Posted by
Michael on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 6:33:09 AM
The New York Times ran a piece about the upcoming biopic of 1990s
rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who will be portrayed by rapper Gravy.
From some parts of the article, there is some reason to worry that
Biggie will be portrayed as something he wasn't:
Mr.
Tillman said that the movie’s Notorious B.I.G. would sharply differ
from that rapper’s harsh public image. “The major theme we’re working
toward is family, being a man, what it takes to be a man,” he said. The
movie follows Mr. Wallace from childhood in the Bedford-Stuyvesant
section of Brooklyn through his death, and various scenes will “capture
the spirit and reason for certain things” without making detailed
accusations, Mr. Tillman said.
Over the years Mr. Wallace’s
killing has been attributed to vendettas and conspiracies. In lawsuits
still being contested in federal court here his family has sought at
least $700 million from the City of Los Angeles and others, based on
claims that members of the police force were complicit in the crime.
Mr.
Wallace’s mother, Voletta Wallace, who is a producer of the film —
along with his former associates Wayne Barrow, Mark Pitts, Sean Combs
and others, who have various producing credits — said the project would
deliberately steer clear of the controversy. “That’s going to be
another movie,” Ms. Wallace said.
Ray, Walk the
Line and
8 Mile all portrayed the flaws and tendencies of the main
characters towards womanizing, drug addiction and/or violence. A great
deal of Biggie's songs were about how "gangsta" he was and what sort of
guns he was carrying and it won't be very convincing if he is portrayed
as a good guy who was killed tragically but without any warning.
If you live the life of a thug, that's likely how you will die. Nevertheless, I will probably see it.