'Notorious' review

Jamal Woolard (Credit: Phil Caruso/Fox Searchlight)

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Christopher Wallace (Jamal Woolard, who needlessly narrates) transforms from soft-spoken student to New York drug dealer to Notorious B.I.G., who was murdered in 1997 and is now regarded as one of the all-time greatest rappers. Director George Tillman Jr.'s ("Soul Food") flick also tracks Biggie's relationship with his mother Voletta (Angela Bassett), Bad Boy Entertainment's Sean "Puffy" Combs (Derek Luke), Lil' Kim (Naturi Naughton), wife Faith Evans (Antonique Smith) and Tupac Shakur (Anthony Mackie), whose friendship with Wallace became a Bad Boy/Death Row Records rivalry that culminated in the murder of both superstars, neither of which has been solved.

The buzz: Finally an excuse for people to resume making East Coast/West Coast signs with their hands. Nick Broomfield also examined Biggie and Tupac in his appropriately titled documentary "Biggie and Tupac," but "Notorious" focuses on Wallace's life rather than the circumstances behind his death. An already controversial saga is likely to draw more vocal opinions, and Lil' Kim has already spoken out against the way she's portrayed onscreen.

The verdict: If you don't know, now you know. As Wallace and Combs cultivate personas like two guys choosing the life they want and taking it, the compelling and consistently entertaining "Notorious" is the rare music biopic that leaves you not just humming the songs but thinking about life and death, the strategy of fame, and the business of the business. Considering Voletta Wallace and Combs served as producers it's no surprise that this depiction of Biggie feels a bit softened, leaving out incidents of violence, the impact of his womanizing and his feelings about his dangerous careers. But the film doesn't unfold like so many other bland biopics. As it tests the relationship between a private and public life and between the studio and the streets,  "Notorious" is more complex than "Cadillac Records" and more real than "8 Mile."

Did you know? Apparently Wallace's mom often called him "Chrissie Poo." Which for our money would have been a much more courageous rap name than Notorious B.I.G.

Video: Watch Matt's review of 'Notorious'

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