Like a lot of folks in my generation, I’m old enough to remember the music, the cultural importance, and the memory of Tupac Shakur. Having grown up in a household where the multihypenate’s All Eyez on Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory albums played regularly, there was no question of whether or not I’d go see the Tupac biopic whenever it finally opened in theaters.
Directed by Benny Boom, All Eyez On Me offers a pretty solid look at the life and times of Shakur — a man who’s efforts in music and film before his death in 1996 made him an eternal mainstay in Black culture. With Demetrius Shipp, Jr. in the lead role, it’s almost as if Shakur is onscreen himself, ripping Death Row Records all over again — thanks to the uncanny resemblance Shipp shares with him and to the fervor, charm, and swagger Shipp manages to channel.
Shipp, who enters the film near the end of Shakur’s teen years, seems to grow into the character as the film progresses — which made for quite a few sit-up-and-squint moments for me and my fellow moviegoers before the theater lights came up.
Still in its opening weekend, All Eyez On Me has already generated a lot of buzz — especially following the social media clarification shared by Jada Pinkett Smith, who spoke to a few of the films inaccuracies regarding her relationship with Shakur.
Knowing that biopics are often reimagined and loosely based on a true story, All Eyez On Me serves more as a celebration of the Tupac that inundated our movie screens, our speakers, and our hearts and minds as he did it for the culture.
In addition to Shipp’s solid portrayal, actresses Danai Gurira and Kat Graham also deliver effective performances as two of the most important women in Shakur’s life. In fact, Kat Graham is surprisingly convincing as a young Jada Pinkett, almost nailing the actress’ mannerisms and cadence.
All Eyez On Me was worth the wait, and, despite being a bit lengthy, is worth the watch. At the very least, go for the nostalgia factor and be prepared to rap along with the soundtrack selections.