Is there any point in watching a documentary about a dead rapper whose short life and tragic death revolved around hip-hop's glorification of sex, drugs, money, and guns? Your answer to that question will determine your attitude toward Notorious BIG: Bigger Than Life. For serious or even casual hip-hop fans, this film by Peter Spirer (Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel) is obviously a must-see, as it's likely to remain the definitive documentary profile of the Notorious BIG (born Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls), the highly influential rapper who rode hip-hop's first major tidal wave to fame, fortune, and—ultimately—death when he was murdered in Los Angeles at age 24 in 1997. There's no doubt that Big (as he was known, befitting his corpulent physique) was one of the pivotal pioneers of rap, and as Spirer's film demonstrates (through an abundance of previously unseen home video footage), his effortless style of rhyme influenced nearly every major hip-hop performer who followed. Despite ample interview clips with famous and infamous rappers alike (including Diddy, Jay Z, Method Man, Common, and many others), it's hard to ignore the fact that much of Big's life was spent in a haze of pot-smoke, partying, gambling, and criminal associations. By the time we're shown previously unseen video from the night of Big's murder (including the shooting itself, seen from a distance), it's obvious that his lifestyle was eventually going to catch up with him. Beyond the legacy of rap music that Big left behind, there's precious little else here to celebrate. DVD extras include a bonus featurette and a photo gallery. Optional. Aud: C, P. (J. Shannon)
Notorious BIG: Bigger Than Life
(2007) 101 min. DVD: $24.99. Image Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 1
Notorious BIG: Bigger Than Life
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: