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.	...	Self (archive footage)
Tupac Shakur	...	Self (archive footage)
Nick Broomfield	...	Self - Filmmaker
Russell Poole	...	Self - LAPD Detective
Donald Hicken	...	Self - Tupac's Teacher
Billy Garland	...	Self - Tupac's Biological Father
Chico Del Vec	...	Self - Rapper
Voletta Wallace	...	Self - Biggie's Mother
Mopreme Shakur	...	Self - Tupac's Stepbrother
Kevin Hackie	...	Self - Tupac's Bodyguard
Reggie Wright Sr.	...	Self - Chief Gangs Officer
Frank Alexander	...	Self - Tupac's Bodyguard
Sonia Flores	...	Self - Officer Perez's Girlfriend
Marshall Bigtower	...	Self - Sonia's Lawyer
Don Seabold	...	Self - 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:

character names as title | reference to the notorious b.i.g. | reference to tupac shakur | rap | hip hop | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Crime | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

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 Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

Return of the Outlawz
Performed by Mopreme Shakur

User Reviews

Pretty interesting

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

The 'thug lifestyle' surrounding hardcore rap music is thankfully just an image thing with the majority of it's singers.Sadly,a gunman didn't seem to feel that way of the titular duo.This is the sad true story of Biggie Smalls and Tupac (or 2Pac) Shakur,two of gangsta raps most famous icons who both met tragic untimely deaths at the hands of gunmen (or just one gunman?),and all in a relatively short time-frame of each other.No,rap and what it preached was not just business to these two individuals.....it meant life.Nick Broomfield's documentary charts how the East-Coast/West-Coast rivalry came about,and how the one time two best friends allowed fame and money to corrupt them and turn them pretty much into sworn enemies.Digging up archive footage and mixing it with interviews,it inevitably drags in parts,but for the most part it's very engrossing stuff and certainly evokes many thoughts and opinions on what really went on.***

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

Gross USA:

$94,874

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$146,419

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmFour, Lafayette Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (2.0)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1