All things try to stay together in ‘All Things Fall Apart,’ starring 50 Cent
Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson first made his mark in the world of rap, and slowly he’s making calculated moves into the cinematic world. His latest is All Things Fall Apart, a melodramatic riches-to-rags story that proves to be intermittently inspiring. The strengths of the movie have less to do with Jackson’s central performance as Deon Barnes, a highly sought after college football player who’s diagnosed with cancer on the eve of the NFL draft, and more to do with the supporting cast, led by Mario Van Peebles (who also directs) and Lynn Whitfield.
As Deon’s mother, Whitfield offers a fiery performance of a woman on the verge of giving up the struggle to keep her head above the water; after her son’s dreams are dashed, she’s left with the realization that her family’s life of glory will never happen. Peebles plays her boyfriend, a man who vicariously lives through Deon’s football success. As a struggling mechanic, he looks to this young man as his ticket out of the doldrums.
But, of course, Deon can’t deliver the goods. After his doctor (Ray Liotta, who is hardly in the film) diagnoses the athlete with a cancerous tumor that’s a centimeter away from his heart, football becomes a pastime. And with no scholarship or college degree, Deon needs to hit the streets and find a job. But nothing comes easy, and nothing seems to satisfy Deon like the gridiron.
Movies dealing with characters suffering from cancer almost always feel cliche and akin to Lifetime Original Specials. All Things Fall Apart is no different. The screenplay, written by Jackson and Brian Miller, falls into many writing traps. Scenes at the hospital, in front of potential employers and back on campus after the diagnosis all feel manufactured and untrue. The worst storyline involves Deon, his studious brother and their ridiculous sibling rivalry (one’s all sports, the other’s all books). These actors are giving it their all, but the story doesn’t know what to do with them. When the inevitable ending occurs, there’s no sense of earned catharsis. It all feels deceptively tied together with a big, beautiful bow.
Jackson is not that bad of an actor, even when he’s playing a much younger college student. He seems comfortable and real, but struggles a bit wit the range that’s needed for Deon. Peebles and Whitfield, on the other hand, are strong additions. They bring life to this lifeless plot, giving the audience the clearest picture of energy and passion throughout the entire 110-minute duration.
Despite all the faults of All Things Fall Apart, the movie will likely sway viewers into routing for Deon. It’s filmed and acted well enough that the paint-by-numbers story is elevated to a respectable level.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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All Things Fall Apart
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2011
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Directed by Mario Van Peebles
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Written by Curtis Jackson and Brian Miller
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Starring Jackson, Van Peebles, Ray Liotta and Lynn Whitfield
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Running time: 110 minutes
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Rated R for language, sexual references and some drug use
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Rating:
