So over the weekend me and some friends grew up with saw the movie Top Five and I gotta admit, it may have been the most important movie I’ve seen all year. Granted, I missed out on a lot of movies this year(forever sad I missed both Dear White People and Gone Girl) but even so, this movie really resonated with me.
The first thing that stuck me about the movie was that it was genuinely funny. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve seen a comedy that actually got me to laugh. Top Five didn’t have to rely on juvenile humor to get its point across; its humor was organic to the situation. And let’s be real here. Chris Rock on his worst day is gonna be funnier than any flick Seth Rogan and James Franco throw out.
The story in this movie is also fantastic. Chris Rock plays a comedian turned actor who got famous off of B-list comedy movies, like your Big Mommas, your Rush Hours, etc. He now wants to get into serious roles but no one wants those rolls, they just want to see him in the same funny stuff he’s always been in. The movie follows him as he’s being interviewed by Rosario Dawson’s character over the course of the day as she delves deep into his life, touching on his past as an alcoholic, why he stopped doing standup and ultimately, where did his life go wrong.
The cast in this movie is fantastic. Everyone is on point in their roles, and the characters feel real. The dialogue is incredibly poignant, with the comedic moments being gut bustingly funny, and the dramatic moments being incredibly deep. The character interactions are also well done, because they feel like how actually people in this situation would react. Nothing is wasted here; not a character, a scene, a shot, nothing.
The flow in this movie is fantastic. Flashbacks are seamlessly integrated, making it feel as if you’re listening to a character recant them. The chemistry between the actors is dynamite, especially with those playing Rock’s family, and Rosario Dawson as the journalist interviewing Rock’s character.. Everyone brought their A game to this.
The central theme of this movie is that letting people pigeonhole you and dictate your life is not the key to happiness, especially not if they aren’t looking to help you, just use you. Rock’s character spends so much time in the movie being managed, from the press conference for his latest movie to the reality show wedding he is involved in, to his personal life. You can see the tole that it starts to take. You can see that none of this is what he wants, it’s what those around him want for him.
The other thing I really enjoyed about Top Five was its portrayal of fame. Fame is not presented as the problem in the movie. Whereas the traditional portrayal is the fame and the money corrupts the subject, here the subject was corrupted before the fame hit. It provides for a more unique take on this kind of character, as Rock’s character knows he was damaged before the fame really took off and now he’s trying to fix himself. As a viewer you end up becoming more connected to him, especially as he starts to open up to Rosario Dawson.
Top Five is the kind of movie that, 20 years from now, I hope I have the skill to make. It is a strong story that is masterfully executed in almost every possible way. It may not be for everyone, as the frequent use of the N-word might deter some, but if you can get past that, I highly recommend you check it out.
-The Token Black Guy
The World of Movies and Media Seen Through the Lens of a Token Black Guy. 