ATL - Movie Review

 by Jason B. Cunningham (5-6-06)

 Last night, my cousins convinced me to watch the movie ATL. It was not a tough sell. However, I was not sure from the movie's previews, whether this was another typical drug dealing, rap star movie. After watching the movie, I gained a greater respect for the acting abilities of hip-hop artists T.I. and Outkast's Big Boi.

 As the ATL mentions, the story takes place in Atlanta, GA. It is a story of four friends led by T.I.'s character Rashad Swann, a high school senior. In this movie,  Rashad (T.I.) must not only go to school, but runs the family cleaning business. His younger brother, Antwone "Ant" Swann ( Evan Ross) is easily persuaded by the desire of "bling" and "materialism" that has entrapped many of today's youth. They share a home with their Uncle George (Mykelti Williamson). This is a far more complex story than the commercials that marketed this movie.

 Rashad (T.I.) has three friends that include Esquire (Jackie Long), Teddy (Jason Weaver) and Brooklyn (Albert Daniels). They all  live in Atlanta's poor Southside. Esquire (Jackie Long) is the genius of the group and appears headed to the imaginary Ivy League College named Britton. The talented "grillz maker" Teddy (Jason Weaver) is a 21 year old high senior. All away from New York City, Brooklyn comes to bring entertainment to the boys who live down South. Every Sunday night, they practice their skating at the Cascade.

 ATL presents a love interest that transcends the boundaries of the suburbs and ghetto. Rashad (T.I.) believes the female New New (Lauren London) is just another female from his area. Before Rashad (T.I.) learns the truth, his friend Esquire (Jackie Long) is invited to her home by New New/Erin's (Lauren London) father John Garnett (Keith David). Esquire (Jackie Long) is shocked by his discovery of New New/Erin's family. However, Esquire  secures a college letter of recommendation from John Garnett (Keith David), without reveling his true address. Mr. John Garnett  seems to have forgotten he was born and raised in the Southside of Atlanta.

 Rashad (T.I.) realizes that New New (Lauren London) is a fraud when her father John Garnett (Keith David) shows up at the skating club. Garnett is angered that his little girl is hanging out with people in the hood. This revelation only adds to Rashad's  anger and sadness. He watches his younger brother Antwone "Ant" become a drug dealer for Marcus (Big Boi). Rashad shows the younger Swann that making a honest living by dry cleaning can bring you money, but Antwone "Ant"  gets too deep into the game. Also, Rashad drives his friends away when he learns that Esquire does not tell him about New New/Erin's identity.

 ATL hit its stride in the last twenty minutes of the movie. Antwone "Ant" gets robbed while drug dealing and owes Marcus a large amount of money. Rashad realizes his brother is in trouble when Marcus calls his home. Marcus gets to Antwone "Ant" first, but Rashad gets their before the damage is done. Rashad and Marcus get into a fight, and Antwone "Ant" is no help to his brother. In the process, Antwone "Ant" gets shot. Unlike many movies, Rashad's friends and Erin are there for him. In the end, Antwone "Ant" gives up the drug dealing and gets serious about school, Esquire gets that college recommendation from Mr. Garnett and attends Britton, Teddy opens up a "Grillz Shop," Brooklyn is made a fast food manager, and Erin attends Spellman College, and Rashad finally starts drawing as a career.

 I was skeptical before watching the movie. T.I. held his own in ATL and Big Boi was an intimidating figure. This movie presented many positive message. You should not judge people based on where they from. Drug dealing is a dead end path, and money is not everything; therefore follow your dreams, and be true to yourself. The movie's editing was not good. You could tell this was a low budget film, even the cars looked small. While Lauren London is a lovely woman, her acting and that of  Evan Ross did not live up to the rest of the cast. Overall, I walked out of ATL feeling good about the movie.

Grade B:

The Movie Reviews