Customer Reviews

Biggie & 2pac [VHS]

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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!

This documentary is excellent and very chilling! I love 2Pac's music but if you don't, or don't even like rap, this film will still hold you in suspense. It presents a very controversial theory, that seems to be backed up very well, that Suge Knight is responsible for the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. There are many interviews and testimonies from different people involved with Death Row and the police. The director risks his own life and even gets an interview with Suge near the end. Even the original camerman feared for his life and someone else was brought in. I strongly recommend this film to fans of 2Pac, Biggie, Nick Broomfield, or documentary films in general. Sometimes there are scenes that don't seem really pertinent to the development of the story but they are highly interesting. This film is like a detective story with interesting information that we learn along the way. This film is as much about the making of it as the story. We learn about the hardships the director has as well as the lives of the two subjects and the people who knew them. It's an honest work that will keep you on the edge of your seat begging for more! :D

This DVD is amazing. "Biggie and Tupac" really convinces you that the murder was really powerfull and smart. "Biggie and Tupac" has a lot of interviews, one thing that all the interviews had in common is that the name Suge Knight was included. This whole thing started with one of Suge Knight's nephews went to the east coast before the whole east coast-west coast war happend, and suge knight's nephew got killed there. Then the whole east coast-west coast war happend. One year before Tupac got murdered he was shot but he didn't die that time. When Tupac was in jail, some prisoners told him that Biggie was the one that tried to kill you. Then Biggie and Tupac split. It was told that Tupac and Death Row records were Mob Pyrus-(Bloods). Russel Poole sais that the L.A.P.D had crooked cops, and that Suge Knight had dozens of cops on his payroll. This DVD makes it obvious that Suge Knight was the one behind the whole thing. Now come on, its so obvious, Tupac threatened Suge Knight that he would leave Death Row Records and take all his unreleased music with him. So obviously Suge Knight didn't want that to happen so he had him killed. And he killed Biggie after to cause a distraction for the case of Tupac. I cant believe Suge Knight actually fooled everyone. I hope Russel Poole wins his case when he sues the l.a.p.d so that fat [jerk]d Suge Knight can go to jail again. Even biggie's mom sais it so, when she said "Why was the LAPD taking off on the day that Biggie and tupac got shot?" DUH!! Suge Knight controlls like half of the lapd so he told them to take off so he could get away with the killings. Everyone knows it was Suge Knight, but no one wants to talk because they're scared that Suge is going to kill them. Anywayz I dont have to worry cuz its just like the Bible says "What ever goes around, comes around". So since Suge Knight is getting away with this plot now, I guess later in his life he's gonna go to jail 4 lyfe. Imagine if Tupac and Biggie neva got shot, they would still be the kings of hip-hop, not even 50 cent or eminem or dr.dre could beat them. SOLUTE TO TUPAC AND BIGGIE.

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.

This is a documentary about Tupac Shakur (2Pac) and Christopher Wallace (Notorious BIG), who were popular rap music stars in the 1990's, but they were both murdered in their mid-20's barely 6 months apart from each other. Both crimes have never been solved, and British documentarian Nick Broomfield attempts to patch together some possible answers, involving various people either connected to the two artists or to the murder investigation.

Pros:
Broomfield reveals his own shortcomings and fears along the way, debunking the "fearless journalist" image that many in today's news culture like to promote. He apparently accepts an off-camera scolding from Voletta Wallace early on (his narration mentions it), when word comes back to her on his unannounced visits to some of Biggie (Wallace)'s old Brooklyn hang out spots.

Some standout interviews include:

Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace. She is very passionate and forthcoming in assessing the things that went right and went wrong in her son's life.

The high school teacher who Tupac allegedly considered a foster father of sorts; he claims that Tupac had the range to do Shakespeare, having gone to school at a Performing Arts academy.

Tupac's real father is interviewed, and looks like him; the footage is relatively short, concerning him, however-- especially since Afeni is not interviewed.

The ex-cops who were associated with Tupac, or LAPD, who offer lots of interesting views from their perspective on what happened..

shortly after Tupac's death, A bookkeeper who claims that he was paid money to arrange the murder of Biggie Smalls.

A former bodyguard of Biggie who ID's the alleged gunman who shot at Biggie the night he died.. the alleged party, known by name, has to date, never been charged.

Cons:
No involvement from Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur. Given that the Afeni-supported "Tupac: Resurrection" movie (MTV Films) came only a few years later, it is unknown whether she was in negotiations to start that project at the time that Mr. Broomfield began his work, or if she simply just wasn't interested in him for other reasons.

The interview with Suge Knight isn't very revelatory about the murder incident, but given Suge is an incarcerated felon and his history of gangster ethics, it was doubtful he'd set himself up to be labeled as a "snitch" over Tupac's death, whether he was involved or not.

No interviews are seen with anyone representing the LAPD. You have testimony from former officers, but none from LAPD officials themselves. it is unknown if Broomfield attempted to interview anyone from the LAPD.

*************
Assessment: Broomfield comes away with the conclusion that parties at Death Row Records were involved with the deaths of both Tupac and Biggie; accomplices would be parties at the Los Angeles Police Department, cops who moonlighted as "security" for the label who were allegedly crooked and involved with drug trafficking.

Bonus footage includes interviews that didn't make the main film, discographies for both artists, an interview with the filmmaker, and information about the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation.

I was bored last night, and so I decided to head down to my local video store to check out some movies. I went to the documentary section and saw this movie. I picked it up and read the back cover. It seemed promising enough. It was made in 2001, just prior to "Suge" Knight's release from prison. It supposeldy included interviews with a long-time investigator on the case and long-time friends of Biggie and Tupac.

I was somwhat dissapointed after watching the film. The thing about it is that while the director did a good job of getting interviews with people close to the case, he offered little as far as taking the information people gave him and forming some kind of opinion to share; the director seemed very apathetic through out the film and his motive and sincerity were questionable. At points in the film, his attention wavered, floating somewhere else. He showed a lack of professionalism, walking around with his equipment and at certain points when his interviewees said something to him, he reacted with coments showing that he really didn't understand what they were saying or that he really wasn't listening. At one point he goes into about a five minute questioning of a former girlfriend of dirty cops in the case about her sexual relationships with her ex-cop boyfriends--asking her if they had threesomes and what they were like. He shows an interest for sensationalism during an interview with Suge Knight, basically baiting Suge into talking about Snoop Dogg and his feelings about him. All these things have little to do with the actual topic of the movie: Biggie and Tupac.

The production of the movie is annoying and poor. There are times when the microphone does not pick up sounds well enough. The movie is shot in grainy visuals like points in the movie Traffic. The soundtrack is very monotnous, playing one or two songs through out the entire film: Gangstarr songs.

With all the bads about the film, there are some goods. The film offers a rare glimpse into the personal side of Tupac and Biggie. There are interviews with Tupac's biological father, Volletta Wallace, one of Tupac's childhood best friend from baltimore(whom they called whitey), Tupac's teacher in the art school he attended as a teen and other interviews. I felt like I knew a little more about who Biggie and Tupac were, behind the scenes, through these interviews. There is also great footage of Biggie and Tupac hugging on stage and of Tupac in the studio in June of 1996. Some of the interviews are so personal that they can bring you to tears.

Overally, I'd give this flick a 2.5/5. I think there could have been so much more done with the things the director had at his disposal. The interviewees were the stars of the film. The director was a dud.

Your enjoyment of Biggie and Tupac is directly related to your enjoyment of director Nick Broomfield and his bumbling passive-aggressive approach to ambush journalism. He dominates the movie, integrating himself into the story in his search to uncover the culprits behind the slaying of the Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur, two of hip hop's brightest stars, gunned down within months of one another. Six years after the murders no arrests have been made, and while Broomfield offers some possible suspects, he stops short of any definitive conclusion.

He suggests several motives for the killings, but the point of the film is to chronicle his investigation - to present the facts and open a new dialogue about the culture of violence that is prevalent in hip hop - rather than pointing the finger at one guilty party. I find Broomfield's approach highly entertaining, and while he veers off course occasionally - there is a long pointless sequence with an ex-girlfriend of two LAPD officers allegedly tied to Tupac's murder that hinges on the sex lives of the officers, not their criminal behaviour - you have to admire his bravado in chasing down interviews in backrooms, prison yards, anywhere the story takes him. Yet there is a shocking interview with the 'Book Keeper', in his jail cell, possibly spelling out the man behind the slaying of Biggie Smalls.

In the film's final third there is an interview with Suge Knight, head honcho at Death Row Records, a leading rap label. Knight was in prison at the time, and didn't want to do the interview, but through sheer persistence Broomfield got him on camera. You can sense the tension in the sequence. The camera is noticeable jittery, as though the camera operator was have an anxiety attack while shooting, and Broomfield is unusually subdued. Knight begins benignly enough with a `message for the kids' which slowly disintegrates into a hate filled diatribe and death threat against rap artist Snoop Dogg. It is powerful footage, and worth the price of admission.

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.

Biggie & Tupac: The Story Behind the Murder of Rap's Biggest Superstar, I remember this dvd being for sale via a telephone/1800/website and "Not available in stores" and included a "free" mini poster, when I brought it for $24.99 +s/h. I was disappointed. not too much On pac, I am not a fan of Big, It was long, although it did present some good questions here and there.Sadly, like most after Pac's Death(Including Pac's Mom/Family and Ms.Wallace and Pdiddy and Co.), It's trying to profit off a Dead Man.

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.