Popular reviews

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  Review by benton tarantella 3

  i've got to say -- it makes me kind of sad watching this movie now. for a few reasons but the main one is just that now when i drive through east atlanta, it does not look the way atlanta looked in this movie. the population has been pushed out, the houses are now owned by young techies and they cost way more than they used to, the restaurants have changed, the ma and pop shops that kept this city thriving for decades have been torn down in favor of specialty salad and smoothie bars. you wouldn't have thought it then but ATL, along with its position in black cinema, now has a legacy of being one of the last films to capture the city of atlanta pre-gentrification

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  Review by Shak Lambert ★★★★½ 2

  This might be the nostalgia talking, but I don’t give a fuck.

  I remember seeing this once around the time of the home release via stolen satellite and thinking it was alright. But now...MAN.

  Talk about capturing an era in time. Everything from the fashion (shoutout to the XXXL airbrushed tees) to the cameos (JAZZE PHIZZLE) to the needle drops (from Youngbloodz to Lil Scrappy to Slim Thug to Purple Ribbon All-Stars gets played), mid-2000s Atlanta culture is so wildly alien compared to everything now but also feels so much more comforting. Even though i was a kid from a suburb out of Toronto, i lived and breathed this, wanting to be a part of it. This movie took me…

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  Review by alphonse0 2

  “I know that’s not who I think it is!”

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  Review by genesaisquoi ★★★★½

  “YOU GOT A PICASSO IN YO’ HOUSE”

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  Review by alexandria taelor ★★★★★ 2

  "I'm New New cause I always rock the new, new shit. Thank you."

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  Review by Nick Boyd ★★★

  This movie is great because:
  -T.I. at 26 is cast as a 16 year old who dreams of illustrating comic books
  -Big Boi is the antagonist
  -the director went on to direct the video for Gucci Mane's "It's Gucci Time"
  -contributed to the mid 2000s urban roller skating trend (most notably manifested in Lil Bow Wow's Roll Bounce)
  -Big Boi is the antagonist, man.
  -I think it opens with that Ludacris song that samples "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles that in turn Lil Wayne sampled for "Georgia...Bush" which is one of his best songs imo.

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  Review by K Gray ★★★

  A heartfelt hometown coming of age tale enriched in southern urban culture that presents childhood innocence, teenage ignorance, and adolescent insurrections through a group of unique ATLiens. The soundtrack is banging of course but the cinematography is a lot more ambitious than I expected with some impressive camerawork that proves how passionately this was crafted despite any muggy misfires as a part of the sporadic story. I thought I’d seen this when I was younger but I was surprised to discover how brand new it all was to me. It’s far from perfect but it’s a pure and genuine film that captures the nostalgia and growing pains of life in the inner city of Atlanta with fun and clunky bravado.

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  Review by Cameron Webb ★★★★★

  this should be recognized as the high art and historical media that this is. a true time capsule

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  Review by Paul ★★★★ 1

  That first scene being little kids playing in the fountain at centennial triggered such a familiar and warm memory for me. Such a beautiful movie with great performances and an insane soundtrack. It’s annoying that I hadn’t gotten to this yet but hey at least I made it here now

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  Review by Jon? ★★★½ 1

  when you think of great cinematic moments, I’d bet the usual examples come to mind. “Rosebud” in Citizen Kane, the door closing in The Godfather. I, for one, think of the display of code switching and class differences that is when T.I. snatched the chain off Lauren London’s neck. 

  I was 13 when ATL was released and can still remember the commercials for this film, sort of. all I remember about them was they prominently featured T.I., who in 2006 was truly beginning his mainstream takeover. and it seemed like it was a goofy, sort of musical dramedy. it makes me think about how black films were marketed then, and sort of how they’re still marketed. and also, who markets…

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  Review by Michael Vazquez ★★★★

  The movie that introduced me to the very beautiful Lauren London a.k.a New New, that represents the state of Georgia where I grew up, T.I. not only when he was in his prime, back when he used to make good music (he was one of my current favorite rappers during the 04-08 span) but a solid movie debut performance and good soundtrack. Good performances from the whole cast especially the hilarious Jason Weaver and Big Boi from Outkast. I like this movie a lot.

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  Review by Alex Lathrop-Melting ★★★★½

  I love a music video ass movie
  Added to the pool canon