Starring:
Reagan Preston-Gomez, Drew Sidora, Jennifer Sky, David Arquette, DMX Director: Ernest R. Dickerson,
Producer: Earl Simmons, Alessandro Camon Writer:
Movie
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and movie reviews: Never Die Alone This movie page has been viewed 214 times.
Never Die Alone -
LAVERNE PATTERSON
Jul 25, 04
I HAVE SEEN AND READ THIS STORY. I LOVE IT!!!!!!
Film noir is a term coined by French critics to de
moviejunkie
Mar 16, 06
Film noir is a term coined by French critics to describe a type of story that's characterized by its dark, somber tone and pessimistic mood. Its heroes, as well as villains, are disillusioned, cynical, often insecure loners. In terms of style and technique, the film noir abounds with voice-overs, night scenes, dingy realism and shadowy lighting, highlighting the fatalistic mood.
Based on Donald Goines' cult novel, "Never Die Alone" revolves around the unlikely premise that Paul (David Arquette), an aspiring writer living in downtown L.A.'s ghetto to "research" his noir tales, rushes a notorious drug dealer named King David (strutting rap star DMX a.k.a. Earl Simmons) to the hospital after he's fatally wounded in a knife attack upon returning to his hometown. In gratitude, King David leaves Paul his flashy car which is loaded not only with cash but also with a stash of autobiographical audio tapes revealing - in flashback - his criminal exploits. It seems that David enjoyed ruthlessly enslaving attractive women (Keesha Sharp, Jennifer Sky, Reagan Gomez-Preston) by stealthily mixing heroin into their cocaine.
James Gibson's screenplay makes no sense whatever and employs every urban gangsta cliché ever invented. While Ernest Dickerson's direction and Matthew Libatique's cinematography attempt to evoke a pulpy film noir, filled with violence and retribution, they mainly manage to look grainy, dingy and dirty, although the mix of hip-hop and soul music is surprisingly effective. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "Never Die Alone" is a tiresome 3. I find myself in total agreement with the book editor who - when he finally reads Paul's chronicle of King David - dismisses it curtly, saying, "I don't believe a word." What a waste of time!
