I saw this movie by mistake, I was browsing around, and started watching it from the beginning, thinking "the second this gets lame I'm turning it off". But alas, it was gritty, realistic and very engaging! A proper hood movie.I never ever liked 50 cent, I always thought he was just this big mumbling beast, I never could figure out why people actually bought his records. I was full of prejudice before watching this one. REady, to watch something REAL if it looked like B.S.Anyway, in this movie 50 cents actually acts. And when I say acts, I mean, he display tons different shades of emotion- him as well as his co-stars.(his brother, his mother, his hood friends down the street). And when I say he displays I'm not say he OVER-display, actually he's subtle.The dialogs smell REAL from 10 miles, even the humor. Sometimes even unexpect great dry humor.You feel really urban in this one.The violence is realistic, and the feel is what I look for in a good Blaxplotion, I repeat a GOOD blaxploitation.The only thing that's bad about this movie is the poster, which is really,really bad. If this movie had another name attached to the directing/writing ....People would have taken this movie seriously.Not because 50 direction and lead acting is bad CAUSE IT IS NOT. but because of the reputation 50 has: as a uni-emotional mumbling beast.Had he used a pen-name for the director, and a pen-name for the writer, then this would movie would make all those "10 best hood movies" list. I have no doubt about that.There's a scene when 50 cent had to shoot a gang member. There were 4/5 minutes of tension and suspense and fright, like I haven't felt in a long time in the genre. (this is due to the directing , acting, and location)If the producers are listening, REMOVE THAT UGLY COVER, give a pen- name to the director and writer.. AND see this movie rise and finally take the proper CREDIT it fully deservesif you like the genre I highly, highly recommend it. I'll def watch it again, like real, real soon.

Curtis, Curtis oh Curtis, why art thou Curtis.. If you like his music, i mean if you like his ghetto centric violence glamorizing lyrics then there are some chances you will like this movie. Mr. Fifty plays a talented basketball player who unfortunately injures his knee. So he turns into a heartless killer. Well, his mother dies, he has to take care of his brother but gets fired from his job and gets an eviction notice first. Then he turns into a heartless killer.The acting is OK. Can't say I am impressed. Fifty does the best job. The story is less than average though. He draws a nihilistic picture of living in the hood, as does Gangstarap in general, a genre which of course Mr fifty cent is a notorious representative. What puzzles me is that the (subliminal) message is in some way that even a black young man, who is a promising athlete and never touched the criminal lifestyle can turn into a shotgun-blasting killer just like that. With no second thought on why his mother got killed he somehow enters the same criminal spiral. However i guess he kills only those who "deserve it". It is interesting that what brings him down is his trust for women, as she betrays him. Just like Gangstarap, where violence is needed, money is love, and females are not to be trusted this Fifty makes these parts of Gangstarap to a movie. It is interesting to analyze this movie in the context of the academic discussion regarding Hip Hop and Gangstarap nowadays (No, I'm not talking about C.Delores Tucker, O'Reilly and other numskulls. The REAL discussion going on, Mos def, The Roots etc..) Better acting, better storyline and creativity is what I am missing from Curtis. This is no more than listening to his albums, and I had hoped for a bit more diversity in his productions rather than a simple replay on his rap lyrics in a manuscript form.

50 Cent wrote, directed in stars in a good little film about a young man who has to turn to crime when his mother dies and leaves him to take care of his little brother.The film is far from perfect but the film shows promise, even if 50 Cent tries to be a little too flashy at times (though points for not looking like every other film out there) the real problem is that the films cast is wildly uneven and it runs from real performances to some were on the other side of "you must be joking". Its the lack of a good acting a couple of roles that really hurts this film. The ability to get through this film will depend upon how forgiving you are. if you can forgive the actors then you'll probably like this, if you can the stay away.

This movie is a great hood classic. It follows in the line of I'm bout it, and other hood tales. 50 cent and Clifton Powell on screen interaction was pure magic. The young man that played Chaka was talented as well. The movie was funny, heartfelt and painful all at the same time. My favorite line is "the insurance business." 50 cent is definitely a visionary and very talented businessman. This movie is a must see!! 4 stars out of 4!!!! The accompanying album is a masterpiece as well. To all the 50 cent haters, go get a job and/or a life because this movie is the truth. Support hood films and quit hating. The latino girlfriend with the face of an angel and the heart of snake was simply terrifying. Please 50 make a sequel. You are the next Rudy Ray Moore!