This movie is better than the 5,1 at which it currently stands. The acting is great, Richie and his buddy Tony are a very enjoyable duo, but Ritchie alone is a good portayed layered character. Music and directing also above average. Watch and enjoy.
18 Reviews
The power of social media
frank-liesenborgs24 October 2021
The plot of Forever Rich is confusing. You get the impression that whatever you do and it goes viral, bad or good things, you will come out at the end better. More violence backfires initially but prevails at the end. In his own way, the movie tries to justify violence on social media (the full Monty USA version). Richie (Jonas Smulders) outperforms most of the other actors but in general the acting is good. And nice character moments are built in. One problem is Richie´s duality. He pretends to be the bad boy but is he really bad? Or just stupid and narcissistic? The biggest problem are the plot twists. They are really messed up. A bit like the filming. The handheld filming is not clear and makes it sometimes difficult to follow the story. The conclusion is dashed, leaving big plot holes and question marks surrounding the fate of several characters, along with a conflicting message by the time the credits roll. I'm sure "violence solves all your problems" isn't what this film is trying to get across and yet, that's what we end up with. I am sure that viewers from the Netherlands and the Flemish part of Belgium will like the movie.
To put my review in perspective, I saw the original version of the movie (in Dutch and as I am from Belgium the experience will be different if you do not understand Dutch and have to rely on subtitles)
To put my review in perspective, I saw the original version of the movie (in Dutch and as I am from Belgium the experience will be different if you do not understand Dutch and have to rely on subtitles)
Based on a true story?
love_tina901 October 2021
When I first saw the trailer I was struck by how immensely similar it was to a case in my country recently. Someone involved in the film must have read Swedish newspapers... After watching the movie all I can think is that they should have stuck to the true story. It would have been a more interesting film. It was still a decent movie though.
Decent film?
gfxpronet10 October 2021
After seeing the trailer I didn't know what to expect. So I went in blank. It was a very decent movie that reflects some similarities that the rap scene has, such as social media and its influences and pressures. The movie was very chaotic and the scenario's wasn't the best... A lot of the dialogue wasn't very story related, and some actions were more fictional than actual behavior. So my question about this movie would be... "What's the real message of this movie"?
Forever on my list of regrets
michelleoverton9 October 2021
Well I kind of figured this movie would be less of a drama and more of a comedy showing. If you like seeing the life is wack rappers on the screen then watch this movie. If not, it would be a good idea to skip this movie. It also has weird sound feedback bc the voices are dubbed over and made it sound like someone was narrating instead of acting. Well that's about all I have to say. Beware!
Decent movie some major plot oversights
stevenmortonuk9 October 2021
Uncut Gems for the Rap Community
Jblum54 October 2021
I went into this film with very low expectations. I had heard almost zero buzz about it and most Netflix movies with no buzz around them are just awful. This one was a surprise hit for me though.
I do think an interest in Hip-Hop culture is almost a requirement to enjoy this film. This movie is such an effective critique about rappers/artists putting their fake public persona over their own humanity. If this this doesn't interest you though- I may pass on the film. It is the driving theme of the entire film.
This film has the kinetic energy and anxiety of "Uncut Gems" as you watch and the main character continually make frustratingly questionable decisions throughout the films entire runtime. There are a ton of cringeworthy moments that can be intentionally hard to watch. There isn't a dull moment to be had though and the performances and dialogue are solid and believable.
I do understand the poorer reviews this film is getting as well. The third act is filled with some of the biggest plot conveniences and hole you will see. You wait for some actions that should have significant consequences and they just... don't. It is almost done on purpose to create a fantasy element and I would prefer more grounded writing personally. The characters are not greatly fleshed out. There are some moments that just aren't fun to really watch.
Overall I think the film is a triumph of anxiety , action and suspense and it's in the top 10 Netflix originals of 2021.
I do think an interest in Hip-Hop culture is almost a requirement to enjoy this film. This movie is such an effective critique about rappers/artists putting their fake public persona over their own humanity. If this this doesn't interest you though- I may pass on the film. It is the driving theme of the entire film.
This film has the kinetic energy and anxiety of "Uncut Gems" as you watch and the main character continually make frustratingly questionable decisions throughout the films entire runtime. There are a ton of cringeworthy moments that can be intentionally hard to watch. There isn't a dull moment to be had though and the performances and dialogue are solid and believable.
I do understand the poorer reviews this film is getting as well. The third act is filled with some of the biggest plot conveniences and hole you will see. You wait for some actions that should have significant consequences and they just... don't. It is almost done on purpose to create a fantasy element and I would prefer more grounded writing personally. The characters are not greatly fleshed out. There are some moments that just aren't fun to really watch.
Overall I think the film is a triumph of anxiety , action and suspense and it's in the top 10 Netflix originals of 2021.
Not great
steven_v-539747 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The one thing they display right is some of the kids these days that are into this scene. But the story itself is a joke. How can someone who publicly announces that he has a hostage still give a concert a day later instead of being in jail?
Hyped up social media life on steroids
jskfbnm13 October 2021
If you imagine a fake gangster rapper with no common sense who constantly lives his live by social media who gets robbed then exaggerate it by 5 you might have an idea what to expect.
Very poor storyline which seems to be very focused on exaggerated social media interactions which ruins it and stops it from being taken seriously.
Very poor storyline which seems to be very focused on exaggerated social media interactions which ruins it and stops it from being taken seriously.
You can easily skip this
cvanekeris18 October 2021
Totally represents the current 'driller' youth in The Netherlands
wesselaerts4 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Worst movie i have ever seen
ninoysoenarto10 October 2021
Surprisingly good.
sprichnichtzumir9 October 2021
This movie has a nice script and acting. Depicts very well the social pressure from social media to famous people, and how fame is a serious topic, sometimes even dangerous. The story itself, is very chaotic and original. I really liked it and I recommend it.
Great Performance By Jonas Smulders!
HenkBrugge30 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This film got me captured, non-stop. First of all, Jonas Smulders has been doing a great job in portraying the main character, totally convincing in the way he played the different aspects of the persona. All of the acting was really good, all very believable the way they live and speak - with a lot of 'slang'- in this specific culture. The cinematography and editing was wonderfully done, especially the night and chase scenes. Loved the close-ups, the story. Bit of a minus are some erotic - more or less explicit - scenes leaving nothing to the imagination, unfortunately fixed ingredients in Dutch films from the early 1970s on.
Terrible
mikedewolff6 November 2021
Surface level entertainment with too many non-sensical plot shortcomings
samcharley15 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The movie Forever Rich pulls the viewer into its world when the call to action happens: Richie and his friend get robbed and belittled by a group of young guys. We discover that Richie's rapper's persona is merely that: a persona. Consequently, things get interesting once it appears that the robbery was filmed and put online.
Now Richie's biggest challenge is not the stolen goods but rather his image. What follows is a journey struggle for Richie to restore his street credit and honor. But things go from bad to worse.
The film is fun to watch in the sense that there is a right amount of action and the character of Richie offers entertaining and even funny scenes. However, to fully enjoy the film one has to turn off their brain due to the shortcomings in the plot as well as its unrealistic nature.
For one, Richie's friend Tony and his bodyguard Abdel do not seem to play any significant meaning. They merely exist to function as plot devices for entertaining scenes. One gets stabbed and brought to the hospital, the other saves Richie by fleeing from the cops. In both cases, we never hear or see from either character again (with the exception of Abdel's family asking about him).
Secondly, the plot is very, very unrealistic to a point its ridiculous and laughable. Apparently, the law enforcement in the Netherlands do not have access to the media or internet:
Somehow, Richie is able perform a show as if nothing happened after 1) kidnapping / physically hurting a teenager AND livestreaming it, 2) fleeing from the cops (and for some reason they do not recognize him) and last but not least: filming/forcing a young guy to strip naked at gunpoint before shooting him accidentally.
After all this, the people online seem to love Richie again and even the record labels want to sign him now more than ever. Richie seems to have restored his honor and the movie seems to end with the cliché that he "won but at what cost?"
If one is able to ignore the unrealistic points of the plot its a nice popcorn flick but having said this, I can not understand for the life of me how this movie is nominated for a Gouden Kalf for scenario. Maybe the other nominations are somehow even worse. The acting is decent though.
3/10.
Now Richie's biggest challenge is not the stolen goods but rather his image. What follows is a journey struggle for Richie to restore his street credit and honor. But things go from bad to worse.
The film is fun to watch in the sense that there is a right amount of action and the character of Richie offers entertaining and even funny scenes. However, to fully enjoy the film one has to turn off their brain due to the shortcomings in the plot as well as its unrealistic nature.
For one, Richie's friend Tony and his bodyguard Abdel do not seem to play any significant meaning. They merely exist to function as plot devices for entertaining scenes. One gets stabbed and brought to the hospital, the other saves Richie by fleeing from the cops. In both cases, we never hear or see from either character again (with the exception of Abdel's family asking about him).
Secondly, the plot is very, very unrealistic to a point its ridiculous and laughable. Apparently, the law enforcement in the Netherlands do not have access to the media or internet:
Somehow, Richie is able perform a show as if nothing happened after 1) kidnapping / physically hurting a teenager AND livestreaming it, 2) fleeing from the cops (and for some reason they do not recognize him) and last but not least: filming/forcing a young guy to strip naked at gunpoint before shooting him accidentally.
After all this, the people online seem to love Richie again and even the record labels want to sign him now more than ever. Richie seems to have restored his honor and the movie seems to end with the cliché that he "won but at what cost?"
If one is able to ignore the unrealistic points of the plot its a nice popcorn flick but having said this, I can not understand for the life of me how this movie is nominated for a Gouden Kalf for scenario. Maybe the other nominations are somehow even worse. The acting is decent though.
3/10.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
