Movie Review by Neils Hesse
Starring: Tupac Shakur
Director: Lauren Lazin
Tupac Shakur passed away at the promising age of 25 at the very point when he was finally about to start getting true star status in both the film and music worlds. In the film Tupac is visually resurrected through archival footage, and for once he himself tells us his version of his life story literally from day one to just before that fateful day in 1996 when he was gunned down.
From his days in high school playing with school mate Jada Pinkett (now Jada Pinkett Smith), practicing ballet through to his first rap appearances, his rape charges, police battery charges, assault charges, his multi million selling albums, acting and his stint in “sing-sing”, this film tells it all actually. Tupac tells it all, straight from the proverbial horse’s mouth.
It initially feels very strange to hear and see a man whom has passed away walking and talking about his future and his apparent acceptance of death. As he puts it, “Somebody’s gonna kill me someday”. And sadly enough this came to pass. The real achievement of this film is the way in which it depicts the various interview footage of Tupac into being an accurate ongoing journey through his life. Tupac Shakur more than holds or grips your attention throughout the film with his many different personas and passion for life and rapping as a means to truly expressing himself.
The direction from Lauren Lazin is good as he firmly lets the film concentrate on Tupac and not other people’s views on him and this is ultimately the whole aim of the film.
All in all this film is very inspiring but it will probably mainly attract his many fans although it is good viewing for everyone.
