It's rare to see a film starring a musician which amounts to more than a feature-length ad for a CD. The short list of films which do is now longer due to the release of GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN', the first film starring controversial artist 50 Cent from director Jim Sheridan (IN AMERICA). The film penetrates the hardcore 50 Cent myth spun by record label executives and reveals the man, a man born on the unforgiving streets of Queens and into a world of drugs, sex, and violence who once felt a life of crime was his sole option in life before discovering the performing arts.

50 fills the role of Marcus, a character based on himself. Marcus never knew who his father was and his mother, a drug dealer, was murdered when he was a child. His dream to become a musician was short-lived and soon he was following in his mother's footsteps, selling drugs on the street to white people fresh in from suburbia. As an adult, Marcus, with the support of his girlfriend Charlene (Joy Bryant, THE SKELETON KEY) and Bama (Terrence Howard, FOUR BROTHERS), a friend he met in prison who becomes his manager, decides to put down his gun and once again follow his dream of writing and performing music. But his choice doesn't sit well with his mentor in crime, the powerful and volatile Majestic (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, THE BOURNE IDENTITY), who doesn't want to see Marcus leave the streets alive.

Choosing Jim Sheridan to direct this film was genius for three reasons. First, Sheridan's an award-winner who's other films are all mature, if thrilling, depictions of human suffering. He's not fresh off the music video circuit and doesn't see filming 50 Cent's life as a chance to create a bombastic action movie. He shows compassion and serves as an interviewer, not an exploiter, to 50 Cent during this process. Second, Sheridan's foreign to 50 Cent's lifestyle, having hailed from Ireland. He, along with certain moviegoers, is new to the language, the style, and the thought process of African Americans low on the socioeconomic totem pole. This awards the film an openess which will please those in attendance who aren't 50 Cent devotees, such as my mother who I saw the film with. Third, though he's new to the specifics, he's not at all new to the theme of living a hard life on the street, having directed multiple films about modern discord in his nation of origin. Sheridan, with cinematographer Declan Quinn (VANITY FAIR), shoots the film to perfection, providing the proceedings with an appropriate sense of stylish no-style. The grit is maintained, even as the creative team complete complicated, almost fanciful shots. And not since MAN ON FIRE's Mexico City has one place been shown in such a grotesque and horrifying, though realistic and warranted, light.

But the film lives and dies on 50 Cent's performance. Even though it's based on his both sordid and accomplished life and is made by a team of top artists, if 50 fails to sell his character the whole project would be in ruins. Here I must go against common critical consensus and applaud the musical artist-turned-actor for his subtle, but powerful and, at times, painful performance. It's not the scenes where he must act as a thug which impressed me, though, as he can pull those beats off in his sleep. It's the moments in which he's almost stabbed to death in a prison shower, recovers from gunshot wounds, and confronts his mother's murderer which impressed me, as these moments bring out in him grace and depth as an actor. The supporting cast provide unblemished support, with 2005's it-actor Terrence Howard, fresh off box office hits CRASH, HUSTLE & FLOW (another criminal-with-a-dream movie), and FOUR BROTHERS, delivering another dynamic and charming performance, this time as Marcus' supportive live-wire manager.

I don't care how negative critics are and how much pain I suffer for stating the following: I loved GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN'. I believe from the bottom of my heart this tribute to non-violent, productive lifestyles is one of this year's most important and assured films. Protest groups in certain Los Angeles communities protested banners for this film which depicted 50 Cent holding a gun in one hand and a mic in the other. The banners were brought down by Paramount Pictures, who released this film, but I feel the whole event was unfortunate. This film should be promoted to the troubled children in those areas. For one, those who see it will be opened to great cinema, but also because, in the end, 50 drops the gun and follows his dream. It would be nice if they saw this image and followed the iconic star's lead.

A-

I enjoyed, it drags somewhat in the middle, but overall a decent film which benfits greatly from really strong performances from the supporting cast including Terence Howard, Joy Bryant, and Voila Davis.

B-

It's not quite 8 Mile, but I'd be lyin' if I said it wasn't close. A-

I'll review it later.

I had no problem with 50Cent's acting I mean the guy kinda is suppose to be a lifeless human being who feels kinda tortured inside, so the character being somewhat boring isnt his fault. The biggest problem is really the script, it's as generic as it gets. Movie was boring because I felt like I saw this movie before and done better, it brings absolutely nothing new to the table. The acting was pretty strong so was the directing, but the script was just very mediocre.

Grade - C

Surprisingly well done. Terrence Howard was definitely the stand out. B

If 8 Mile and Hustle & Flow are 9s, this is only a 6. It's mostly lackluster throughout, but it picks up a bit of steam near the end. 50 Cent is merely adequate as the lead, but I agree that the standouts are Terrence Howard and Viola Davis.

C+

Excellent Film! A

I wish I had gone to check it out at the Theater, because it was way better than I thought. I thought it was just as entertaining as "Hustle & Flow".

Terrence Howard of course steals the show as he does any any movie where he has a supporting role.

B

Surprisingly good. It wasn't what I expected, I thought it'd be more like 8 Mile than an urban-ized Godfather. Acting was all quite decent, and the movie felt very clean cut and on it's toes. Biggest problem is that yeah, it drags a bit in the middle and 50 is hard to believe at points. But otherwise, very good.

I will never see this movie I hate Howard and I can't stand 50 Cent.

Why do you hate Howard?

I just think he's extremely overrated.

That is a reason to hate him?

I don't hate him as a PERSON, I hate him as an ACTOR. He's never once given a performance I thought was very good.