Anne B. Real (2003)

This is a pretty good movie. I borrowed this from my Aunt, and I wound up really liking it. I was skeptical at first, but I was drawn into the story line. I thought the story was really touching, and I liked that it was something different at the time. I definitely think being a teen and a minority it was appealing only to a certain demographic. As a former writer familiar with the publishing industry, I think the script read very strong, but it didn't come across that way compared to watching it on the screen. This propably worked a lot better for book or teaching segment in a college course. Overall, I thought this was an underrated movie. It's defiantly not among the worst. This good for an evening night when you need something to watch.

First of all, I should mention I'm 49 years old and white and don't care for rap music.But this appeared to be a quality production, with important lessons, positive messages, good writing and good acting. Just don't get too attached to anyone because in this neighborhood, you can't be sure anyone will survive to the end.Cynthia's father was a dedicated teacher at an aging New York City high school in a bad section of the city. When she was young, he gave her Anne Frank's famous diary to read.Now Cynthia is a student at that high school. Her father is deceased and her family is on welfare. They include Cynthia, her mother, her grandmother, her brother Juan, her sister Janet, and Janet's baby. Cynthia's mother is Latina and doesn't look black. I'm not clear on her father's racial background but he had a Spanish-sounding name. Anyway, Cynthia looks black and thinks of herself as black.Several teachers at the school, particularly Michael, believe that at least some of these kids can be reached, despite what the neighborhood is like. Cynthia is one of them, though she has had difficulty since her father's death. But reading about Anne Frank has inspired her and she now writes rap lyrics inspired by Anne. As "Anne B. Real", she raps in front of a mirror. In the same mirror she imagines people she knows criticizing her.Meanwhile, Juan supposedly has had a job, but the only way he seems to make money is by selling lyrics to up-and-coming rapper Deuce. Deuce wants to impress those who can make him a star, so he claims the lyrics are his own. Of course, so does Juan--who, by the way, uses too much of his money to buy drugs, and gets into situations that could put him behind bars.Cynthia's friends include Kitty, who looks very white but is more street in her speech than most of the movie's characters. She could be considered comic relief. There is also Jerome, who has been on his own since age 12, and he has to get by delivering drugs. Darius is a very European-looking Latino who seems to want a romantic relationship with Cynthia.Deuce has a girlfriend who is quite pretty and thinks she is "all that". I didn't catch her name but she adds a lot.The stories of Deuce and Cynthia are interesting, and both characters have a lot of determination, but Cynthia is the strongest character here. She needs to be strong, too, because she will be put through a lot (so will the audience), and JNyce is quite effective. But despite this movie taking me out of my comfort zone, I think it was a worthwhile experience.

What first drew me to rent, "Anne B. Real" on my weekly trip to Blockbuster, was when a friend picked up the dvd and read off the back that "GirlFight" and "8 Mile" were recommended for those who enjoyed "Anne B. Real" I had seen both movies, so I decided that I would give it a chance. And, I must say, I am overly glad I did.When watching, "Anne B. Real" I felt as if I was there with the characters, especially the main character, her inner turmoil brought tears to my eyes. I truly enjoyed it, it's one of those movies that for whiles to come, you'll still gasp "Fantastic..."ManiacMallRat

Anne B Real takes the foundation of an artist with a gift for rhyming lyrics and it expands on it. It uses the Diary of Anne Frank for inspiration, citing passages through voice over, and explores a number of realistic problems. These problems include the fact that the main character is a female rapper in an idustry that is dominated by males. They include her troubled family members and a world where even family will sell you out if the price is right. The movie works so well because of both the intensity of the conflicts and also the emotion behind each character. Every part has been perfectly cast so that not one character is forgetable. They take a strong story and they fill it with energy. 8 Mile was good, but it only had one note and one idea. This movie does what 8 Mile wanted to do. It really explores the lives of the characters in this world and lets the audience feel like they are a part of it.