Biggie and Tupac (2002)

Documentary on the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls and the East Coast/West Coast, hip-hop/rap rivalry that culminated in late 1996 and early 1997.

Director:

Nick Broomfield

Stars:

The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Nick Broomfield

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
The Notorious B.I.G.	...	Himself (archive footage)
Tupac Shakur	...	Himself (archive footage)
Nick Broomfield	...	Himself - Filmmaker
Russell Poole	...	Himself - LAPD Detective
Donald Hicken	...	Himself - Tupac's Teacher
Billy Garland	...	Himself - Tupac's Biological Father
Chico Del Vec	...	Himself - Rapper
Voletta Wallace	...	Herself - Biggie's Mother
Mopreme Shakur	...	Himself - Tupac's Stepbrother
Kevin Hackie	...	Himself - Tupac's Bodyguard
Reggie Wright Sr.	...	Himself - Chief Gangs Officer
Frank Alexander	...	Himself - Tupac's Bodyguard
Sonia Flores	...	Herself - Officer Perez's Girlfriend
Marshall Bigtower	...	Himself - Sonia's Lawyer
Don Seabold	...	Himself - Mark's Lawyer

Storyline

In 1997, rap superstars Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace (aka Biggie Smalls, The Notorious B.I.G.) were gunned down in separate incidents, the apparent victims of hip hop's infamous east-west rivalry. Nick Broomfield's film introduces Russell Poole, an ex-cop with damning evidence that suggests the LAPD deliberately fumbled the case to conceal connections between the police, LA gangs and Death Row Records, the label run by feared rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight.

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Plot Keywords:

rap | hip hop | reference to biggie smalls | three word title | african american | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Crime | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

LA Story

Filming Locations:

Baltimore School of the Arts, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,728, 22 September 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$92,621, 3 November 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmFour,Lafayette Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (2.0)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Russell Poole - LAPD Detective: I almost took my life, but it was my kids that actually saved me. Okay? And, uh... it hurt. I was betrayed by my own department, because of the core values that the Los Angeles police department preached from day one. Honesty. Integrity, okay? Tell the truth, swear to tell the truth; nothing but the truth - so help you God. Do a good job, do a thorough job, work for the community. I believed in the oath of office. I believed in protect and serving the people. I really did, but on the inside and...

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Connections

References The Untouchables (1987)

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Soundtracks

Total Eclipse
Composed by Kristian Hoffman
Performed by Klaus Nomi

User Reviews

How *not* to make a documentary

Biggie and Tupac is a chronology of Broomfield's complete failure to unearth any interesting material on his subjects, totally overshadowed by his blandiose, wooden narration.

I found his attitude and treatment of his subjects to be insufferable, from his attempts at pidgin English (akin to reading Dick and Jane novels aloud) to his unprepared, incompetent interviews (showing up and ambushing people, losing sound files, etc.) Broomfield has a unique talent for getting in the way of the story he is purporting to tell. He was more interested in hearing himself talk, and following his own blundering, as he put up increasing barriers between himself and his subjects.

In addition, how does the director expect us to be engaged by the story, when it is clear he has no interest in hearing what people have to say? Ambush journalism fails when you are being aggressive without asking anything of import. He can't ask an interesting question, how can one expect him to spin a compelling narrative?

This movie was a pathetic attempt by a director worth ignoring.