Customer Reviews

Biggie & Tupac: The Story Behind the Murder of Rap's Biggest Superstar

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Suge killed Pac and BIG! Watch this movie, they explain how suge set them both up. They talk about him and the fake cops! All i can say is go see it!

This movie is the best movie/DVD of 2002 to Suge Knight to Lil Cease this is am must have movie

Those expecting any type of insight on the lives or careers of Shakur or Biggie should probably avoid. While there is some mention of Biggie, most of the film is dedicated to the murder investigations.

While the "truth" behind what really happened should obviously be the focus of this film, I felt that a lot more should have been done with telling the audience the backstory. There is little to no mention of the actual feud that these two had. If you don't know anything about Death Row or the artists in the title then you may have trouble following the film. Most of the facts are presented poorly and some of the information like the reports of Snoop being scared for his life are poorly-researched, one-sided, and very much opinionated.

As a huge fan of this entire story, I was bored to death and those who would like a more professional-looking account of the events may want to check out the VH-1 "Behind The Music" on The Notorious B.I.G.

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.

WHEN I HEARD THAT THEY WERE MAKING A MOVIE ON BOTH BIGGIE AND 2PAC I WAS ANXIOUS 2 SEE THIS. I OWN ALMOST EVERY 2PAC AND B.I.G. ALBUM AND WAS FURIOUS WHEN THEY WERE MURDERED. BUT NOW WE HAVE THIS MOVIE WHICH TRIES 2 SOLVE THE MURDER CASES THAT WERE CLOSED YEARS AGO. I BELIEVE AS THE MOVIE TRIES 2 CONVINCE THAT SUGE KNIGHT WAS BEHIND THE MURDERS. BUT THE STREET GANGSTA THAT SUGE PORTRAYS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS IS NOT SHOWN IN HIS INTERVIEW. INSTEAD HE LOOKS LIKE A BIG PAUL BUNYAN WHO WOULDNT HURT A FLY. THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE BESIDES THE 2 RAPPERS ARE NICK BROOMFIELD(DIRECTER), SUGE KNIGHT, VIOLETTA WALLACE(BIGGIES MOTHER), AND RUSSEL POOLE A RETIRED DETECTIVE WHO CLAIMS THAT THE LAPD MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING 2 DO WITH THE MURDERS. THIS MOVIE DOESNT SOLVE THE MURDERS BUT MADE ME BELIEVE THAT THESE KILLINGS WERE NO ACCIDENT, BUT WERE CAREFULLY PLANNED. BY WHO WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

This documentary by the provacative director Nick Broomfield explores the murders of rap artists Tupac Skakur and Biggie Smalls. Using his inimitable, slightly shady style, Broomfield tries to prove that the murders were not the result of an East Coast/West Coast feud, as is commonly believed. Instead, he tries to prove that the rappers were killed as a result of their dealings with Death Row Records and its imprisoned leader, Suge Knight. Highly entertaining and informative, I would have given this DVD five stars if the audio quality was not so poor. Regardless, this film is highly recommended!

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!

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.

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.

What could have been a very interesting doco turns into another messy, barely coherent exercise in vanity by Broomfield.

A major problem is Broomfield's narration of events. His voiceover is so monotone and dull it takes monumental courage to sit through 1.5 hours in one sitting. His sentences are also so repetitive and curt they become pointless. He just keeps saying things like: "I rang him" "He was not there" "This is David" etc. Awful and pure torture to sit through.

As bad is the photography. There is nothing stimulating or visually arresting at all. No nice shots, no attempt to create decent cinematography. Just tedious headshots and inept mistakes. If you like endless shots of LA highway you might enjoy this.

One part of the story is interesting - the LAPDs alleged involvement with Deathrow Records. So Broomfield, as is his wont, decides to sideline this in favour of spurious interviews with glory seekers who actually know nothing or have nothing to say. It is astounding how much of the footage is of aborted meetings or interviews that say nothing yet allude to something great. No-one will say anything on film, instead it's all nudges and winks and vague allusions. And we're meant to take this seriously? I reckon all these people were having a laugh at Broomfield's expense, at least that's how it seems. In relation to the LAPD story we get the familiar dodgy lawyer and some hispanic woman who had group sex with them. It's pathetic. She reveals nothing of interest, not unlike all the other interviews and soundbites.

Broomfield's techniques are also painfully inept and annoying. His telephone call to an FBI agent is so gauche it's tempting to think the whole thing is a wind-up. Any decent doco maker would approach the matter more seriously. INstead Broomfield just puts himself in front of the camera and makes a fool of himself. Such as when he bursts into a barber and expects people to take about Biggie's shady past!

There are a dozen better docos on each day on History Channel alone. Even Broomfield has done better than this with Kurt & Courtney. Sadly Biggie and Tupac is a missed opportunity - it's tedious, shallow and takes the viewer nowhere, slowly.