By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
April 14, 2005
“State Property 2” offers the last performance by Ol’ Dirty Bastard before his unfortunate death last year. As a nose-picking hamburger flipper, ODB sets the low standard for this sequel to 2002’s “State Property.”
Like a greasy burger, this shoot-’em-up is kinda gross — and leaves you wishing you hadn’t “gone there.”
The film picks up where the first film left off, with Beans (rapper Beanie Sigel) serving hard time in a penitentiary for attempted murder. He’s running his drug enterprise from jail, relying on his incompetent colleagues to take care of business on the outside.
When one of his childhood pals comes to visit, the two speak in jailhouse code. “Good” means “messed up.”
“Had a party” translates into “took a loss.” You’d think the guard would catch on as the pair talk on and on about “surprise parties” but, like the movie, he’s just too dumb to figure it out.
Subtle isn’t a word you’d use to describe “State Property 2.” From its choice of language (the f-word being particularly popular) to the actors’ deliveries to the violence-for-the-sake-of-violence mode of directing, this film is over the top — and not in a good way. After the sixth massacre, the viewer becomes hardened to what’s happening on screen.
Multitasking Damon Dash, who co-wrote and directed this film, has a co-starring role as Beans’ nemesis, Dame. Sigel — who showed so much talent with his best-selling album “The B. Coming” — as Beans has the thankless role of a drug lord who believes everything can be solved with a quick whack to the head or a couple of bullets through the heart. (Ironically, Sigel in real life is serving time on a federal gun charge.)
And then there’s Mariah Carey. In a brief cameo as a pushy girlfriend, the songbird is better than she was in “Glitter” — but that’s not saying much. (There also are cameos by Chicago native Kanye West, Angie Martinez and Roselyn Sanchez.)
The one true moment that stands out is the reaction of Beans’ wife when he calls from jail. Collect. Tired of his antics and worried about how she and their daughter will fend for themselves, she berates him for getting caught and leaving them.
“State Property 2” is not a good movie, by any means. It’s not clever enough to make up for a weak story line, and the performers aren’t seasoned enough to carry a one-trick movie.
“You either get down, or lay down,” Beans warns his enemies.
Or, in the case of filmgoers, you go see another movie.
Hmmm… The writer of this page’s name is Jae-ha Kim who specializes in K-Culture – thats Korean culture. You left a negative review for this movie – and it makes sense. You have no clue about black culture and I imagine that as a korean K-pop writer, you actually despise black people. This movie is a classic for black people from the “hood”. We love the Roc-a-fella era and all the members that came along with it. Stick to commenting on your feminized korean boy bands and stay out of the street business.
Donny is a sexist, racist, misogynist. Shut the fuck up you loser. The film sucked. Critics hated this film.
Why are you telling her what she specializes in? This is her website you stupid asshole. 🤡 You say that she despises black people because she didn’t like a, checks notes, fictional movie! And yet here you are talking smack about her and calling boy bands feminized. I can assure you that they could steal your girlfriend in a second if they wanted to. And I can also assure you that you are racist and probably a Boomer.
Why are you commenting on a 19 year old review? lmao Go sit down grandpa!
Because he’s a slow reader. It took him 2 decades to read it!
The Donald’s entire comment is uncalled for. Nasty moron.
I don’t care if you don’t like my review. You have a right to your opinion. But let’s get to the facts:
° This review was written in 2005.
° There was no one in Chicago covering Korean entertainment two decades ago, not even me.
° The K-Culture you’re referring to is my Substack newsletter, which I started last year in 2023. (Substack itself wasn’t founded until 2017) So K-pop had nothing to do with this review. Your shots are cheap and uncalled for. Do better.
Donny has issues. If you don’t like the same things that he does, then you’re a racist in his myopic eyes. Sad.
lmao this is the hill you’re going to die on? State Property 2? Really?
poor donny-i think he might’ve been an unlisted cast members of this show and was reminiscing about that one film he worked on and stumbled upon your article 😭 so late to the party with his unfounded comments