For those who expected this movie to be T.I.'sversion of "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" or "8 Mile"...
You will be sadly disappointed!
It never promised to be that.
For those of you who went to the movie theatre
with an open mind, just wanting to be entertained
and to see what ATL was about, then you probably
"got it" and understood that this was not
meant to be "Menace II Society" Part 26!!
It is a refreshing change of pace from all
that ignorance and displays the human side of
the ghetto and the people who live there!
Everybody from the hood is not bustin their
guns in the air, gettin' high, robbin' and
actin' a damn fool!--Puh-leeze!
I think T.I. did well on his first time out
as an actor!...My god, the boy isn't Denzel
or Morgan Freeman!
And this movie wasn't "Glory" by any means!
Some folks need to get a grip on reality!
This movie has a good storyline, all of the cast
did a good job at carrying their characters and
making them believable.
Big Boi was very good as the villain,
young Evan Ross, who played T.I.'s little
brother was also good!
I left the theatre feeling like I got
my money's worth of entertainment value
and couldn't wait to add this DVD to my collection
and most "thinking" people will feel the same!---Buy It!!
T.I. stars in the film as Rashad. Rashad is finishing his senior year of high school. He lives with his uncle and his younger brother Antwone, who they call Ant. Their parents died in an automobile accident years prior. On the weekend, all the kids hand out at Cascade, a local roller skating rink where bragging rights mean everything. Rashad soon meets a young woman named New New. She appears to be a regular girl from the neighborhood but everything with New New isn't what it seems. Ant is feeling the pressure of not having the bling bling. Working part time as a janitor with his brother and his uncle just isn't enough money for him. Soon Ant turns to the streets to make easy cash.
Rashad does his best to rescue his brother from a life as a street hustler while trying to balance a new relationship with New New. Rashad's friend Esquire also has a significant storyline in the movie. Esquire doesn't attend the same high school as the rest of the crew, he attends a school in a nice neighborhood and has dreams of attending an Ivy League college--if he can get the letter of reference that he needs.
ATL is a really great movie. The soundtrack is very good also. The film is also packed with cameos from Atlanta hip-hop stars. Evon Ross and T.I. prove that they are excellent up and coming actors in this coming of age drama.
The ATL DVD includes the music video for the T.I. song "What You Know" among other special features.I came across this movie on cable recently and I was surprized I really enjoyed it. I remember this movie came out last year about the same time as "Akeelah and the Bee" another excellent film but based on what I saw on the commercials for it, I said, "Oh please, not ANOTHER hood movie with black kids shooting each other up" and passed on it. I went to see "Akeelah" instead because it was being promoted as a movie with positive black characters, which we need more of. I enjoyed it but now after seeing "ATL", I realized seeing either one of those movies would have been a wise choice. "ATL" was definitely marketed the wrong way and fooled a lot of people, like it did me.
Produced by Will Smith's production company, Overbrook Entertainment and based a story written by Antwone Fisher (who was himself the subject of a movie directed by Denzel Washington a few years back), "ATL" is far from being your typical black film about coming of age in the hood. It does show some instances of drug dealing and violence, but very few, and that is not the central focus of the story anyway. This is an urban tale with a message that is powerful striving and working hard to achieve the better things in life in an honest fashion, and having some fun along the way. That includes Sunday nights at the Cascade a popular roller rink on the southside of Atlanta, where all of the kids love to hang out and have a good time. The focal point of "ATL" is on the lives and the camaraderie of four friends who ponder their futures as they approach graduation.
Because I am not really into today's rap music, I was not too familiar with T.I., other than from his song that was a big hit last year, "What You Know". But I thought he showed wonderful potential in the starring role of Rashad, a poor, 17 year old high school kid who has a gift for art and lives with his janitor uncle because both of his parents were killed in an auto accident. He is extremely protective of his little brother, Ant (Evan Ross, Diana's son). Ant's only goal is to make big money and sport bling-bling, since he feels this is the only way he can gain some respect and attention. He decides to get on the fast track to obtain what he wants, but he's not quite ready to deal with the consequences.
The supporting cast, which includes veteran actors Keith David, Lonette McKee, Mykelti Williamson (his poetic reading later in the film blew me away) and Jason Weaver as a high school super senior, was perfectly chosen. Lauren London, who plays New New, does a great job as a sassy, ghetto-fabulous diva with a secret. She and Rashad begin dating and their relationship is a mutual one until a chance event causes the truth to unfold. Also to take note of is the intelligent, proud and driven Esquire (Jackie Long) who has dreams of going to an Ivy League college but fears because of his parents' income and his background, his opportunities will be extremely limited. Big Boi from the hip-hop duo OutKast and singer Monica also appear in the film, although Big Boi's role is way more pivotal to the storyline, while Monica simply makes a cameo appearance.
Think of this as sort of an updated, African-American version of "American Graffiti" but one I can definitely relate to much more, with various intertwined stories of everyday life in the Georgia hood. Overall, this film speaks of dreams and aspirations realized, potential, and yes, unachieved. "ATL" is inspirational in its own way a humorous, touching and refreshing alternative to the typical films out there about growing up poor and black with the odds stacked against you. No, yall, you don't have to die trying to get rich. There is a better way! A must see.
Read Best Reviews of ATL (2006) Here
this movie is so tight....i thought that it was going to be some hood/ghetto movie with no meaning or point but I was surprised, because i got something totally different...we need more movies like this out, this movie has a message behind it and all the actors were great, the movies was mad funny as well. i am so in love with this movie, it happens to be my fav. right now, i am fo sho going to get this on DVD.....a must have for all movie lovers.`ATL' is a coming of age story set in Atlanta, Georgia and follows five friends as they compete in the local skating rink and go through their trials and tribulations. Many people are dogging this movie and labeling it "another rap movie" but it's really good. It's a heartfelt and genuine film and separates itself from the rest with the humor and message. It doesn't glorify violence or drug dealing, though it is in the film, but denounces it and calls for teens to make right decisions in their lives.I was impressed with the acting of T.I. as his portrayal of Rashaad. T.I. was convincing and was the perfect choice for the role. His character ranged various emotions between his love interest, family and friends but at times you would catch him with his signature expression (tilting the head to side with the corner of his lips curl up). Big Boi maintains a great performance providing plenty of comic relief and still stays in his antagonistic character. Every scene which focused on Big Boi's character Marcus was full of suspense and showcased his ability to be hated and respect in the same realm. Can't wait to see what he brings `Idlewild.'
Other considerable performances were Albert Daniels as Brooklyn, Evan Ross Naess as Rashaad's confused younger brother "Ant", and fresh face newcomer Lauren London as the lovable New-New show's us that she has heart. Jason Weaver comedic performance steals the scene as the underachiever Teddy. The breakthrough performance could be that of Jackie Long as the great hope of the group Esquire. The movie was very entertaining over all but suffered from a few clichés and minor missteps which was the flow of the movie. Chris Robinson is a great director and Antwone Fisher is a great writer. But I felt that the movie was choppy at times with the story telling. As the film gained momentum it slowed abruptly, other than that, the film transitioned smoothly. The clichés of the movie was the Atlanta cameos. I just felt at times it took away from the movie. If you don't realize the cameos, it will be a great movie, if you do notice them it will feel less like a compelling story and more like a 2 hour shout out to ATL.
Other than that it's a good movie that you can feel and form an attachment to Rashaad's plight in the movie. I truly love the direction that our rappers are taking by getting into Hollywood. People like Ludicrous are getting a lot of attention for their acting and if that continues hopefully we can see more of them on the silver screen. I recommend this to anyone who might been indifferent to seeing this film.
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