"He got rich, but he?'s still tryin?'"

From the acclaimed director of "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father" comes the semi-fictional biopic of...50 Cent?

In the past year, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has been a busy man with the recently released "Massacre" album, an upcoming video game, and a guest appearance on fellow G-Unit member Tony Yayo's debut album.

In a shocking variation from the norm, the highly praised and almost exclusively art house film director Jim Sheridan was chosen to bring 50 Cent's notorious life story to the silver screen in "Get Rich or Die Tryin'."

One has to wonder if this concoction was put together by a studio oblivious to both 50 Cent's and Sheridan's past histories. Or perhaps Sheridan just wants to expand his realm of interest with an atypical choice of subject. Although Sheridan and Jackson seem like they're from different ends of the universe, something gels in "Get Rich or Die Tryin'."

The film will be compared to Curtis Hanson's "8 Mile," but Sheridan's approach is an extremely personal one that shows the ups and downs of Jackson's life before Dr. Dre and Slim Shady helped 50 Cent become famous.

Jackson's tumultuous past has been highly publicized in magazines and narrated in his lyrics. The film shows a side of 50 Cent's life in which glamour and piercing lyrics are non-existent.

The decision to use Sheridan turns out to have been a wise one. He uses many creative shots that were showcased in his past films like "In America." Plenty of panning shots cut to tight close-ups, enhancing the viewers' connection with the film's protagonist.

Although the technique may be considered clich?(c), Sheridan uses close-up shots of mirrors trembling to the deep bass of the rap beats.

The soundtrack, a critical aspect to any film about a music star's career, does not disappoint. Most of the songs throughout the film are 50 Cent originals that sound more like the raw and unfeigned rapper everyone loved when he was an underground artist. Many of the lyrics do not rely on the now-overused three Bs: "Benz's, burners and bitches."

Unfortunately, 50 Cent's acting is inadequate. However, he outperforms Eminem in "8 Mile" and DMX in "Belly," but Jackson's character is over the top. In a few overdramatic scenes, 50 Cent's debut performance reveals glaring flaws and imperfections.

The supporting actors do not pick up much of the slack left from 50 Cent's lackluster performance. Levar (Bill Duke of "Exit Wounds), a black version of Vito Corleone, overacts to the point of being comical.

The film also drags on for too long, clocking in at a lingering 134 minutes. Too many weak scenes punctuate the progression of the plot.

Another facet of the film that doesn't quite match 50 Cent's reputation is the fact that throughout the story, Jackson chases one girl who is the supposed love of his life.

The use of love and fathering a child is extremely important in relaying the overall theme, but it seems ludicrous coming from a self-proclaimed "P.I.M.P."

Sneakers, half-assed albums and video games aside, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" is a surprisingly well-constructed film. Many of its faults are quite apparent to the average viewer, but Jim Sheridan managed to take 50 Cent's infamous rags-to-riches story and turn it into a halfway decent film.