Skid Row

Directed by Ross Clarke, Niva Dorell, and Marshall Tyler, this well-intentioned but somewhat ill-conceived documentary follows Pras Michel of former hip-hop trio The Fugees on an undercover investigation of life on Los Angeles' skid row, where he spends nine days living on the streets and interacting with homeless folk who are struggling to simply stay alive in this rough environment. Michel panhandles for money, sleeps in doorways, and is witness to the street culture's rampant drug addiction and random violence. Of course, Michel himself is never truly in danger, since he's constantly followed by a camera crew using hidden surveillance cameras, as well as a Nation of Islam bodyguard ready to intervene if any situation gets out of hand. Granted, Michel goes through periods of severe hunger (he has to rely on charity food kitchens and his panhandling revenue) and sleep deprivation, but the misguided nature of the project ultimately trivializes the subject—what's the point in watching Michel pretend to be homeless, knowing he'll be back in his Beverly Hills lifestyle by the closing credits? More of a novelty film than a hard-hitting exposé of a social tragedy, this is not a necessary purchase. (P. Hall)