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Christopher "Biggie" Wallace was not a perfect man and one of the film's strongest points is that it doesn't shy away from that fact or choose to glorify the gangster mentality that got him into the spotlight in the first place. Instead the story makes it clear that Biggie had a solid understanding of right and wrong and chronicles how a studious well mannered boy from Brooklyn grew up to be known as "The Notorious B.I.G.". It's that morality war waged within the main character that really carries the film and elevates it above the ho-hum affair that it so very easily could have been. Also worth mentioning, as far as the story goes, it's really interesting! There's sex, drugs, violence, music, and it all plays out in a fairly realistic manner. This is after all based on true events.

The movie opens a bit shaky, with a mercifully short set-up of Biggie's childhood, but from there the film takes off because that's when newcomer Jamal Woolard steps in as an adolescent Christopher Wallace and plays that role to the end of the film, at which point Biggie is only 24 years old. I was pretty excited by the idea of this movie (Life After Death is one of my favorite albums) but one major hang-up I had about it going in was this guy Woolard. In all the previews for the film he always struck me as a bit too soft for the role of "The Notorious B.I.G." but the film works that quality of his to its benefit. Which is not to say that Woolard didn't surprise me by playing a better thug than I thought him capable of, because he did. He makes every facet of the Biggie character believable, and there are a lot. He was a hood, a momma's boy, a ladies' man, and a world class emcee.

One of the most pleasant surprises Notorious had to offer me was its amazing supporting cast consisting of a gaggle of African American actors that you either may or may not know. All the women in Biggie's life are played well and the screenwriters were kind enough to mold them into more three-dimensional female figures than we're used to seeing in these kinds of movies. Amongst the excellent male actors, Derek Luke stood out in particular as Sean "Puffy" Combs who gets a much better treatment here than he does from the present-day media.

Now, a warning. You don't have to be a rap/hip-hop fan to enjoy the movie but it certainly helps. Part of what makes the character of Christopher Wallace such a treat to watch on-screen is the knowledge of knowing that he has been endowed with a genuine gift. The gift of gab... kind of. And if you just don't get how awesome a thing it is to watch the big man step up to the mike and drop his lines then you'll obviously miss some of that intended effect.

Overall, this was a very fun time at the movies and though you may not fall into the film's intended demographic, I suggest you at least consider giving it a shot.

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