Ghetto Superstar (film)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
German title Ghetto superstar
Original title Turn it up
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 2000
length 86 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Robert Adetuyi
script Robert Adetuyi
production Guy Oseary
music Frank Fitzpatrick
camera Hubert Taczanowski
cut Jeff Freeman
occupation

Ghetto Superstar (Alternative title: Turn It Up - On the way to the top ; Original title: Turn It Up ) is an American film of the Canadian director Robert Adetuyi , who also wrote the screenplay. The main roles are played by Pras Michel and Ja Rule . The film combines elements of gangster , music and buddy movies .

action

The young rapper Diamond is hoping for his big breakthrough but has to stay afloat as a gangster and finance the recording time in the studio. Together with his best buddy Gage, he works for gang boss Mr. B, among other things as a drug courier. Diamond would like to get out of crime and concentrate entirely on the music, but remains loyal to Gage, who in return does everything to help his friend by promoting him and acting as a manager . The two regularly get into shootings in drug deals, but they survive well every time.

Diamond's girlfriend Kia complains that he refuses to take responsibility and his seriously ill mother compares him to his father, who left the family early. At the same time, she refuses any financial support because she knows where the money comes from. Kia becomes pregnant and separates from Diamond, whom she accuses of lack of support. Soon afterwards the mother dies. At the funeral , Diamond's father, Cliff, suddenly appears, who admits he has no place to stay. Diamond takes in after some hesitation.

One evening the two meet the music producer Mr. White in a nightclub , but he lets them down and wants to see a finished demo tape before investing in Diamond. Gage is angry about it and decides to finance the debut album himself. He obtained the capital for this from a robbery on a wealthy club-goer Seamus. He uses his girlfriend as a decoy. Gage then shoots the man to avoid leaving witnesses as usual. Although he is acting outside of Mr. B's authority, he believes that Seamus has no affiliation with Organized Crime and that the attack will therefore have no consequences.

With the looted money, the two friends can pay enough rent for the studio and work on the album continues. Cliff, himself a musician, complains that the music sounds too artificial and shows his son the advantages of classical musical instruments . Soon the album will be finished and ready to be released. Mr. B has since found out who attacked Seamus and demands the loot back from Gage. Because he no longer has them, he demands the rights to Diamond's album as compensation. He organizes a meeting with Gage, Diamond and Mr. White, but Diamond refuses to sign an artist contract with Mr. White.

Gage has one last plan to save himself and his friend: he has embezzled cocaine over the years so that he now wants to sell it in order to settle the debt with Mr. B. However, the deal goes wrong again. The two are ambushed . They can free themselves though and shoot the attacker, but they do not get the required 100,000 US dollars . On the way out, Gage finds a pregnant woman whom he wants to shoot as a potential witness. Diamond can convince him to let her live. Nevertheless, he now finally renounces Gage and the criminal life. He makes up with Kia, throws his guns in the river, and returns to the studio.

Mr. B is not satisfied with the money Gage brings him. He has Gage beaten up, orders his execution and makes his way to the studio with a few men. There he takes the master tapes and forces Diamond to play them for him. The studio owner Marshall is shot while attempting to defend himself.

Meanwhile, Gage has overpowered his guards and also comes into the studio covered in blood. Only Diamond survived the final exchange of fire, Gage, Cliff and Mr. B perished. A year later, Diamond, now a father and successful musician, visits Gage's grave with Kia.

background

The film was shot mainly in Toronto in the summer of 1999 . Marketed by New Line Cinema , it was released in theaters on September 6, 2000. Despite the top-class cast, it proved to be a flop and only brought in a fraction of the production costs.

reception

Ghetto Superstar received mostly poor reviews from critics and audiences. It was nominated for Best Sound Editing at the Golden Reel Awards .

Web links

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Turn It Up - Rotten Tomatoes. rottentomatoes.com, accessed October 30, 2014 .