"All Eyez On Me" Review
When Tupac was at his height of popularity, I was in middle school. So I didn’t really get into Tupac’s music pas what I heard on the radio until I started getting tapes (yes, cassette tapes) from my friends and sneaking to listen to the unedited version in high school. Pac was raw, dynamic, and there’s a reason that he’s still talked about today. Unfortunately, All Eyez On Me doesn’t quite do the legend justice.
The film is like a patchwork quilt. From a far, you can see the full scope of Tupac’s life, but it’s made up of what feels like different films. It starts out framed by Tupac (Demetrius Shipp Jr.) being in the Clinton Correctional Facility in 1995, giving an interview to a journalist (Hill Harper) which allows him to talk about his life up until that point. We see how he comes from a leader and fighter in the Black Panther movement, Afeni Shakur (a stellar Danai Gurira). Which gives room for us to see how Tupac the revolutionary was influenced and raised by his mother.
The movie starts patching in odd or dispensable scenes as it moves toward the Tupac most people know, with his big break in the movie “Juice”. Perhaps the worst thing director Benny Boom could have done was recreate iconic scenes from films that the real Tupac starred in. As an audience, we automatically compare performances, and Shipp Jr. is no match. Yet, this happens multiple times throughout the film, continually throwing us off with each patch. The movie also camps out for a while on Tupac’s rape case in which he’s portrayed as wholly innocent in the matter.
It’s hard to believe that Tupac was only 25 when he passed because he did so much in his short time on Earth. If there’s one thing that the film does capture, it’s how a man can start out on one path in life and end on another. We see how his multiple court cases, the expenses that came with them, and the shady business of the hip hop industry itself led him to sign with Suge Knight (Dominic L. Santana), the infamous owner of Death Row Records. By the time the movie gets to that point, we forget about the Tupac who set out to be a revolutionary and see a man who is fed up with the system and wants to get money because he needs it. That journey is fascinating to watch.
2015’s Straight Outta Compton set a high bar for hip hop biopics because the script, acting and direction were top notch. All Eyez On Me had nothing short of the same type of electrifying material but missed the mark on all levels by settling for a banal form of storytelling with a lead, who despite giving his all, only has brief moments of embodying the dynamic man who was Tupac Shakur. This is a rated R made for TV movie. It’s not bad for Netflix at home, but you might want to save your money at the theaters this weekend on this one.
Rating: C-
"Wonder Woman" Review
With DC’s recent track record, it was hard to be any more than cautiously optimistic going into Wonder Woman. But in the end, it is one of their best films! I’d say it’s my favorite DC comics movie since Christopher Reeve. It might not be a coincidence that Gal Gadot embodies Wonder Woman in a way that’s reminiscent of Reeve. Reeve showed a Superman who actually enjoyed being a hero, even if it was difficult. Gadot’s Wonder Woman is the same and it’s always refreshing to see that on the big screen.
There’s been a trend lately where movies feel like your glass is half full or half empty. But Wonder Woman has moments of intense sadness and despair mixed in with feelings of humor and love. This isn’t just an action movie with some jokes, it’s a film where the central theme is that pain and joy are often never far apart. Some of that comes from the setting. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a film that even tried to capture “the war to end all wars,” but it really works here. The setting and the narrative intertwine very well.
Love is one of the main themes of the film, but it was also clearly a driving force behind the production. Nearly every aspect is put together with a sense of pride and skill that has been missing from quite a few summer blockbusters of recent years. The fight scenes were not just enjoyable, but you could actually see and follow most of the action. When you watch Diana fight, you'll be able to really appreciate her skill and power. The art direction and costume design are perfect, and the soundtrack is fantastic! All the performances are really good, though Etta Candy is underused and several of the villains are not particularly three dimensional.
Director Patty Jenkins giving Gal Gadot instruction.
Everyone is going to be looking at Patty Jenkins as a barometer for the future of women-led blockbusters, which is an unfair and unnecessary burden to place on her shoulders, but what are superhero movies about if not unfair burdens? Jenkins rises to the task, and honestly I’d like to see DC give her a lot more to do in the future.
There are things to quibble with, as always. While it’s the best use of slow motion I’ve seen in years, it is still overused. There’s a framing story that could have been left out, but I could see why some audience members would want it, especially if they’re coming in from the more recent franchise films rather than a comic book background. But none of that takes away from a film that is incredibly enjoyable, and one of the best of its genre.
Rating: A