The reviews for the Notorious B.I.G. biopic, Notorious are coming in.  Right now it has a 53% at rottentomatoes.com. Click the links below to read several reviews.  fhh will have a review up this weekend.

New York Times:  So “Notorious” settles into a curious comfort zone; it’s half pop fable, half naturalistic docudrama. Not a bad movie, but nowhere near as strong as its soundtrack. It does not explain its hero so much as revel in the memory of his many selves, teasing the audience with a promise of intimacy and understanding much as Biggie himself did, but without the same seductive payoff. The film’s tag line could be one of Biggie Smalls’s riddling, irresistible refrains: If you don’t know, now you know.

It’s All Reel:  For those who are true Biggie fans and followed his path when he was alive, and then read all the articles and watched the numerous documentaries on his life, there’s nothing new that ‘Notorious’ offers. All of the East Coast-West Coast drama is told through the perspective of Biggie, with some help from Lil’ Cease. There’s no new discovery on his death, but director Tillman has put together an exciting tale of one of the greatest rappers, and many will be pleased when they leave the theater. Your only regret will be that Big’s life should have been longer.

E! Online:  If you’re expecting a remake of Hitchcock’s classic of the same name, then you’re in for a big, er B.I.G. surprise. And a pleasant one, ’cause this rapper flick is for real.

EFilmCritic:  This is a disappointingly conventional film that offers up all the key moments of B.I.G’s life and a lot of his music but which fails at making the case for the ultimate importance of either one.

Notorious opens today in theaters across nationwide. What did you think of the film?

Well, first off let’s give a huge congratulations to the new President-elect Barack Obama, who will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on Tuesday, January 20.  Let’s hope that he (we) can get the country back on track and help shape the world into a better place to live.

Now, on to the subject at hand.  We all know the Hollywood has a history of providing us with some biopic of recent and past presidents (see Josh Brolin in W., Paul Giamatti in John Adams, and Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon).  So the question is, who will be the actor(s) who will play President Barack Obama?

The first person that comes to mind is Will Smith.  As a matter of fact, President-elect Obama said gave Will his endorsement. “Will and I have talked about this,” exclaimed Obama last year in an interview on “Entertainment Tonight,” referring to actor Will Smith. “Because he has the ears, he might have an inside track on the role.” And just recently, Will said that he wants to play Obama, although he would not want to run the country himself.

If I am ordered by my commander in chief to star in a film about him, I will do my duty as an American.

Really, that is the only actor that I can see playing Mr. Obama.  I mean there are other quality actors that can do it, but I don’t see it.  Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Terrence Howard, Jamie Foxx, all Oscar nominated actors that can do it but I can really only see The Fresh Prince in the role.  It’s like Denzel as Malcom X, nobody else was really as primed for the part at the time. 

Who do you think will play the part of President-elect Obama in the near future and why?

Looks like Lil Kim is not too happy with Ms. Voletta Wallace and Faith Evans about her portrayal in the new film Notorious (in theaters Jan. 16).  She is also not too excited that the producers picked Naturi Naughton of 3LW fame to play her (she reportedly does an excellent job).

“I’ve had enough and I’m about to expose them both… I’ve been quiet for a long time,” Lil Kim told Hip-Hop Weekly. “I’m very disappointed in Faith,” she said. “There’s nothing Faith or Ms. Wallace could do to stop me from reppin’ B.I.G. all day. I’m gonna always do that… It’s time for Ms. Wallace to be exposed.”

Well, Kim was definitely close to Biggie in the early days and it seems like the film portrays that.  I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll hear of this lil controversy.

Notorious

LatinoReview.com has 8 clips of the new film Notorious, due in theaters on January 16, 2009.  The film stars  Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Anthony Mackie and Jamal Woolard as Biggie Smalls.

There has been some posiive buzz about the film.  Preview the clips and tell us what you think.

Actor/rapper/film producer/writer/director (remember The Player’s Club?) Ice Cube is hitting the press circuit to promote his latest film, The Longshots.  The film stars Cube (coach and uncle) and Keke Palmer, and is directed by Fred Durst.  The Longshots is a family friendly film about the true story of Jasmine Plummer (Palmer) who, at the age of eleven, became the first female to play in Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.

The film premieres August 22 in theaters around the country.  Check the trailer below.

Ice Cube stays busy.  He is preparing to release his ninth album, Raw Footage along with an international tour, and is currently filming his next movie, Janky Promoters, with frequent collaborator/co-star Mike Epps.

According to EURweb.com the actor says Steven Spielberg has approached him to play. Black Panther Bobby Seale.

Will Smith says nothing is set in stone yet, but he has been contacted by director Steven Spielberg to star in his upcoming film “Chicago 7,” which will chronicle the 1969-70 trial of seven radicals accused of conspiring to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. According to he Brazillian Web site Omelete,
Will Smith has confirmed his association with the project and said that Spielberg asked him to leave some free space in his schedule for the shoot.”When Steve is ready he will send it. I don’t know specifics, story, anything, but he told me the filming dates, so I can be free to do it,”Smith told the Web site. “It’s not a 100% sure thing yet, but I’m confident.”Smith is up for the part of Black Panther Bobby Seale, who was tried on federal conspiracy charges for the anti-war riots

The year 2008 looks to be a big year for hip hop in film. There are a number of films slated to come out and a slew of rappers with a lot of acting work. So we at filming hip hop have compiled a short list of our most anticipated films for 2008. The list includes films with either hip hop themes or hip hop actors/actresses with major roles in the film. Check out the list and tell us what you think.

1. Hancock (Will Smith) – This film looks like another winner at the box office for Mr. Smith. Following the success of I Am Legend this winter, Will has placed himself in line to have another stellar hit this summer with Hancock in which he plays a downtrodden, hard-living superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public enters into a questionable relationship with the wife (Charlize Theron) of the public relations professional (Jason Bateman) who’s trying to repair his image. Hancock’s release date is July 2, 2008.

2. A Raisin in the Sun (Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs) – The TV film, based on the 1961 play by Lorraine Hansberry and starring the same actors of 2004’s Tony award-wining play, A Raisin in the Sun is guaranteeing itself to be a television hit this year. The film, about a black family on Chicago’s South Side in the 1950s that struggles to deal with poverty, racism, and inner conflict as they strive for a better life airs Feb. 25 on ABC and stars Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Sanaa Lathan, and John Stamos.
3. Righteous Kill (50 Cent) – Well it looks like 50 has put himself in the right place at the right time once again (see Vitamin Water). For only the second time on film, two of the greatest actors of our time, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, will play opposite each other in Righteous Kill (Heat was the other film and The Godfather: Part II starred both actors although they did not share screen time). In the film, two cops (De Niro and Pacino) find themselves in pursuit of a serial killer who writes poems about the crime he just committed, leaving them at the scene. 50 Cent plays a character named Spider.
4. The Vapors – The story of hip hop’s Juice Crew (Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shante, etc.) Is scheduled to hit the big screen in 2008. Cuba Gooding, Jr., Idris Elba, Keke Palmer, and rapper David Banner are set to start filming The Vapors in February.
5. Notorious – Another biopoc, this time aboiut slain rapper Notorious B.I.G., is also set the premiere in 2008. There hasn’t been a lot of news on this lately, but there was a search nationwide search for the lead role last summer in which rapper/singer Sean Kingston’s name was mentioned. Fredro Starr has been rumored to play the late Tupac Shakur in the film and George Tillman, Jr. will direct. Keep an eye out for Notorious and more news that is sure to follow in the near future.
6. Be Kind Rewind (Mos Def) – Mos is of pf the most versatile actors in hip hop, easily ranging from dramatic to comedic roles. On February 22 he is starring with the hilarious Jack Black in Be Kind Rewind (directed by Michel Gondry). In the film Mos Def plays Mike, a video rental shop owner whose friend ends up unintentionally erasing the VHS tapes in the store. They have to record their reenactment the lost films for the stores only loyal customer, an aging woman with signs of dementia. This is a great concept and should be another great vehicle for Mos Def.
Obviously this list doesn’t cover all of the films set to drop this year, so that’s where you come in. What are your thoughts and which hip hop films and films starring hip hop artist are you anticipating most for 2008?

Blackfilm.com is reporting that the following have been cast for various roles in the upcoming film about 1980s era rappers, the Juice Crew, called The Vapors. 

Rapper-actor David Banner will play the part of Biz Markie, Cuba Gooding Jr. will be playing Marley Marl, Evan Ross will play MC Shan, Jackie Long as Big Daddy Kane, and Idris Elba as Tyrone Williams aka Fly Ty.  This is on the heels of the announcement that Keke Palmerhas been cast as rapper Roxanne Shante.  Clifton Powell was previous announced as playing the part of hip hop DJ and radio host Mr. Magic.

The Juice Crew, founded by Mr. Magic’s on-air assistant, DJ and Marley Marl, was named after one of Magic’s aliases, “Sir Juice. Crew members included Marley Marl, Mr. Magic, MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Craig G, Tragedy Khadafi, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Masta Ace, Roxanne Shanté, TJ Swan, and Cool V.

David Banner has also recently starred in the films This Christmas and Black Snake Moan.

It’s reported that The Vapors will begin filming in January 2008. Furqaan Clover (Queen of Media: The Wendy Williams Story) is set to direct. Questionmark Entertainment and Marley Marl, Roxanne Shante and Big Daddy Kane are executive producers on the film while Indiefilmx.com will produce the film.

AllHipHop is reporting that the story of legendary Hip-Hop collective The Juice Crew is coming to the big screen in a new movie titled The Vapors.

The Vapors will be directed by Furqaan Clover while actress Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee, Barbershop 2: Back in Business) has been attached to the project to play the role of rapper Roxanne Shante. Actor Clifton Powell (Friday After Next, Norbit) has been cast as influential DJ Mr. Magic.

The Vapors is set against the backdrop of New York City’s Queensbridge Housing Projects, where The Juice crew was based. The character driven story is inspired by the true life events of DJ Marley Marl, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane and Roxanne Shante and chronicles the group’s rise to fame during Hip-Hop’s golden age.

The legendary collective was headed up by Marley Marl and featured legendary rappers like MC Shan, Big Daddy, Kane, Craig G., Biz Markie, Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo, Roxanne Shante, Masta Ace, TJ Swan, Cool V and Tragedy.

The Vapors is scheduled to start filming in January of 2008, and should be a must-see for true hip hop fans worldwide.

Yo, my man D-Nice (of “My name is D-Nice” fame , Boogie Down Productions, the TR-808) has been dropping some jewels on his blog lately.  The now DJ/Photographer/Filmographer has a dope series of webisodes called True Hip Hop Stories. 

He just put up a video on the “Making of The Choice is Yours” the 1991 hit off of A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by the rap group Black Sheep.  Dres of the Black Sheep gives us some insight as to how the song came about. 

Black Sheep was one of my favorite groups back when I was is college (I still listen to Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing on my iPod to this day!). Check it out and tell me what you think.