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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"We reap what we sow...", July 13, 2004
"Never Die Alone" is a dark and bleak crime drama/noir that never makes any apologies for its brutality or harshness. Definitely not something for people with weak stomachs, the movie is a great example of showing you what goes around comes around, even if you decide it's time to change your life. As harsh as the movie can be, I think it was very well done and took some really good risks. This is definitely something that doesn't come out of typical Hollywood.DMX plays King David, a notorious drug dealer who has a solid rep and one hell of a dark past. He decides it's time to make things right and hopefully find some sort of redemption. Well, things don't work out like that as his past mistakes finally catch up to him with unrelenting results. A would-be reporter gets caught in the middle of the crossfire and ends up learning about David's horrible past through his own cassette tapes that he had made. What is revealed to him is a grim story about drugs and violence in unspeakable proportions. I was actually expecting the movie to be nothing but non-stop "street violence," but it ended up being a lot more clever than that. There's an actual storyline to it that works, along with some great performances from the cast. Even though this isn't a perfect movie, I think it is a very good one. DMX is absolutely chilling and unforgiving in his role of "King David." So unforgiving that he even admits in a making-of featurette on the DVD that he had a hard time with some of the things his character does in the film. You can tell that he was determined to become the character, as he does a great job of selling it. David Arquette and Michael Ealy also give terrific performances and should not be forgotten. The DVD doesn't have a whole lot to offer, but there are some extras included. You have the option of either watching the widescreen or fullscreen version of the movie. Extras included are commentary, a making-of-featurette, trailers and deleted scenes. While it doesn't offer a whole ton of extras, there are a couple that you can check out. It goes without saying that the movie is dark and brutal. If you're looking for a happy-go-lucky type of movie, then this is something you will not want to even take a chance on. As harsh as this movie can be, I don't think it's gratuitous, which was something I was expecting it to be. Still, this is something that isn't for everybody. I think that "Never Die Alone" is a well done movie with some unforgettable performances. A real urban-gangster picture that isn't all fluff and empty calories. It actually has something to say. -Michael Crane
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