[Things Fall Apart screened at this year's Atlanta Film Festival.]

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson can’t act.  It’s not a slam against his character; it’s just something he can’t do.  But his lack of acting ability is an absolute killer in the Mario Van Peebles drama Things Fall Apart where Jackson takes on the role of a football player who gets cancer.  Jackson seriously committed to making a full-on physical transformation for the role, but he apparently couldn’t be bothered to take an acting lesson, which makes all of his hard work seem like a waste.  Even if the film didn’t hinge on Jackson’s performance, it would still be beset by maudlin clichés, irritating supporting characters, and poor direction.

I have to give Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson credit for pursuing dramatic work.  Unfortunately, that’s about all the credit I can give him because he’s not a very good actor.  While I admire his dedication and physical transformation to play a cancer-stricken football player in Things Fall Apart, the trailer makes it look like a Lifetime movie (I was about to write “A bad Lifetime movie”, but realized that was redundant).  I like how the trailer kicks off with a big football game and a crowd cheering in an almost-empty stadium.

I don’t want to spoil the rest of the hilarity, so check out the trailer after the jump.  Things Fall Apart also stars Ray Liotta wondering how his career got to this point.

Like Christian Bale (The Machinist) and Tom Hanks (Castaway) before him, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has shed some serious pounds for his upcoming film Things Fall Apart.  In the film, Jackson plays a star running back in his senior year of college who is diagnosed with cancer.  Mario Van Peebles (Damages) is directing, and cast himself alongside Jackson, Ray Liotta, and Lynn Whitfield.

Normally weighing in at 214 pounds, the rapper is often seen shirtless and rather ripped at his shows.  After nine weeks of a liquid diet and three hours on the treadmill each day, Fitty shed 54 pounds to achieve middleweight status at 160 pounds.  Jackson promised fans, “I’ve been eating.  I’ll be back in shape in no time!”  Check out some pics of the weight loss after the jump.

Variety reports that “rapper-turned-actor” Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will star in Mario Van Peebles’ football drama Things Fall Apart.  I believe this story is inaccurate because “actor” implies ability to act and 50 Cent lacks that ability.  Mr. Cent may let you know he’s willing to accompany you to the confectionery emporium, but he could not give a believable performance if his life depended on it.  Watch Get Rich or Die Tryin’.  Watch Home of the Brave.  Then tell me with a straight face that he can act.  Tell me a can of tuna fish with a smiley face on it wouldn’t do a better job in those roles.

Things Fall Apart, “centers around a star football running back, played by Jackson, who faces a personal tragedy as well as his own mortality while in his senior year in college.”  Oh, sweet Jesus.  Maybe on the page the character is supposed to lack facial expressions and has a speech impediment that requires slurred mumbling.  If that’s the case, then 50 Cent is spot-on casting.