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Turn It Up (2000)
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Reviews Counted:38
Fresh:3
Rotten:35
Average Rating:3.4/10
Consensus: Reviewers say Turn It Up has a derivative feel, running through too many urban movie cliches.
Runtime: 87 mins
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
Box Office: $738,654
Synopsis: Rapper Pras Michel (of the Fugees) stars in this tale of a gifted young musician with big dreams. Partially based on Pras's autobiographical book and album GHETTO SUPASTAR, the story also features... Rapper Pras Michel (of the Fugees) stars in this tale of a gifted young musician with big dreams. Partially based on Pras's autobiographical book and album GHETTO SUPASTAR, the story also features other real-life musicians, such as Ja Rule, Faith Evans, Bootsy Collins (who plays himself), Harry-O, and MTV host DJ Skribble. Pras is Diamond, who's involved in the drug world with his childhood best friend Gage (Ja Rule), but wants to get out and be legitimate in order to to pursue his musical career. Gage believes in Diamond, but knows they need money to get anywhere, and he's willing to do anything to get it. His impulsive hotheadedness soon gets both men into more trouble than they can handle, compounded when Diamond's girlfriend announces she's pregnant. When Diamond's estranged father comes back into his life after the sudden death of his mother, they find common ground in the music they both love. But Diamond's pulled in two directions: toward his dreams, his girl, and his family, and toward his loyalty to his best friend. TURN IT UP is a gritty, realistic portrayal of urban life and undying dreams. [More]
Starring: Pras Michel, Ja Rule, Lauryn Hill, Vondie Curtis-Hall
Starring: Pras Michel, Ja Rule, Lauryn Hill, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Wyclef Jean, Tamala Jones
Director: Robert Adetuyi
Director: Robert Adetuyi
Screenwriter: Robert Adetuyi
Producer: Guy Oseary
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Reviews for Turn It Up
Turn It Up is a hip-hop downer that makes the high-risk high-life of contempo gangstas seem glumly routine.
Surprisingly, for a movie about music, the sound is lousy. Some of the songs sound distorted because they have so much bass. In other moments, the dialogue is so low, it's hard to understand what the characters are saying.
Never aspires to be more than an excuse for Pras and Ja Rule to flash their ultra-sleek MTV fashions for 90 minutes.
It lacks the originality and integrity that might have allowed the movie to breakout from the pack rather than sticking with it.
Used to be called Ghetto Superstar, but it should've been called Ghetto Stereotype -- 'cause it's full of 'em.
Turn It Up is just a well-intentioned, second-rate indie film that should never have gotten widespread distribution.
A lot of movies are predictable, of course, but this one seems inordinately determined to squash its characters (and performers) flat with its lack of imagination.
Riddled with every cliché in the book, Turn It Up is an inert, senselessly violent cinematic non-experience.
Pras and Rule look good, and handle their guns smoothly in the movie's elaborate shootouts, but there's nothing in their eyes, no spark or passion.
As both writer and director, Adetuyi doesn't bother bringing any emotional or psychological twists or nuances to these familiar character types; he gives them no depth whatsoever.
The staging and performances are awkward, the frequent shoot-outs a snore, and there's no reprise of Ghetto Supastar.
The whole tie-in with crime and 'gangstas' has been covered so many times in rap music videos that the film ends up feeling like recycled tripe.
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| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
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