Rappers more than they seem

By Rachel Campbell, Special to the On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, November 9, 1998

"Belly," a movie written and directed by Hype Williams, is a tale of a New York hustler who feels invisible to the world and annihilates everyone who gets in his way.

MOVIE REVIEW

The film's harsh storyline is set in 1999 and makes you think about life in the new millennium.

Williams, who is better known for directing music videos, granted rappers DMX, Nas, Method Man and T-Boz major roles in the movie.

The film's main character, Tommy (DMX), is a drug dealer with an insatiable appetite for money. His counterpart, Sincere (Nas), is too preoccupied with his relationships to be as greedy as Tommy.

The narrative constantly changes between Tommy and Sincere.

Tommy is almost identical to his real-life hip-hop image, so it is not hard to see why he is the most convincing actor out of the other rappers.

Nas, who co-wrote the movie with Williams, also gives a surprisingly impressive performance. Unfortunately, T-Boz and Method Man are not as convincing in their acting abilities.

Boz's performance is too rehearsed and Method Man seems to have trouble portraying the bad guy role Undoubtedly, these two should head back to the recording studio where they belong.

Magic Johnson Theaters chose not to show "Belly" due to its violent content. However, the movie does offer a positive message that almost excuses its countless number of murders.

Although the plot is predictable, the movie holds your attention. The movie's unintentionally funny scenes make it comical.

The cast is filled with surprise actors who add to the film's appeal. I

ronically, the film does not use any songs from the rappers who acted in it, although most of them participated on the soundtrack.

As a whole, "Belly" is entertaining, especially to those fascinated with the drug-related crime circle. If you want to view where this world is headed, then this movie might help you see things more clearly.