Continuing a saga that began earlier this year, Samuel L. Jackson and rapper 50 Cent are at each other's throat again - via the press only, thank goodness - essentially about hip-hoppers breaking big and untested into film. Jackson previously was quoted wondering what would make a big-time director like Jim Sheridan (In America, My Left Foot) choose to work with virgin actor Fiddy for his biopic, Get Rich or Die Tryin', which hits theaters nationwide on November 9.
Duh... money? Ummm... fascinating story? Well, Sheridan explained his interest in working with Mr. Magic Stick this way:
"The Irish experience is very close to the black experience, down to the toxic nature of the way we speak. I grew up in an area of Dublin that was very poor, and there was lots of heroin. I had fights with kids, addicts, and I had to defend myself."
And defend himself Mr. Sheridan continues to do - against critics like Samuel L. Jackson. But Fiddy seems to have his own back against Samuel L., whose most memorable role in some of our minds remains that of doped-up, ever-dancing "Gator" in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. For instance, the rap superstar recently said this in an interview, responding to the question of big Sam having snubbed an invitation to co-star in his biopic:
"I don't even see where Samuel fits into my life story anyway, unless he plays one of the crackheads. He was a crackhead originally, right? So I come from being a rapper, and he comes from being a crackhead."
Well! 50 Cent doesn't appear to need me or anyone else to defend him; he's handling things just fine, thank you very much. But still, I get a little irritated when I hear Samuel Jackson singing this same song about rappers winning major roles in movies.
My high-road argument is that it's not at all a new phenomenon. From Elvis and Frank Sinatra to Diana Ross and Sammy Davis Jr., musically inclined artists have always leveraged their popularity to make it on to the silver screen. And everyone that I'm aware of cheered on each and every one of them.
Article comments
1 - Sterfish
I think what a lot of actors have issue with isn't so much that rappers and other musicians are getting into acting, it's when rappers "don't go through the ranks" when it comes to acting. It gives the impression that they don't have any respect for the art form. Rappers turned actors like Will Smith, Queen Latifah, and LL Cool J all honed their skills doing television and smaller roles in movies before graduating to where they are today.
Other rappers who are getting into acting are making sure to learn and respect the craft. Ludacris made an effort to be on time, on point, and respectful of other actors for his film roles. David Banner has been taking acting classes for a long time and he (as far as I know) has yet to even get his first movie role. Common also previously took acting classes before recently landing his very first film role.
Compared to those rappers, 50 Cent doesn't initially seem like he's paid his "acting dues."
2 - Viqi French
Well, people vote with their feet. And in a world where non-dues paying Governators such as Arnold S. and Jesse Ventura win gubernatorial elections, it seems the importance of "going through the ranks" is sometimes something of an intangible that just isn't a good predictor of results.
So whatever "respect" a Fiddy or Tupac had for acting -- whatever led them to seriously pursue this -- seems respect enough for movie goers. We're open to seeing what they've got. We don't need these educated (acting) fools telling us what's good enough to like, as if some Skull and Crossbones membership ought to be in place before a newbie stands before a camera.
To me, it's sink or swim. Either you have "it," or you don't. And if you don't, our disinterested feet will let you know. (See Madonna.)
The world could miss the pleasure of truly entertaining or inspiring performances listening to critics who stand on the ceremony of formal training... Something that Samuel L. Jackson has a considerable amount of. Yet I've been so underwhelmed by his performances of late, my voting feet would rather soak than make an effort to see him act again.
Results matter most, not dues-paying.