Gang Related (1997)

A classic example of a good idea ruined by Hollywood formulas. Jim Belushi and Tupac Shakur (in his last performance) are two corrupt cops with an effective scheme: they rob and kill drug dealers. Unfortunately, one of their victims turns out to be an undercover agent for the DEA, and the two bad cops have to scramble to find a suspect to pin the murder on. Soon they're caught in a web of missing evidence, false witnesses, and frayed nerves--Gang Related could have been a lean film noir, slowly tightening until the men break under the pressure. Unfortunately, this isn't the 1940s, and suddenly the plot takes an absurd twist into the most melodramatic coincidence imaginable. It's too bad. Also featuring the lovely Lela Rochon, James Earl Jones, David Paymer, and a surprise performance by Dennis Quaid. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

Very disappointing!

I caught this the year after it came out in theaters one night on Cinemax. I saw most of the brief movie career of 2pac up until that point with the exception of this and Poetic Justice. I loved Juice, Gridlock'd was ok at the time but I love that movie now as well, Bullet was somewhat enjoyable, and Above The Rim was ok. But I wanted to give Gang Related a look since 2pac was in it. The plot seemed choppy to me and I can't really picture Jim Belushi in a serious role. He was a square peg in a round hole. 2pac's performance wasn't on the level of his Bishop performance in Juice. This film is a pretty disappointing last one for 2pac. Easily one of the worst 100 movies I ever saw. Although it's a bit better than that terrible Cuba Gooding Jr. movie 'Dirty'. But still pass up on Gang Related. The plot here is all over the place. Gang Related just doesn't have the "Juice" like 2pac's first acting role! August 12, 2008

Could have been so much better

Gang Related had me a bit exicted back in 97 it was the last movie performance of Tupac. I was also more of a fan of Tupac the actor than of Tupac the rapper and he's the only good thing in this slow paced and somewhat predictable movie. James Belushi makes a horrible bad guy and Dennis Quaid is watsed. See this one just for Shakur's performance. April 8, 2008

Tupac's final film

Like most people reviewing here, i bought this film to see Tupac, had he not been in the film it's doubtful I would have been interested. Having now watched it, I was quite surprised at how good the film was, especially considering the lack of promotion it seemed to get (in England anyway).

Tupac and James Belushi are cast as two crooked cops who set up drug deals, take the money and then kill the dealers, dishing out their own kind of justice. It all goes badly wrong when they mistakenly kill an undercover cop, and have to continuosly scramble to cover their tracks. Tupac is perhaps surprisingly cast as the better of the two cops, the one with a conscience, a less imaginative director would have probably cast them the other way round. Belushi plays the cop who will do anything to save himself, and to be honest, though Tupac is good in the film, Belushi does steal the show, Pac has more of a supporting role.

There are many twists and coincidences in the plot, and it does keep you on edge, but it is not without it's faults though, the poor ending being the main problem. Overall though this is a very watchable film, and obviously Tupac's final screen performance, recommended. November 18, 2005

better then I expected

Jim Belushi and Tupac have good chemistry as 2 crooked, conflicted cops. Tupac played a good character as a troubled cop. He was willing to bend some rules and put some money in his pocket, but now things have gone entirly too far for him. Jim Belushi plays a dumb cop who continues makes the situation even worse, and believe's he can manipulate his way out of anything. October 20, 2005

gang related

I loved it so much. I love Tupac, and all of his movies are great. This movie has a great cast, also. Youre missing out if you dont buy this. October 9, 2005

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