Biggie and Tupac (2002)
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81% of critics liked it
(47 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(7,486 ratings)
Nick Broomfield, director of Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam and Kurt and Courtney, unleashes another provocation with Biggie and Tupac. Considering Broomfield's track record, that the film is dangerous, sensational, and occasionally very funny is no surprise. What is somewhat shocking, in a very… More Nick Broomfield, director of Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam and Kurt and Courtney, unleashes another provocation with Biggie and Tupac. Considering Broomfield's track record, that the film is dangerous, sensational, and occasionally very funny is no surprise. What is somewhat shocking, in a very rewarding and commendable way, is how moving Biggie and Tupac is. Using archival footage of the two rap stars and interviews with many of those involved, Broomfield uncovers significant evidence that corrupt LAPD cops were involved in the two deaths, and that the FBI was doing surveillance on Biggie (Christopher Wallace) on the night he was murdered. Broomfield's film also strongly suggests that Death Row Records head Suge Knight orchestrated both murders. Few satisfactory conclusions are drawn, but the film should at least encourage further investigation of these claims. By running the camera constantly, even before the interviews begin, Broomfield frequently catches his subjects off guard. But even if Broomfield had uncovered nothing, Biggie and Tupac would still be an entertaining and valuable telling of the tragic deaths of two talented young men. The filmmaker's interviews with Biggie's friends, and particularly his charming mother, Voletta Wallace, paint a picture of a surprisingly sensitive and goodhearted young man. Broomfield was granted less access to Tupac Shakur's family (Tupac's mother is still involved in business dealings with Knight; she doesn't appear in the film and she refused Broomfield permission to use Tupac's music), but he still manages to expose the controversial rapper's essential humanity. Some will find Broomfield's sarcastic and edgy attitude grating. He doesn't have the puppy-dog charm of a Michael Moore. But with Biggie and Tupac, he's shown a bit more of his sensitive side, and he's taken a step forward as a filmmaker. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Nick Broomfield
- Genres
- Documentary, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 11, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- Channel 4 Television
Critic Reviews
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Compulsively watchable and endlessly inventive as it transforms Broomfield's limited materials into a compelling argument.
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John Petrakis, Chicago Tribune
You don't need to know your Ice-T's from your Cool-J's to realize that as far as these shootings are concerned, something is rotten in the state of California.
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Alona Wartofsky, Washington Post
Broomfield's style of journalism is hardly journalism at all, and even those with an avid interest in the subject will grow impatient.
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Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Most of the information has already appeared in one forum or another and, no matter how Broomfield dresses it up, it tends to speculation, conspiracy theories or, at best, circumstantial evidence.
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Manohla Dargis, Los Angeles Times
Bristles with the sort of passion and bold purpose so often lacking in contemporary nonfiction filmmaking.
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Cast
- Tupac Shakur
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Nick Broomfield
as Himself
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Suge Knight
as Himself
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Biggie Smalls
as Himself
- Notorious B.I.G.
- Snoop Dogg
- Biggie "The Notorious B.I.G." Smalls
