[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.