I was never a fan of Biggie (yes, since before the East Coast-West Coast media war). I saw him at the Tunnel as a kid in NY right around the time Juicy dropped. He was slovenly, rude, and could barely make it through his performance. I was totally turned off. I could never quite shake that image of him even as his legend and influence grew. He always seemed like that Tunnel guy. As an adult, I have an appreciation for his artistry even though I enjoy so very little of it.
But watching this trailer reminds me of my feeling that Hollywood is incapable of rendering any rapper’s life realistically and artfully. I think this has to do with their perception that black men are contradictions, instead of complex human beings. That perception always leads to oversimplification.
This film probably focuses a lot on Big’s war with Pac instead of the relationship between Big and Puff. Or between Big and Faith and Kim (ugh, even Charli, if you wanna be a completist).
That said, this trailer convinces me that Derek Luke gives the performance of a lifetime as Puffy. It shows very little of Anthony Mackie as Tupac, but the few scenes here are glaringly false and artificial.
Which brings me to my real question:
Where is the film about ‘Pac?
Afeni?!
