Tupac Shakur: Before I Wake... (2001) User Reviews

Draw Your Own Conclusions Based on the Facts

[bezola · 18 January 2002]

The DVD version of Before I Wake is definitely what all Pac fans have been waiting for. All of the photos take you back to a time when Pac was feeling good about the possibilities of life & what it had in store. The director commentary is also very insightful in letting viewers know that this is a documentary and that everyone must draw their own conclusions based on the facts known. After viewing & digesting all of the facts a couple of times, watch with the commentary on to see if all of your conclusions stay the same. This video is definitely recommended to anyone who has an inkling of an idea of who Tupac Shakur was & of his demise.

Compelling documentary about the life and death of Tupac Shakur.

[ish416 · 10/10 · 23 August 2001]

This documentary is an awesome display of talent and hard work. It shows the man behind the music: Tupac Shakur in his element. It gives the details of his death with honesty, without sensationalism. I recommend this movie to anyone even remotely interested in Tupac.

Very informative, find out stuff you never knew...

[geeteeja · 10/10 · 17 August 2001]

This documentary was put together very well. It clearly outlines what happened the night of Tupac's shooting, and it finally puts to rest the rumor of Tupac being alive. Pac's bodyguard, Frank Alexander, was actually in the car behind Tupac when the shots were fired. His story is very compelling. The pictures are great, the videos bring back great memories, the music is slammin, and the interviews reveal a lot. This video is a must see for any Tupac fan.

TUPAC REST IN PEACE...UR HOME BOY.

[probodi · 10/10 · 24 November 2001]

I READ THE BOOK "GOT YOUR BACK" and it was off the hook, Great job to Frank Alexander Pac's former bodyguard! I recommend that all of the true Tupac fans read the book and check out the Documentary "Before I Wake" I've seen this movie and it's truly as good as the book due to the fact I've read the book and all the facts are so consistent to one another. I can't wait until one day the book is turned into the movie...I'm truely a Tupac fan and I can't tell you how this movie and the book has helped me understand what happen to the GREATEST RAPPER of our time! Tupac may you be in heaven and may God Bless your Soul one day we'll meet again...UR HOME BOY!

Moves at a snail's pace but indispensable

[mdinfo1 · 3 February 2002]

Documentaries about Tupac Shakur can be tricky business. On the one hand, he is a fascinating subject, on the other hand, filmmakers can rarely get a hold of his music or interview the important people needed to tell the full story. Tupac's music is controlled by his Mother and she hasn't sanctioned an official documentary thus far. And with it only being 5 years since Tupac's murder, most of the important parties associated with him are reluctant to talk. "Before I Wake" makes a valiant effort but is hindered by the same things I mentioned previously. WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD: This film is basically an interview with Tupac's bodyguard that is somehow stretched out into 90 minutes. The film maker's cannot use any of 2Pac's music, his videos or concert fotage, so they rely on still pictures that they repeat over and over again. Credit must be given to the editors though who use a moody instrumental score, creepy sound effects and a dark visual style that makes an impression. Essentially, "Before I Wake," boils down to a brief bio of Tupac followed by a recap of his legal problems. The main focus of the documentary is his murder in 1996. We get a blow by blow, often minute by minute summary of his final day before the shooting. The bodyguard has an interesting story to tell. Unfortunately, his story drags on and on. Which does add some suspense but it gets to be overkill. Like the filmmaker's are teasing the audience with a big revelation that never comes. In a nutshell, the film reveals that Tupac's security detail messed up big time that day in Vegas and that the Las Vegas police did a terrible job of investigating the shooting. No big surprises there. Nonetheless, "Before I Wake" is an indispensable document on Pac's murder and his troubled last years. The film will make you miss him terribly. And wonder just why he seemed destined to die young.