Paid in Full (2002)
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A young man's attempt to live a law-abiding life is upended when he discovers a lucrative opportunity in the Harlem drug trade.
The story
Ace is a young man living in Harlem who works at a dry cleaning shop and intends to live a law-abiding life. However, after discovering cocaine belonging to a supplier named Lulu, he begins selling the drug on the street. His success quickly draws him into the neighborhood's drug trade, where he begins wholesaling his product to other dealers. As Ace builds his empire, he faces the complexities of the criminal underworld, balancing the allure of wealth and luxury with the constant threat of rivals and the consequences of his new lifestyle.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Ace, a Harlem resident working at a dry cleaner, begins selling cocaine after finding it in a customer's pants. He quickly builds a wholesale operation, eventually partnering with his friend Mitch and a ruthless enforcer named Rico. The trio becomes wealthy, but tensions rise as Rico's high-profile behavior threatens their safety. After discovering his supplier Lulu is dead, Ace continues his trade until a former associate, Calvin, attempts to rob him, resulting in the execution of Ace's aunt and sister and Ace being shot in the head. Surviving the attack, Ace decides to retire from the drug trade. However, Rico kills Calvin to maintain the organization's strength, and Mitch remains committed to the 'hustle.' After Mitch's brother is kidnapped, Ace provides the drugs to pay the ransom. Rico eventually murders Mitch and steals the cocaine. Ace exposes Rico's lies by giving him the contact of undercover FBI agents, leading to Rico's arrest. Ace ultimately retreats from the criminal underworld to live a quiet life with his family using Lulu's diamonds.
- First release year
- 2002
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Charles Stone III
- Writers
- Matthew Cirulnick · screenplay; Thulani Davis · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Wood Harris · Ace; Mekhi Phifer; Cam'ron
- Genres
- crime drama; independent; musical
- Themes
- success and wealth; consequences of crime; loyalty
- Tone and mood
- immersive; realistic; downward spiral
- Premise and plot tags
- based on actual events; organized crime; drug trade
- Source material / true-story basis
- loosely based on the lives of drug dealers Azie Faison, Rich Porter, and Alpo Martinez
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews and bombed at the box office, but it has since developed a cult following among hip-hop fans.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 53% · scale: rotten · review count: 43; Metacritic · score: 49% · review count: 16
- Production trivia
- Damon Dash slapped co-producer Harvey Weinstein during production.; Principal photography took place in August and September 2000.; 50 Cent is developing an extended television series based on the film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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