| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Never Die Alone (2004) |
| Director | Ernest R. Dickerson |
| Screenplay Writer | James Gibson |
| Based on | Novel by Donald Goines |
| Lead Actors | DMX |
| Cast | DMX, David Arquette, Michael Ealy |
| Genre | Crime, Drama |
| Release Date | March 26, 2004 |
| Duration | 1h 28m |
| Budget | ~$5 million |
| Language | English |
| Country | United States |
| Box Office | ~$8 million |
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This film’ based on a book by cult novelist Donald Goines and adapted for the screen by James Gibson’ is hard hitting from the start. It follows the life of KingDavid (played in convincing style by DMX) and the circle of violence his life has become. Ernest Dickerson probably most known for the film Juice (starring Tupac) directs the film ‘ which was shot in only eighteen days. This short shooting window has not hampered the film at all. On the contrary, the film is a pleasant surprise.
From his films it would be easy to typecast DMX’ and I was expecting more of the same (martial arts fighting’ booming soundtrack throughout). His character is a cold’ hard hearted’ street hustler who will go to no lengths to achieve his goals. It might sound like more of the same’ but the big difference is the story that surrounds his actions. It vibes’ jitters’ and shakes much like the lifestyles it is portraying. Much of the film is simply the voice of King David (DMX) spitting out his version of the theory of life.
DMX adds realism to this ‘coming across as if he was a radio set on high. His portrayal of the character is half preacher’ half satan’ and all street smarts. Throughout his life, King David’s has chronicled the events’ either good or bad’ for posterity. It is through these recordings that we learn about the real man behind the suit.
The story is simple enough. In his last hours King David is attacked and spirited off by an aspiring journalist (David Arquette) who knows him for only a short amount of time’ but finds he is affected by the words of the man beyond his death. Through the tapes that are left to him’ he begins to unravel the life of this man.
The author of the book’ Donald Goines’ wrote his first two books while incarcerated’ and followed them with sixteen more novels after his release from prison’ all of this before his shooting death in 1974. In my own experiences I have found that the book usually is on par or better than the film’ and if this is the case Mr. Goines will be one author that I will be looking up in the near future. There are very few negative things going against this film from my standpoint. It is trying to convey a message’ and it does a good job of achieving this goal. It would seem that DMX might be the person who fills the slot left void by the death of Tupac.
This is a highly recommended film’ but should only be seen by those not offended by graphic language’ and scenes of gunplay.
Watch Never Die Alone (2004) on Hurawatch.
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