Went to see this last night after I read a positive review. For those who don't know it's
a DMX vehicle co-starring David Arquette. Best crime film I've seen since last year's
NARC. The film is based on a Donald Goines novel. Goines wrote tougher-than-tough street
level crime novels set in Harlem and other environs with mostly black casts of characters.
His stories were filled with rage and redemption and an unblinking gaze into life in the
ghetto.
This movie is a very fine adaptation and a movie that keeps you guessing for most of
its running time. This is the kind of movie that I think Quentin Tarentino is trying to
make. But Never Die Alone is not a pastiche.
DMX plays King David, an amoral and truly evil individual. His nakedly selfcentered
view of life is chilling. he moves like a monster through this daringly anti-structure
film. He leaves lives in ruins wherever he goes. One of the most striking portrayals of
corrupting influence I've ever seen on film.
I think the movie was shot digitally and has a cinema verite style that's only abused a
few times. The film moves seamlessly and packs in a large cast of characters in a very
short time. This one is already out of most theaters. But if you like your crime stories
brutal and aren't squeamish then you should really try and find it. It stands in contrast
to the usual cardboard posing we see in current crime movies.
