Rating: Summary: TEARJERKING!! Review: FINALLY SOMEONE HAS THE GUTS TO SAY WHAT THE STREETS KNEW A LONG TIME AGO. SUGE KNIGHT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDERING TO OF THE MOST INSIGHTFUL AND CREATIVE THINKERS OF OUR TIME. TWO YOUNG MEN WHO COULD HAVE TAKEN THEIR CAREERS TO LEVELS WAY BEYOND THE HIP HOP REALM! BUY THIS DVD PLEAS!! IT APPROACHES SUBJECT MATTER THAT NOBODY ELSE HAD THE HEART TO. THANK YOU NICK BROOMFEILD FOR NOT BEING A WIMP AND HONORING THESE YOUNG GENIUSES.
Rating: Summary: Biggie and Tupac Review: Having read numerous books on Tupac, from Kathy Scott's first book, to the Vibe Hardback interviews and Frank Alexander's accounts, I thought there wouldn't be much more this docu-film could tell me about the murders of Christopher Wallace (aka The Notorious B.I.G.) and Tupac Shakur. I was wrong. Nick Broomfield is endlessly persistent in his attempts to interview all the leading figures to do with the case. The main coups are the two former cops who he interviews. One, a former member of the FBI undoubtadely puts his own life at risk as he talks about Documents that could prove the guilt of certain members of the LAPD involved in the Biggie murder, as well as the inevitable storm it would cause and the demand from the public for a full internal investigation. Not to mention completely stripping the LAPD, Las Vegas Inforcement and FBI of their credibility. He mentions being offered $250,000 for the documents, but as Broomfield cleverly fires the questions in, each recepient keeps their cards close to their chest and each take care in their answers. None more so than the guy in the Prison (forgot his name!) who is incarcerated for impersonating a Lawyer, and was involved in transferring funds from Phoenix for Suge Knight and various members of LAPD who worked "off duty" for the Death Row Records CEO. He is interview in his cell, with his lawyer present and is constantly reminded that he only has constitutional immunity, but not state. Even still he admits to carrying the "blood money". Both murders were well planned hits, orchestrated by Suge Knight. The motive? Money. Suge owed Tupac $10 million in record sales. Suge was a gangster in real terms, not just his media persona (drug trafficking, crooked cops and FBI, you name it). He panicked when he found out Tupac wanted to Audit Death Row for the money, and that Tupac wanted out of Death Row and had other offers. Cops killed Tupac in Las Vegas on Sept 7th 1996 in a smooth professional style hit organised by Knight. To take the heat off, he then organised the Biggie hit 6 months later. It was simply a smokescreen, and capitalised on a feud orchestrated by Knight some 12 months prior at a Music Awards Ceremony. Tupac had been convinced (wrongly) in Jail that Biggie had set up the hit in 1994 on Tupac. In fact, Tupac, while in Jail after the first attempt on his life, had been set up by undercover FBI agents in Jail, who filled his head with nonsense about Bad Boy. Biggie, in contrast was mild mannered. As was Puffy. They are not gangsters. They never will be, they never have been. Biggie's rapping about hardship when growing up was his media image, in fact it was rather more middle class, as described by his mother Valetta Wallace, who was interviewed on numerous occasions during the film. I really could go on, but if you watch the film then you'll find out. There is some good rare footage of Pac in his prime. He still remains to me one of the all time talented people ever to walk the planet (actor, rapper, poet), and Biggie was just a good guy who made some excellent music. If you know Pac's lyrics, you'll know they are quite brilliant even when "riding on his enemies". His public image was of a ghetto thug, and his upbringing certainly should have moulded him that way. But in actual fact he was articulate, hugely talented and sensitive. Something you just don't see. So go see the film, and the very interesting visit to Yule Creek Pen to see Suge (how they managed it I'll never know!) Nick Broomfield is excellent, although you wonder how he gets so much info for a little white British guy doing his own film, particularly when lives could be at stake. One other good moment is when he visits Biggie's bodyguard (who is about 6ft 7) and he identifies the murderer. And yes I will stop now. GO SEE!
Rating: Summary: What a terrible movie... Review: I have to say, I love Biggie and Tupac, but that was, quite possibly, the worst thing I have ever rented in my entire life. First off, the man who narrated it couldn't pronounce "Tupac". If that wasn't enough, he just jumped all over the place, stuck in a few interviews that had no relevance, threw in a couple scenes that made absolutely no sense, and didn't tell me ANYTHING I didn't already know. Furthermore, the man was boring to listen to, spoke in monotone, and made it evident he barely had any idea what he was talking about. If you're thinking of picking this up, think again. I suggest watching something more interesting.. like the microwave.
Rating: Summary: One word: Amateurish. Review: I regret having bought this DVD. I am a huge fan of both Pac and Biggie and was hoping for a great documentary, after all people were lining up at the Sundance Film Festival 5 deep to see this. Nick Broomfield's techniques are so amateurish I felt embarrassed for him. At one point he "runs out of sound" during an interview, in another part, he chooses to call an important FBI source from his cell phone while DRIVING through traffic. Many of his questions are so full of fluff that one ex cop he questions tells him to ask more specific questions! At one point he approaches someone in a barbershop, seemingly desperate to find someone who knows Biggie--a woman there claims to know him but refuses to be interviewed...why include this??? Broomfield is a rookie at documentaries...I think most film major college students would have made a much better film. Out of the 2 hours of this DVD , I liked maybe 20 min (that included Biggie free styling on a corner when he was younger). If you really want to see this, RENT IT, you'll thank me for it. "Thug Angel" was 3 times better than this.
Rating: Summary: The real scoop Review: I think two or three men (mainly one) Go out out to find out about as much information they can get about 2pac and Notorious B.I.G. They go to some of their old friends, relatives people like that. They even went to Suge Knight that was in prison when they interviewed him. And Biggie's mother and even more 2pac's father in the flesh. All were on this movie. Telling their sides of how they felt and what happened with them since the death of 2pac and Biggie.
Rating: Summary: Broomfield at his best... Review: I've anxiously awaited the release of "Biggie & Tupac" for 3 years now. I've been a huge fan of his work for the last 8 years, having seen a good portion of his movies and having become an avid fan of his style. This is by far his masterpiece! Anyone who enjoys the documentary style should see this. It's truly a work of art! In typical Broomfield style, he pushes his way through people and places that most of us would never even consider going to, never mind having extra body-guards! Having lost a camera-man in what's described as self-preservation, Nick continues his quest for answers. Great quality print, excellent sound-track, very nice extras and an absolutely fantastic movie that really forces people to see how corrupt real life really is. Check it out!
Rating: Summary: Very Compelling Review: I've seen so many Documentarys on 2Pac&Biggie&Read Countless pieces here&there.add this to the pile of Very Compelling&interesting Viewing&theory.funny how so many people have Cashed in on there far to young lives that were taken way before there time&yet nobody is willing to step forward with any answers on there deaths.this Documentary asks&has it's own take on things.this is a story that truly will not go away because these Two Cats left a Major Impact on Rap-Hip-Hop World&the Pop World at large as well.
Rating: Summary: Subpar Review: Much like another reviewer stated, Broomfield has a shady style to him. However, maybe it's not shadyness, but a sort of naiveness... as in the prison scene with Suge Knight, Broomfield disobeys the warden. It's hard to tell which it is, but either Broomfield does not care about how he is supposed to act, or is just utterly clueless on how to go about certain situations.If have already seen a Broomfield documentary, then you know what to expect. If you haven't, chances are high you will be turned-off by his style. Too many times we are shown clips of irrelavent info, or told/shown info about how a certain interview/person didn't work out. Broomfield also tends to try to become part of the story for whatever reason... this is common amongst documentaries, but in the way Broomfield does it just comes across as disingenuous. Another gipe about Broomfield is his tendacy to exaggerate (or even outright lie), and lead the viewer into believing something that is not so. A perfect example would be when Suge Knight approaches to do his interview he tells them to shut off the camera to discuss the interview questions beforehand... while the camera does not get turned off, it is pointed away from Suge. This is all clearly heard/seen... YET Broomfield tells us that his cameraman is not focusing on Suge beause he is scared & looking for an escape route if something goes wrong. As for the subject matter at hand... interesting material that you will not see elsewhere, but overall nothing too compelling. If you've done any reading or viewing on the topic, you already know what is present in this documentary, so don't go in expecting to be presented with any exclusive information. Possibly worthy of a rental, but do not buy this. "Welcome to Death Row", while moreso about the Death Row label than any single individual, presents a much more interesting/watchable piece on the murders that this entire 2hr documentary... so if you are deadset on buying a DVD, I would highly recommend buying "Welcome to Death Row" over this.
Rating: Summary: much new info exposed, but a very sloppy mess Review: No doubt alot of new info is being exposed in this documentary... However the movie it'self is pretty much a sloppy mess and it seems that the boys in the editing-booth forgot to erase plenty of bad stuff in the movie ,for example: They interview a women who had a thing with one of the corrupt police's about they're sexual preference, Nick gets a listen of unreleased Pac-songs while a helicopter (chopper) is flying right above theire heads so u don't actually hear anything, u get to see Nick trying to get interviews from different people but when he doesn't get them AND STUFF LIKE THAT In the movie NICK BROOMFIELD tries to be the new MIKE MOORE appearing in front of the camera and giving comments, He's not anything close to MIKE MOORE... he even looks scared at times while doing an interview with Tupac's cousin MOPREME and walking in BIGGIE's hood. The best moments is when something is actually said and they are not running around trying to get interviews or while having an interview-section asking about sex. Suge Knight is in the movie, but he only talks about staying positive for the children and how much he dislikes drug-dealers...
Rating: Summary: A Fascinating Murder Mystery. Review: Perhaps no murders in the music culture from the last decade have caused so much fascination and debate as those of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. The killings of these two rap stars remain important footnotes in the debate about the influence of rap music and the relevance of rap in today's popular culture. Nick Broomfield's latest film, "Biggie And Tupac," is both an exploration of the gangsta rap underworld and a fascinating search for answers and testimony involving the murders. As was the case with Broomfield's previous icon murder mystery, "Kurt & Courtney" which tried to find a link between Courtney Love and the suicide between her rock star husband, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, "Biggie And Tupac" doesn't solve the case or even come to a solid conclusion. Instead it presents us with a gallery of both corrupt and truth searching characters and lots of questions, many valid. Fans of Broomfield know he will stop at nothing to at least get a few comments, the man will try everything from sneaking mikes to chasing down reluctant sources to get some form of information. The stakes here are higher because the people Broomfield is investigating are not angry Punk rockers or disgruntled former friends but people linked to dangerous California gang circles, corrupt policemen and a record label boss who fashions himself as a modern day Al Capone. What we get out of the film is that Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls started off as good friends and as soon as they found real success with their craft other forces such as Suge Knight began to influence events with a negative air due to money and rivalries with figures such as Sean "Puffy" Combs. The main theory here is that Knight had connections with corrupt L.A. P.D. officers who worked for Death Row records on the side and planned BOTH executions and then blame them on the East Coast vs. West Coast "rap wars." It may sound like a wild idea, but look at the evidence and people Broomfield uncovers and it becomes more valid. And here Broomfield has more material to use. "Kurt & Courtney" was plagued by Courtney Love's restriction of Broomfield using footage and music, and eventhough Shakur's mother doesn't let him use songs, Broomfield uses interviews, early performance footage and photographs to describe the rise of Biggie and Tupac and point out those who were present and witnessed important events. It's a suspenseful ride at times, playing like a real life murder mystery. We learn a great deal about the gang world of California where being a "snitch" is a death sentence and Broomfield gives a tour of the excessive, edgy world of rap music. Bodygaurds and ex-cops are interviewed, all telling what they saw and we realize that indeed these are two murders surrounded by such strange stories, eyewitness accounts and corruption that there is no way these were random killings. And Broomfield does it with gusto and style, never relenting and even going for the big fish when he gets access into a prison facility to face Suge Knight in person. "Biggie & Tupac" is the kind of documentary those who don't even care for rap can enjoy because it is more about the mysteries surrounding the two stars' murders, it plays like a dark detective story that still hasn't found an answer. Broomfield scores again.
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