Never Die Alone (2004)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Ernest R. Dickerson

Writers (WGA):

Donald Goines (novel)
James Gibson (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 March 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

No king rules forever.

Plot:

A drug kingpin's return home touches off a turf war.

Plot Keywords:

Kingpin | Drug Dealer | Death | Retribution | Blood Splatter

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

DMX	...	King David
Michael Ealy	...	Michael
Drew Sidora	...	Ella
Antwon Tanner	...	Blue
Robby Robinson	...	Man in Apartment
Luenell	...	Jasper (as Luenell Campbell)
David Arquette	...	Paul
Clifton Powell	...	Moon
Wealthy Linn Gener	...	Asian Girl
Jeff Sanders	...	Sentry Guard #1
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Rockie
Shakira Vanise Gamble	...	Co-Worker
Big Daddy Wayne	...	Red
Damion Poitier	...	Alvin
Eric Payne	...	Orderly

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, drug use, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-15 | France:-16 | Hungary:18 | Japan:R-15 | Singapore:M18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bloodline Films

Trivia:

Henry Gibson, who has a brief silent cameo near the end of the film as the funeral home director who steals King David's watch and ring, is the father of screenwriter James Gibson.

Quotes:

King David: You miss me?
Jasper: Ain't nobody ever missed a rattlesnake, so why would anybody miss *you?*

Movie Connections:

References Scarface (1983)

Soundtrack:

Caught Up

Unremarkable drama that offers more than it is able to deliver

King David has only returned to his home for a short time when his attempts to even up with crime boss Moon sees him killed. White journalist Paul sees the action and drives David to the hospital but it is too late to save him, although David does leave Paul his car and contents – including cash and a collection of audio tapes that turn out to be King's dictated memoirs. While he listens to these tapes he learns of David's past but also comes to realise that he is in danger from the people who had him killed. Meanwhile, the individuals who were directly involved in the murder find first hand that Moon is very protective of himself and his power.

There have been a couple of positive reviews about this film and all of them have mentioned the fact that it took them by surprising by turning out not to be the DMX gangbanger action film that they worried it may have been. Like them I was pleasantly surprised to find that this random film selection was more of a serious crime drama than just another hip hop product with guns and booty, however just because the film deserves credit for not being something worse, doesn't mean that one should ignore that neither is it something better. Based on one of Goines' novels, the film had potential to be a dark and brutal depiction of a life of crime and the device of having someone look back with regret (to a point) would have informed and allowed this even more.

Such a shame then that the potential in the story is not ever delivered on and instead the film comes out as an engaging but unremarkable crime thriller. The reasons for this are partly budget because the script does do a reasonable job of drawing out the emotions and character traits and not just delivering the events. However for many reasons this doesn't translate into an impacting or moving film. Contrary to some claims DMX is part of the problem. Sure he deserves credit for trying to do something with a bit more meat to it but as with his rapping he just doesn't have the depth or range to pull it off. As narrator and main character he had to carry the whole weight of the film but very little comes through in his voice or performance. It is undeniable how damaging this lack of range is to the film. Ealy is solid as Michael but this is not really an actor's film and people like Powell, Arquette, Tyler and others just sort of do the basics. Gomez-Preston is good as Juanita – delivering a harrowing character really well.

Never Die Alone is the story of a cruel and callous man who lived in crime and died because of it. It is set up to deliver a strong moral story full of pain and depth and the presence of future director of The Wire Dickerson only seemed to confirm this. Sadly the delivery doesn't do this, at least partly down to the limits of DMX as an actor. The end result is an OK but unremarkable drama that is disappointing because it appears to have had more within its reach.