Before I Self Destruct

4.7
2009 1 hr 19 min Drama , Action

A coming of age story about an inner-city youth raised by a hardworking single mother. When his dream of becoming a basketball player fails to materialize, he finds himself employed in a supermarket. After his mother is tragically gunned down, Clarence (played by Jackson) is consumed by revenge and takes up a life of crime in order to support his younger brother.

  • Cast:
    50 Cent , Clifton Powell , Los Jones , Michael Wright

Reviews

Listonixio
2009/11/16

Fresh and Exciting

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ThedevilChoose
2009/11/17

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

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Erica Derrick
2009/11/18

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

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Fleur
2009/11/19

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

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rossipaddy
2009/11/20

I saw this movie by mistake, I was browsing around, and started watching it from the beginning, thinking "the second this gets lame I'm turning it off". But alas, it was gritty, realistic and very engaging! A proper hood movie.I never ever liked 50 cent, I always thought he was just this big mumbling beast, I never could figure out why people actually bought his records. I was full of prejudice before watching this one. REady, to watch something REAL if it looked like B.S.Anyway, in this movie 50 cents actually acts. And when I say acts, I mean, he display tons different shades of emotion- him as well as his co-stars.(his brother, his mother, his hood friends down the street). And when I say he displays I'm not say he OVER-display, actually he's subtle.The dialogs smell REAL from 10 miles, even the humor. Sometimes even unexpect great dry humor.You feel really urban in this one.The violence is realistic, and the feel is what I look for in a good Blaxplotion, I repeat a GOOD blaxploitation.The only thing that's bad about this movie is the poster, which is really,really bad. If this movie had another name attached to the directing/writing ....People would have taken this movie seriously.Not because 50 direction and lead acting is bad CAUSE IT IS NOT. but because of the reputation 50 has: as a uni-emotional mumbling beast.Had he used a pen-name for the director, and a pen-name for the writer, then this would movie would make all those "10 best hood movies" list. I have no doubt about that.There's a scene when 50 cent had to shoot a gang member. There were 4/5 minutes of tension and suspense and fright, like I haven't felt in a long time in the genre. (this is due to the directing , acting, and location)If the producers are listening, REMOVE THAT UGLY COVER, give a pen- name to the director and writer.. AND see this movie rise and finally take the proper CREDIT it fully deservesif you like the genre I highly, highly recommend it. I'll def watch it again, like real, real soon.

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Lahhlay M
2009/11/21

Recently watched this movie on youtube. So many times i wanted to turn it off because it was so bad, but it was so bad I couldn't turn away if that makes any sense. The acting at times was quite comical but I've seen worse. 50 Cent's acting has improved since "Get Rich or Die Trying". However that's not saying much as he can still seem a bit stiff and often times can come across as being "robotic" in some scenes.The "kill" scenes are pretty authentic and brutal. The story is basic but lacks depth. I've seen worse street movies than this (Belly 2). I will commend 50 Cent for directing/writing/acting in this movie. It's hard work and for a debut in directing/writing, he did pretty well. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone, but if your a fan of 50 Cent and G Unit, then feel free to check it out. 4.5/10

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scott-vandemotter
2009/11/22

50 cent directed and starred in this movie because no one else would. The dialogue is terrible. The "plot" is disjointed. Narration was used very poorly. The sex scene was a joke. The target audience seems to be inner city youth and the message is to stay away from bad influences.I guess when one's music career is not going so well one may be forced to find other outlets for one's creativity.50 Cent has a lot to learn about film acting, directing, producing.....as a matter of fact, just stay out of it.To the poor souls who are considering watching this on Netflix:Unless you hate yourself, do not waste your time on this junk.

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Twenty Sixes
2009/11/23

There are a few hiccups with editing in the movie. But the way the story went was really good. The fact that he is rapper (with no direction background other than his fellow member's music videos). Most of the dialogues, the conversations in the movie were like the ones we have in our everyday life. The storyline was pretty the same old seek revenge. But you feel for the character when he loses his mom and he gets betrayed. 50 Cents's son (Marquise Jackson) can be seen at he beginning of the barber shop shot. For some reason the sex scene looked similar to the movie Shottas. Fifty can act and direct. In my opinion he needs to work as an assistant director with some good directors so that he would get a better perspective if directing anymore movies. All the best Fifty.

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