No Expectations for NOTORIOUS

I am a critic. Not a professional one, just a critic.

It's not that I'm a cynic, it's just the fact that I believe that there is always room for improvement. But that does not mean that I am never satisfied.

There is nothing more satisfying than a good book, or a good flick--Jack Nicholson, Anthony Hopkins, Denzel Washington, and Spike Lee never seem to fail me, to the point of where my expectations are high whenever they bless the screen.

Movies that are biographical bore me--most of us fans know the story without the movie, so the movie is just a waste of time. But this wasn't the case in American Gangster, but that was rare--let me shorten this--I have no expectations for NOTORIOUS--which comes out tomorrow, 1/16.

American Gangster was biographical of Frank Lucas and the short lived Lucas Crime Family. Anyone can do research and know the story, but the movie--the movie was something different.

The performances by Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and especially Ruby Dee (Mama Lucas) were outstanding. And the language--the way that it was written--was phenomenal. It hit hard, had a great build--ideal, to say the least.

I was excited for American Gangster--gangster movies are the best kind--they always keep you on your toes, and there is no 'good guy-bad guy' typical theme--in most gangster films the so-called good guys wind up crooked and just as bad as the rest of us--a true reflection of real life.

But enough about that--I'm not as excited for NOTORIOUS, I'm not sure if I'm excited at all--which is why I'll be the film's biggest fan if it is indeed a modern marvel.

A lot of fans and some pundits are hyping it up, one artist even said that he sees it doing $50 M opening weekend. We all (well, most of us) know Biggie's story, and it is compelling--which makes the acting, writing, and delivery much more prominent.

With that, I have no expectations of the film--I'll just wait to see it...and I refuse to see it on opening weekend--I know better than that. Theatres will be mayhem, I anticipate fights and a bunch of rowdiness, so I'll just wait to go on a secluded rainy morning or something like that.

To close, I brought this up to some of my friends--the way that they are advertising the movie is great, it's ideal and they're doing everything right. On a personal note, they're doing such a good job, that people are screaming that BIG was/is the greatest rapper of all time--wait--the greatest rapper of all time?

I'm as objective as they come, I don't think that I have a bias, but if I do, I wouldn't mind being called on it, but there is no way that BIG is the G.O.A.T.. As aforementioned, his impact and influence cannot be denied, and we pay homage, and we'll all pay homage and remember him for as long as music exists, but the greatest of all time?

No.

Impact and influence don't translate to being the GOAT--Jackie Robinson was arguably the most influential athlete, but does that make him the GOAT? No, Willie Mays is still better.

He came out with two albums, and unfortunately we would never know how his career would have progressed if he were still here, so we can't FAIRLY call him the GOAT. I can name one other Brooklynite and two other rappers who I would put above him without any second thoughts.

He put the east coast back on the map and influenced every NY rapper in the game after or during his era. I pay homage, but I'm not fooled by the hype and the absurd.

Go see NOTORIOUS