Notorious' takes a superficial look at a rap legend

    A film destined for the big screen, "Notorious" is a biopic about the ‘90s rapper, Notorious B.I.G. Though the production value can't touch that of its Hitchcockian predecessor of the same name, "Notorious" nonetheless has its own unique, fast-paced style. Newcomer Jamal Woolard — himself a Brooklyn rapper — does a great job capturing Biggie's style, from his swagger to his music, and the film actually benefits from his inexperience.
    Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Wallace, aka Notorious B.I.G., is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. Originally a drug dealer in Brooklyn, Biggie lived for 24 years before his murder, which remains unsolved. He became one of the most important figures in East Coast hip hop and was entangled in East Coast/West Coast hip-hop battles, assault charges and many problematic relationships. In this way, Biggie embodied all the glamour and violence of the '90s rap scene.
    The cast plays off of the confidence Woolard brings to the screen. Two supporting actresses, Antonique Smith and Naturi Naughton, portray two of his failed romances with spunk and fire. Angela Bassett does a great job in the role of his mother, and the whole cast adds level of richness and character to the film.
    The cast fails, however, when it comes to examining Biggie's character: The movie skips through the details of his biography and gives a superficial, cartoonish portrayal of his life rather than an in-depth look at the real Notorious B.I.G. Watching "Notorious" is almost like reading Wikipedia.org: It is interesting, even entertaining, but the information seems trivial and slightly biased.
    Much of the time, the movie's lack of biographical depth doesn't matter because the story is so much fun. The scene when Biggie records "Juicy," for example, is especially entertaining because the movie does not need to dive too deep for hilarious material. The actors do all the work and manage to communicate the crazed, drug-infused state of affairs.
    While some scenes are funny and help to develop Biggie's character, at other points, the plot seems to take the film away from the story of who Biggie was and into what he did. The narration of "Notorious" is partly to blame. Although Woolard's acting is great, his voiceovers are not, and when he narrates, the movie feels rushed and a little sloppy, simply going through the motions of a standard biopic rather than experimenting with or trying anything new.
    Unlike its subject matter, "Notorious"-the-movie will not have a major impact on anything because of its superficial treatment  of the titular character. Biggie comes off as a stereotypical heroic figure instead of an actual person with flaws, as the film actively ignores the rougher aspects of his life. For example, the movie skims over the details of his atrocious treatment of his girlfriends, which may have to do with the fact that one of the producers is Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace. It is her mark, not the rapper's, which dominates many of the scenes, leading the audience to see Biggie's temper in curious ways. He is shown getting angry over badly sized shoes, but not many other, more personal issues.
    If the movie were more willing to take an unbiased approach to the main character, viewers would have found a more interesting, multi-layered person.
    "Notorious" is certainly a good movie that captures the spirit, excitement and drama of '90s rap. It fails, however, to take the risks needed to get inside the real Notorious B.I.G., ultimately keeping this movie from becoming great.