100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 136: All Eyez On Me

Director: Benny Boom
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 139 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Demetrius Shipp Jr., Danai Gurira, Kat Graham, Lauren Cohan

Description: Tells the true and untold story of prolific rapper, actor, poet and activist Tupac Shakur.

Review: Tupac Shakur contradicted himself in a lot of ways. According to his lyrics he was a pure revolutionary, but also a gangster who did everything for money. And he was a misogyn and someone who cared about the fate of women. But he managed to combine all these contradictions, in his music and personality. The makers of “All Eyez On Me” wanted all of this too, but didn’t manage. It’s a fast biopic filled with important moments in Tupac’s life. But it never hits the core.
That two and a half hours isn’t enough to tell his story, proofs how dramatic his short life was. Tupac was only 25 when he died. And it mostly focusses on his career from 1991 to 1996. “All Eyez On Me” makes the mistake most makers of biopics make: after a good build up, the movie loses itself by showing a series of highlights in a very fast pace. Basically because there isn’t enough time. It would have been better if this film focused on a small part of Tupac’s life, instead of his entire life.
Director Benny Boom didn’t manage to execute it well. He wanted to show Tupac as the revolutionary that he was, but he also wants to make a more Shakespearian drama, with quotes from Hamlet. But we mostly see a man who hasn’t been done justice his whole life, by his family, friends, enemies and the law.
Demetrius Shipp Jr. looks exactly like Tupac Shakur and this is probably the main reason why he was cast in this role. It’s obvious he studies Tupac and he manages to imitate. But there is a lack of depth and you’re constantly looking at an actor playing Tupac, instead of actually seeing Tupac Shakur.
This all makes “Alle Eyez On Me” a rushed biopic and not the film Tupac Shakur deserved.

Rating: 2,5/ 5