Great Film: Never Die Alone
a bit better than one might expect
Since truth is indeed sometimes stranger than fiction, often the movie
with the most unlikely scenario is the one that turns out to be the
most believable. This is the case with "Never Die Alone," an urban
crime drama with a plot just loopy enough to keep us interested and
just goofy enough to make us believe it.
David Arquette plays a white reporter who hangs around in a
predominantly black section of the city soaking up the "atmosphere" for
articles and books he hopes to write. One night, he attempts to save
the life of a black drug kingpin (played by DMX) by driving the man to
the hospital after he's been left for dead in a revenge killing.
Immediately before his death, the man, who goes by the name "King
David," bequeaths his car and other earthly possessions to this inner
city Good Samaritan. Included in the haul is an assortment of tapes
David recorded detailing his experiences as a successful drug pusher in
LA. Thus, as Paul listens to these recordings, a full picture of the
kind of man David was soon emerges.
The best thing about "Never Die Alone" is that it doesn't flinch from
displaying the ugly, harsh realities of its blood-splattered world. It
shows how even the innocent and the good eventually fall victim to the
evils of drug addiction and crime. The film is not afraid to kill off
characters in a random way, often surprising us with just who ends up
dying and who ends up surviving. And it does not attempt to sugarcoat
"King David," for despite all his comments about redemption and making
up for the evil he's done, David is one hell of an amoral bastard who
does some pretty horrible things to some truly undeserving people - and
the film does not shy away from depicting that reality.
Although, on the surface, the film seems like just another in a long
line of sordid crime dramas involving crack heads, dope fiends and
armed-to-the-teeth ghetto gangstas, "Never Die Alone," perhaps because
it is willing to hold nothing back in what it chooses to show us, has a
certain ring of truth about it. Whatever the reason, "Never Die Alone"
is a cut above the average.
Cast
- Michael played by Michael Ealy
- Blue played by Antwon Tanner
- Moon played by Clifton Powell
- Rockie played by Tommy 'tiny' Lister
- King David played by Dmx
- Alvin played by Damion Poitier
- Ella played by Drew Sidora
