JUICE

Release Date: January 17, 1992 Director: Ernest R. Dickerson Writers: Gerard Brown and Ernest R. Dickerson Musical Score: Bomb Squad Available on: Paramount Home Video Length: 95m Rating: R Box Office Sales: $20.15 million Cast: Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur (Bishop), Jermaine Hopkins, Khalil Kain, Cindy Herron, Vincent Laresca, Samuel L. Jackson Tupac's first movie, he got the part on accident after going to an audition with a friend of his. He was critically acclaimed for his part of Bishop, and he modeled his Thug image after the character in the movie.   A great movie! Four Harlem friends hang out and look for a way to get the power and the respect they call "Juice." One hopes to be a DJ, but another of the crew wants to make it big with an armed robbery--and he wants his buddies to help him. A powerful tale of urban l ife, backed with the beat of Big Daddy Kane, Salt N' Pepa and more.

 

BULLET

Release Date: January 21, 1997 Director, Julien Temple Writers: Bruce Rubenstein and Sir Eddie Cook Sudio: New Line Home Video Available on: New Line Home Video Length: 96m Cast: Mickey Rourke, Tupac Shakur (Tank), Ted Levine, Adrien Brody This movie flat out sucked, even Tupac's performance couldn't make it worth watching. This was released straight to video after Tupac died.   White wannabe Gangsters. You only get one shot at revenge! In this gritty, street-wise thriller, Rourke is a freshly released convict who finds his old criminal lifestyle drawing him back into the line of fire. The late rap sensation Shakur is terrific as Rourke's old nemesis, an inner city druglord. Stylish and powerful.

 

POETIC JUSTICE

Release date: July 23, 1993 Director: John Singleton Writer: John Singleton Musical Score: Stanley Clarke Studio: Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Companies Available on: Columbia Tristar Home Video and Baker & Taylor Home Video Length: 109m Rating: R Box office sales: $27.5 million Cast: Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur (Lucky), Tyra Ferrell, Regina King, Joe Torry, Maya Angelou, Tone Loc, Q-Tip, Keith Washington One of the best known things about this movie was how Janet Jackson did not get along with Tupac, she refused to even kiss him unless he got tested for AIDS. Later 2pac said he wishes he could patch things up with Janet, and that he was just immature when they made the movie.  Pretty good movie, Tupc had to play a softer character in this one. One of pop's reigning superstars makes her film debut in this street-smart love story from Boyz N The Hood director John Singleton. Jackson shines as Justice, an inner city poet on a romantic collision course with aspiring musician Shakur. An unforgetta ble drama featuring the music of Naughty By Nature and Tony! Toni! Tone! and the poetry of Maya Angelou.

 

GRIDLOCK'D

Release Date: January 29, 1997 Director: Vondie Curtis Hall Writer: Vondie Curtis Hall Studio: Gramercy Pictures Musical Score: Stewart Copeland Length: 91m Rating: R Cast: Tim Roth, Tupac Shakur (Spoon), Thandie Newton The first major movie released since Tupac's death, it was also another good movie.  This one was a comedy and I especially enjoyed the first scene, when they both think the ho has overdosed.   Damn hilarious! Runaway excitement! Tupac and Roth are deadbeat musicians with a problem--they have something that a gangster will do anything to get--and the cops want it too! The only way to survive is to hit the streets and run. Features a dynamite rap soundtrack!

 

ABOVE THE RIM

Release date: March 23, 1994 Director: Jeff Pollack Writer: Jeff Pollack Musical Score: Marcus Miller Studio: New Line Cinema Available on: New Line Home Video Length: 97m Rating R Box office sales: $16.9 million Cast: Duane Martin, Tupac Shakur (Birdie), Leon, Marlon Wayans, Tonya Pinkins, Bernie Mac Tupac once again takes on the Thug image. This movie also has a great soundtrack. A great Tupac movie, would be better if he had a bigger part though. Inner-city basketball star Kyle Lee Watson has a shot at a college scholarship. But with promises of easy money and fast living, a gang leader convinces Kyle that he should play for his street team instead. Now Kyle's career--and his life--hang in the bal ance. Gritty and powerful, with eye-popping hoops sequences.

 

GANG RELATED

Release Date: Fall 1997 Director: Jim Kouf Writer: Jim Kouf Studio: Orion Pictures Cast: James Belushi, Tupac Shakur (Rodriguez), Lela Rochon, Dennis Quaid Tupac's last movie.. doesn't that say enough? Tupac must have liked the fact that he got to play a corrupt cop in this one..definately one of his best. no-holds-barred police thriller! Belushi and Shakur (in his final role) are corrupt detectives who murder drug dealers for their money. But when they kill an undercover cop, it traps them in a web of deceit they may not be able to escape!