Disc Details
Special Features:	Commentary by director Nick Broomfield Theatrical trailer(s) Additional scenes including previously unseen footage Nick Broomfield follow-up interview Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur discographies Christopher Wallace Memorial Fund information
Video Format:	Widescreen (1.66:1) [SS-DL]
Languages:	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles:	none.
Captions:	No
Casing:	1-Disc Keep Case

A follow-up to Broomfield's acclaimed "Kurt and Courtney," "Biggie and Tupac" stops short of trying to solve the murders, but makes a fairly convincing case as to who the perpetrators were and why they weren’t brought to justice. Like similar films in this investigative documentary genre however, "Biggie and Tupac" leaves more questions than answers.

The film occasionally dips into a region I call "VH-1 Behind the Music" syndrome, partly because of the overly-serious narrative by Broomfield, but one has to wonder whether the filmmaker is attempting to subtly poke fun at the lifestyles of many in the Biggie and Tupac posses.

It's clear Broomfield's done his homework, and his fearless persuit for the truth leads him to some interesting corners, including an interview with the infamous and hugely intimidating Shuge Knight in prison (his cameraman is in fact so scared that he frequently points the camera to the floor during the interview). Though plodding at times, "Biggie and Tupac" is an unbiased and fascinating look at one of hip-hop's biggest controversies.

Picture Quality: 8/10
It's a bit difficult judging DVD transfers of documentaries, considering the source material is typically not of the sharpest quality either. Having seen "Biggie and Tupac" at Sundance back in January, I have to say that Ventura HV has kept the DVD transfer quite faithful to the film's theatrical release. The washed out colors and imagery are remnants of even the original print, and the quality of the archival footage Broomfield uses also varies greatly. Overall, though, the DVD transfer seems decent, and any problems are due to the film itself.

Sound Quality: 7/10
Audio is presented in a Dolby Digital Stereo mix. Broomfield's narration is always clear (thanks to a Robin Leach-esque english accent), but it sounds a bit tinny. When music (predominately hip-hop) is used, it also follows the same tendencies.

Menu: 9/10
The main menu is animated with animated transitions to standard interactive still frame menus and all are easy to navigate.

Extra Features: 8/10
Director Nick Broomfield contributes a number of interesting supplements to this release, making it one of the more complete feature sets I've seen on a documentary release. Most informative is a commentary track that allows Broomfield to delve even further (if you can believe that) into subjects only hinted at in the film. He also has some interesting and funny tidbits about the production itself. A case where the commentary track adds a whole other dimension to the film itself.

Broomfield also offers some historical perspective and making-of information in a 13-minute follow-up interview feature. A collection of 15 deleted scenes offers some interesting stuff from the cutting room floor, including a few failed (and funny) attempts to obtain interviews.

Additional Information offers detailed bios of many of the case's relevant parties, and it's a helpful resource for keeping track of all the conspirators. Discographies for Tupac and Biggie and a filmography for Broomfield offer more background information.

Information on the charitable organization that was established by Biggie's mother after his death is also included.

The Final Word:
While Broomfield may not have hit as strong a chord with "Biggie and Tupac" as he did with his "Kurt and Courtney," it's a challenging documentary that more often than not raises more questions than it can answer. Kudos to Broomfield and Ventura Distribution for releasing such a complete set of extra features. The commentary track is a perfect accompaniment to the documentary, giving fans Broomfield's work something to cheer about.

Stephen Wong