Notorious (2009)

Notorious Poster

"Notorious" is the story of Christopher Wallace. Through raw talent and sheer determination, Wallace transforms himself from Brooklyn street hustler (once selling crack to pregnant women) to one of the greatest rappers of all time: The Notorious B.I.G. Follow his meteoric rise to fame and his refusal to succumb to expectations - redefining our notion of "The American Dream."

Intro:
"Notorious" is a 2009 biographical drama film checking out the life of Christopher Wallace, notoriously called The Notorious B.I.G or Big Deal Smalls. Directed by George Tillman Jr., Jamal Woolard plays the lead role, with Angela Bassett and Voletta Wallace co-starring. The film analyzes Chris's increase from a life of crime in the Brooklyn streets to his epic rise as one of the best rappers in the history of hip hop, prior to his untimely death.

Early Life:
The film begins with a glimpse of Chris's life growing up in Brooklyn, New York. Raised mainly by his mother Voletta, played by Angela Bassett, following his Jamaican father's desertion, young Chris (Christopher Jordan Wallace, the real-life kid of Christopher Wallace) finds solace in writing stories, revealing an early flair for storytelling. As he gets older, his life takes a rollercoaster turn as he gets associated with drug dealing.

Increase to Stardom:
Jamal Woolard steps in as the adult Chris and effectively represents his improvement into The Notorious B.I.G. His life takes a positive turn when he's discovered by P. Diddy, whose genuine name is Sean Combs, played by Derek Luke. Under Diddy's mentorship and the Bad Boy Records banner, Biggie's rap profession takes off, leading to increasing popularity, wealth, and influence. Concurrently, his relationship with fellow artist Faith Evans (Antonique Smith) blooms, and they wed soon after.

Conflict and Controversies:
Notorious provides the infamous competition in between East Coast and West Coast rappers that specified a substantial part of the '90s hip hop scene. Big deal's friendship with Tupac Shakur (Anthony Mackie), which turns bitter due to misunderstandings, suspicions, and media sustained tensions that divided the hip hop neighborhood, is highlighted.

Success and Downfall:
No quicker does Chris accomplish success that his personal life starts to decipher. His marital life suffers due to his extramarital relations and way of life modifications. He also recognizes the repercussions of his notorious image, with various confrontations with the law and intensifying tensions in the hip hop neighborhood.

Untimely Death:
With an interplay of previous and present and a 'life flashing prior to eyes' narrative style, the movie's climax follows the occasions leading to Biggie's terrible murder in Los Angeles in 1997. The movie wraps up with Biggie's leaving behind an extensive musical tradition, his posthumous success, and a void in the hip-hop world that still resonates years after his death.

Conclusion:
"Notorious" paints a vivid image of the accomplishments and trials of Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace and the rough world of '90s hip hop. Leveraging powerful efficiencies, especially from Jamal Woolard, the film presents a humanising representation of an iconic rapper kept in mind for his unique style, credibility, and a life cut tragically short. Regardless of its harsh sincerity, "Notorious" is a testimony to Biggie's exceptional journey from the gritty streets of Brooklyn to turning into one of the most influential voices in hip hop history.

Top Cast

  • Jamal Woolard (small)
    Jamal Woolard
    Christopher 'Biggie' Wallace
  • Derek Luke (small)
    Derek Luke
    Sean 'Puffy' Combs
  • Naturi Naughton (small)
    Naturi Naughton
    Lil' Kim
  • Anthony Mackie (small)
    Anthony Mackie
    Tupac "2Pac" Shakur
  • Antonique Smith (small)
    Antonique Smith
    Faith Evans
  • Angela Bassett (small)
    Angela Bassett
    Voletta Wallace
  • Marc John Jefferies (small)
    Marc John Jefferies
    Lil Cease
  • Sean Ringgold (small)
    Sean Ringgold
    Suge Knight
  • C.J. Wallace (small)
    C.J. Wallace
    Biggie (age 8-13)
  • Dennis L.A. White (small)
    Dennis L.A. White
    Damion 'D-Roc' Butler
  • Mohamed Dione (small)
    Mohamed Dione
    Record Executive at Party