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Apr 21, 2009 Web Exclusive By Nick Hyman

It may be a little too soon to be making a biopic on the life and death of The Notorious B.I.G.—aka Biggie Smalls, aka Christopher Wallace—but Notorious provides an oddly sympathetic take on an individual who, as displayed, seems to have been a bit of a selfish (and not-too-bright) prick. Biggie was talented, though, with a gift for words and rhymes. Soul Food director George Tillman, Jr. has a passion for the subject and fills the story with capable actors who disappear into their roles. Of particular note are the actors playing the women in Wallace’s life: Angela Bassett is very good as Biggie’s mom, Voletta Wallace, but is sadly relegated to the sidelines, whereas Naturi Naughton and Antonique Smith completely embody Biggie collaborator Lil’ Kim and fellow artist (and romantic partner) Faith Evans.

Newcomer Jamal Woolard does a serviceable job as the titular character, who is unfortunately often a douchebag—his idea of apologizing to someone for cheating on them by silently singing to them is just embarrassing. Derek Luke also shines as the omnipresent Sean “Puffy” Combs, but can’t escape comparisons to the real life man, as he won’t go away from public view. The ’90s nostalgia is thick, and it’s a kick to hear “Flava in Ya Ear” from Biggie label cohort Craig Mack and other period tunes that hold up.

The director’s cut of the film is accompanied by several documentaries on the making of the film, the best of which is about the film’s strongest asset—its casting. Somewhat puzzling is that the majority of the bonus material is morbidly focused on how Biggie was shot down in front of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Wallace’s life is somewhat unique in that he became a successful rapper, but all to often, Notorious presents overly familiar biopic bulletpoints (drugs, sex, success, death; rinse and repeat) without an ounce of originality. The lack of commentary from the director is distressing, because I’d like to hear him explain why he presents such a questionable man as such a saint. Maybe he’s just hypnotized by the legend and not really interested in presenting a look at this brilliant but flawed boy who was shot down just as he was becoming a man. (www.foxstore.com)

Author rating: 6/10