Reviews

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  ★★★★ review by SilentDawn on Letterboxd

  A gorgeous, vulgar, painful, and subversive urban fable; Top Five is both a wonderful satire on the nature of celebrities as well as a charming ode to magic still present in a changing society. Chris Rock absolutely kills it as Andre Allen, a comedic actor trying to make his mark in a more serious role. Discussing sobriety, fairy-tales, mistakes from the past, and the inability to change in the entertainment world; Chris Rock weaves a screenplay filled with as many hysterical moments as potent lines of whimsy and pathos. Rosario Dawson is fantastic as usual, and I'm slowly becoming a fan of hers.

  The chemistry between Chris and Rosario is organic and constantly flowing, resulting in conversations that wouldn't feel out of place in a Richard Linklater or Woody Allen film. However, Rock finds his own voice by meticulously blending satire and the feeling of innocence lost. The result is a fairy-tale of both vulgarity and a sense of sublime sweetness, and I fell in love with Rock's painterly vision of New York City.

  Overall, Top Five is an exceptional film. While it isn't particularly original or groundbreaking, Chris Rock's tale is both engrossing and absolutely hilarious. It's so much more than just a comedy, and as a result, It's one of the best gems of 2014.

  Oh, and my top five?
  
  1. Kendrick Lamar
  
  2. Lil Wayne (early stuff)
  
  3. Jay-Z
  
  4. Kanye West
  
  5. Eminem

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  ★★★★ review by SilentDawn on Letterboxd

  Watched this again at a perfect moment, mainly because I'm head over heels in love with Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly. It's a goddamn masterwork of an album.

  In regards to Top Five, It's still beautifully sweet, honest, and absolutely sincere. I feel that it's been swept under the rug by the bigger films of 2014, but I highly recommend a viewing.

  Top 5:
  
  1. Kendrick Lamar
  
  2. Kanye West
  
  3. 2Pac
  
  4. Lil Wayne (early stuff)
  
  5. Public Enemy

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  ★★★★ review by Eli Hayes on Letterboxd

  The rare comedy that manages to get progressively funnier as it goes on. Also, I never would have thought that one of the best scenes of 2014 would feature a barking DMX.

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  ★★★★ review by John on Letterboxd

  Underneath the unrestrained raunch and vulgarity is a surprisingly thoughtful, measured, and authentic drama about a stand-up comedian turned Hollywood star who has arrived at a crossroads in his professional and personal life. Chris Rock, who by his own admission has had a middling movie career, has made a film that displays a heretofore unseen level of maturity while showcasing the talent of some of the best comics working today.

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  ★★★½ review by Josh Larsen on Letterboxd

  In which DMX performs a one-man version of Sullivan’s Travels. (Full review here.)

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