Chronique mortelle

The new movie from the freshly retired rapper DMX is like nothing else that has been out in theaters in the past six months. DMX goes back to the streets in this gritty gangster movie. You will be pleased to see him return to a role more similar to the one in his movie debut Belly. He fits perfectly into the equation of the urban gangster movie. Never Die Alone is based on the novel of the same title by Donald Goines. DMX plays King David a drug king pin that has came back home to set things strait. The movie is set in present day New York. It is told mostly in flash backs, and voice-overs which make the movie very unique.

The strong plot and acting will keep you interested through the whole movie. Another aspect, and one that is sometimes over looked is the camera work and picture. At times the picture is grainy. This may sound cheap, but it goes perfectly with the harsh and raw story. The camera angles and shots are also awesome. Small things like this can make the biggest differences in a movie. If I had four hands I'd give this movie four thumbs up.

For starters story is very smart. That's the stand out thing in the movie. Interesting how one person can affect so many. But it seemed very short.

Acting wise it was average I guess. I'm a fan of DMX and think he isn't a bad actor. But most characters he's played are pretty similar. Good job by the supporting cast as well. David Arquette was the a stand out.

Overall an enjoyable movie. I was looking forward to seeing this movie very much for some reason, and it didn't let me down, but it wasn't perfect either. Once you've watched it you'll probably think something was missing because of the shortness, but there isn't (I think!). I look forward to reading the book.

Interesting attempt to adapt a Donald Goines novel for the big screen, Never Die Alone is reminiscent of early blaxploitation classics like BLACK CAESAR, with both the pluses and minuses that entails.

DMX stars as drug dealer King David. "Exiled" in LA for the last ten years, he comes back home to NYC to repay his debts. The movie wanders around between the present day and flashbacks in LA, where we learn more of his past.

Essentially this is three movies lumped together. The first movie, which lasts for the first half-hour or so, is an excellent, gritty crime drama, as good as anything I've seen recently on the big screen. The second movie, mainly the flashbacks, is true to the Goines source material, portraying the horrors of drug addiction and Goines's peculiar, glum view of the world as a violent, basically loveless place. The third one deals with David Arquette, an aspiring writer who fetishizes the gangster lifestyle exemplified by King.

These three movies sit awkwardly together. Arquette's character is potentially very interesting, but never developed as much as it should have been. The flashbacks and the main storyline are both well done, but bump up against each other awkwardly. DMX's motivations are more stated that portrayed, so that the primary character arc doesn't really feel very believable.

DMX is fine -- if you're familiar with Goines you'll see how well he exemplifies a typical Goines character, the "noble gangster who's morally compromised by a depraved past". Dickerson's direction is excellent, although the final metaphorical shot is a little heavy and obvious, I thought.

I would like to see more cracks at the Goines novels -- they are promising source material.

.....but it just misses the mark here. I have been a fan of Donald Goines novels since I was a teen. I have often wondered why so-called gangsta rappers of our generation have glorified fictional icons like Scarface (Al Pacino) when there are better real life examples of hardcore gangstas like Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim who wrote about their turbulent lifestyles in graphic, candid detail in several real-life novels. When I heard about NDA I was excited that maybe someone had finally picked up the ball. Too bad this film falls just short of the mark. It tries very hard to lock onto a theme but comes across as disjointed and rambling. DMX aka Earl Simmons produced, as well as, starred in this flick. DMX's gruff demeanor is well suited for the Donald Goines anti-heros, but he needs to work on the acting skillz a bit. A very good supporting cast of known and not-so-well known actors. All in all I would say that this film is just a small step above the flick Belly -- just a little more violent and very crude. 2 out of 5 stars.

When the unemployed white journalist Paul (David Arquette), who lives in a ghetto, accidentally witness the execution of the Afro-American King David (DMX), he takes the wounded man to the hospital trying to save his life. David dies, but officially leaves his car and his possessions to Paul. Paul finds some cassette tapes in the car, and while listening to them, he becomes aware that David was a hideous drug dealer.

When I decided to buy this DVD, I had no information about this movie. What a great surprise for me: it is a dark trip to the underworld of the drugs, indeed a contemporary film-noir, with sordid elements. The very dark cinematography fits perfectly to the story creating an atmosphere very adequate to the theme. The screenplay is very well written, but there are many important deleted scenes available on the DVD that explain many situations and connections of the story. DMX, David Arquette and Michael Ealy have excellent performances, but I found the character of Moon too much clichés of the powerful Afro-American drug lord. The scene of Mike leaving the tunnel in the end of the movie is another clichés that works perfectly, indicating the possible redemption of this character. "Never Die Alone" is a surprisingly good, violent and very real movie, which does not spare the characters addicted on drugs, showing the consequence of their vicious and their destiny. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Nunca Morra Sozinho" ("Never Die Alone")