Get Rich or Die Tryin'

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Get Rich or Die Tryin' ★½ 2005 (R)

Gangsta melodrama loosely based on the experiences of star/rapper 50 Cent and something of a departure for Irish director Sheridan. Thug Marcus wants easy money by selling drugs; instead he gets into some nasty turf wars and winds up in prison. He reconnects with homeboy Bama (Howard) who offers to be his manager if Marcus wants to pursue that rap career. He also gets a good woman, Charlene (Bryant), who loves and believes in him. None of this is particularly interesting, maybe because familiarity breeds, if not contempt, then indifference. 134m/C DVD . US Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Terrence Howard, Joy Bryant, Bill Duke, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Omar Benson Miller, Viola Davis, Tory Kittles, Marc John Jefferies, Brian O'Hara, Sullivan Walker, Russell Hornsby, Ashley Walters, Serena Reeder, Mpho Koaho; D: Jim Sheridan; W: Terence Winter; C: Declan Quinn; M: Quincy Jones, Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer.