Hey folks, Valkor here. And I gotta give credit where credit is
due because 50 Cent hasn't done anything, film-wise, that truly
standouts. But at least he keeps pushing at it and for that I
gives him mad respect. Thanks to the folks at Image Entertainment,
I get the opportunity to check out his latest direct to video
outing "All Things Fall Apart" (Directed by Mario Van Peebles),
and it shows that if you work on your skills, eventually that
hard work pays off.
"All Things Fall Apart" centers on Deon (Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson): a senior year college student and football player who's at the top of his game. He has the heart of his classmates, can get any woman he pleases, he's idolized by his stepfather Eric (Mario van Peebles), and adored by his mother Bee (Lynn Whitfield). However not everything's perfect in his household as his little brother Sean (Cedric Sanders) resents his older brother for hogging all the attention. Not only that, but Deon cockblocks him from a girl he was interested in (Sharon played by Tracey Heggins). No matter what, Deon's star is shining bright and it would seem he's on his way to the pros.
That is until one day, after a big game, he passes out and later he's diagnosed with cancer. His phsycian, Dr. Brintall (played by Ray Liotta – Hero Wanted) informs him that he may never play football again and that he'd have to go through chemo in an attempt to rid the cancer inside of him. So begins Deon's spiral downward; what once was a promising 216 lb athlete, is now reduced to a 160lb shadow of his former self. He's no longer the star player, no longer the big man on campus, and as for the women? They don't even want to know him. Mom Bee is doing her best to keep her head above water financially handling not only the bills of the house but also Deon's medical expenses. Eric, seeing as he can't ride Deon to the pros, skips out. And Sean… well now Sean is the big man and he even gets Sharon. He and Deon have words that ultimately causes Deon to leave the house. And just as things couldn't go any lower, when he's at his most desperate, he reaches out to the one man who can help him pick himself up and begin anew - his brother.
Last time I saw 50 he was dealin arms with Val Kilmer in the film Gun. I liked the film and I thought 50 showed some promise. And after watching this flick, I can honestly say the brotha has some skillz! And I'll tell you why in the TOV Breakdown.
The Good:
All Things Fall Apart has a lot going for it; for one thing, the story is very simple, very easy to follow, highly dramatic and an emotional rollercoaster that runs the gamut of happiness, sadness, remorse, and redemption, just to name a few. 50 Cent truly brings his A-Game to the film and shows he's come a long way in the acting field. For him to play a dramatic role like this is so unexpected, yet in my eyes he comes out on top. In short, I was impressed. Plus the fact that he was committed to the role to the point of actually losing all the weight just to play a 160lb weakling? Yea, I'm sold! The rest of the cast put on fine performances as well; I haven't seen Mario Van Peebles in many projects, however in All Things, he not only directs well but gives a solid performance. And can I give a PerfectView nod to Lynn Whitfield, who was lookin all kinds of delicious in this film? Yes… yes I will.
The Bad:
I can't say that the film is entirely perfect. For instance, Ray Liotta gets top billing, yet he doesn't do much but deliver bad news. He should get cameo credit at best. Back to Lynn Whitfield, again very delicious, but she also hams it up a bit too much. As for the film itself, I think it could have used a bit more work in the editing room, tightening some scenes, especially towards the end. Because just when you think it's over… it's not. And why not end on a happier note?
The Ugly:
N/A
All Things Fall Apart will be available Feb 14th on blu-ray and DVD. And not only do you get to see 50 Cent in one of his finest performances, but you'll also get an amazing film that's not entirely perfect, but worth watching. So out of TOV 5 stars, I'm giving "All Things Fall Apart" a 4 and it's been Valkor Viewed, TOV Approved!
