded house full of relatives with no where to turn but grandma’ (Viola Davis) house; he witnesses a huge argument over his moms block and has to live with her mysterious death; Marcus buries his heart.

The best thing about this film was that director Jim Sheridan didn’t turn this into a 75 minute rap video. The focus was clean and clear. Get to the point of 50’ life and take it from their. Females and males were only shown in a certain way due to that particular aspect of subject at the time. If girls where counting cash it was because they were working. If you saw 2 girls naked with Marcus’ crew it was because they partied. Or some strung out chic sucking a glass d!*k was because that was pertinent to the scene at the time. 50 didn’t play a role that was pimpish. Nor was he beating girls up or taking advantage of them. The women in his life were positive ones. They were about something. It wasn’t riddled with hip hop’ bullshit. The film didn’t glorify being a hustler because there is no glory in it. That’s what the film glorified.

One can’t criticize Jackson’ acting skills in this role; he was born to it. Certainly Curtis Jackson may have his own view of the story every time he looks at it. And many may take a Boyz n the hood approach to this film and try to analyze it. But it wasn’t Boyz n the hood. It wasn’t look at what is happening to black youth; male black youths. It was look at what’s happening to me.

The film’ major purpose was finalized and revealed from beginning to end as the storyline remained consistent. Bits and pieces of his life story where cut and pasted to truth on the silver screen as Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, joined by supporting actress Joy Bryant (Charlene) and co-star Terrence Howard (Bama) put the film together to unfold a true story. Certainly there was poetic license admits 50. But some poetic parts are hard to recognize as Sheridan put the film together so well.

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ doesn’t reveal anything new. Not in the drug or rap game. It just tells and testaments one persons struggle that everyone should see.