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Get Rich or Die Tryin' is the quasi-true story based on the life of rap/hip hop sensation Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. In the movie, Jackson plays Marcus, a man who has grown up in a society taken over by drugs and violence. When his drug-dealing mother is found dead, he sets out to get revenge on her murderer, but instead finds himself caught up in the same cycle of violence that lead to her death in the first place. He sells drugs, he robs and kills people, and he gets shot. And while he's dying he looks back at his life and at how he ended up in his sorry-ass situation. When he survives, he finds out he's having a baby, he rediscovers his childhood love of music and he tries to escape the gangsta lifestyle by finding success through rap music. What he finds however is that things aren't that simple.

Although I wasn't a big Eminem fan, I really enjoyed 8 Mile. I was guessing that even though I wasn't a big fan of "50 Cent", I might like this movie too - but it just didn't do it for me. Whereas 8 Mile was more about the music, Get Rich was more about being a gangsta and I really just couldn't be bothered. I'm guessing that if I had known the real life "50 Cent" story I might've gotten more out of this story, but on the other hand, if the movie were made better, I really wouldn't have to know anything more, right?

Special features on this DVD start with "A Portrait of an Artist" which is called a making-of featurette but is more of a behind-the-scenes diary featuring "50 Cent" and director Jim Sheridan. This is worth checking out if only for the part where Sheridan gets pissed because "50 Cent" for throwing a wad of cash at some fans and causing a riot. Otherwise, the only other features are the film's theatrical trailer and some other Paramount previews.

I'm a fan of Jim Sheridan so I was really expecting more out of this movie. Instead, I can only give it a mild recommendation. If you really want to see a movie about somebody escaping their situation through rap music, check out Hustle & Flow instead.