Tale of two halves

Rating: 6/10 (29 August 2015)

Just as this film is a tale of two lifestyles (poor to rich) it is also a tale of two halves.
The first half of this film up until the Detroit concert is excellent, I really enjoyed it and the chronology was sound and character arcs well developed.
The second half however lost focus a bit, while still good, it became more a TV movie biopic rather than the class act that the first half was.
I think the original cut was over 3 hours long and they reduced this down - however maybe they should have left it 3 hours as there are some crazy omissions from the film. The LA riots aren't given appropriate screen time or gravitas, Cubes album the Predator isn't mentioned - despite being the most successful and relevant album any of them made bar Dres The Chronic. Speaking of Dres Chronic, the whole lyrical beef with Eazy is omitted, F with Dre Day isn't in the film and nor is Eazy's rebuttal Real MuthaFu**in Geez. These were pivotal dis tracks in the whole affair. The years from 91 to 95 are glossed over - it would be interesting to see what was cut from the original version.
There is a fair amount of focus on Suge Knight - but this doesn't really work as it could do with a movie of its own, in fact, they should maybe have done two movies - one up to 93 one from 93 to now, then again they obviously and understandably wanted the film to end with the demise of Eazy which wasn't until 95.
It also became somewhat an ode to Eazy E for the last part, which I understand but it was like Cube and Dre are using this as catharsis for whatever guilt they may feel, it doesn't quite ring true though.
Also, if I were MC Ren I would be pretty annoyed at this movie, the guy comes across like a bit player who was just Eazy's sidekick - no back-story at all. Shame.
Anyway as said, the first half of this film was brilliant - gritty funny obscene raw, the second half - well it just felt like a made for TV drama. They should have left the film a good half hour longer so that more of the crucial events between 91 and 95 could have been expanded upon.
Worth seeing though.