All Things Fall Apart


All Things Fall Apart is a 2011 American direct-to-video drama film directed by Mario Van Peebles and starring Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Ray Liotta, Mario Van Peebles, and Lynn Whitfield. It was filmed in Michigan and premiered at the Miami International Film Festival.

Plot

Deon, a skilled college running back, falls ill from a genetic disease just when he is about to go realize his dreams and advance to the NFL, a professional American Football league. Though idolized for his athletic ability, Deon shares the glory on and off of the football field. His mother Bee is incredibly proud and his younger brother Sean understandably jealous. Eric, Deon's stepfather, sees the football star as a winning lottery ticket. Deon's doctor, Dr. Brintall, informs him that he can't play football again, but there is always hope. While fighting cancer, Deon seeks to finish what he started. In the end, while at a catering party, he runs towards the football field just like the good old times and raises his arms, pretending that he has scored a touchdown, as the screen fades white and the credits roll.

Cast

Controversy over film title

The movie was produced under the same title as Chinua Achebe's 1958 novel Things Fall Apart. After being contacted by Achebe's legal team, 50 Cent offered $1 million to keep the title Things Fall Apart for the film. The author of the 1958 novel took this as an insult. The foundation that manages Achebe's copyrights stated, "The novel with the said title was initially produced in 1958. It is listed as the most-read book in modern African literature, and won't be sold for even £1 billion." The film was renamed to All Things Fall Apart.

Production

50 Cent, who based his character on a childhood friend who died of cancer, lost up to 54 pounds in order to accurately portray his emaciated character, dropping from "214 pounds to 160 in nine weeks after liquid dieting and running on a treadmill three hours a day" according to the Associated Press.