When Tupac Shakur was murdered in Las Vegas in 1996, the musician had already experienced a life so full of twists and turns its incredible to think he was only 25 years old.

That life is explored in the bio-pic “All Eyez on Me,” a wildly uneven film that won’t do much for Shakur’s legacy. Directed by Benny Boom (known more for music videos than feature films) and featuring three screenwriters, “Eyez” takes a story that has so much to say and ultimately says very little.

“Eyez” starts with Shakur (played by Demetrius Shipp Jr.) in prison, telling his life story during an interview. Raised by his mother Afeni Shakur (Danai Gurira), there was always a sense of changing the world and defying authority. 

His rebellion fueled his career, with his big break coming with Digital Underground and his star only taking off from there.

As Shakur’s popularity skyrocketed, so did his legal troubles and issues with law enforcement – culminating in his nine month prison sentence in 1995.

The film blasts through all this in such a rapid fire that it never allows any of the moments to truly breathe. Here is a guy that was childhood friends with Jada Pinkett (Kat Graham), had to deal with his mother’s battle with drugs, and seemed to have lost everything with the 1995 conviction for sexual assault before being resurrected by Death Row Records head honcho Suge Knight (Dominic L. Santana).

Watching “All Eyez on Me” is like listening to a greatest hits compilation where midway through one song the recording skips to the next song. For most of the 140 minute running time the film plays like a bio-pic suffering from ADD – unable to focus on elements of Shakur’s life that could have given more insight to his legacy.

It’s not until the final act, when Shakur gets involved with Knight does the film find some focus. Those scenes are among the film’s best, making a great case for why Knight’s story needs to be a feature film as well.

To his credit Shipp, Jr. embodies Shakur quite well, a performance that really captures the style and mannerisms of the young rapper. He’s the one shining beacon in a film that often seems at odds with itself.

Shipp, Jr., and Shakur, deserve a better movie.

Starring: Demetrius Shipp Jr., Danai Gurira

Directed by: Benny Boom

Rating: R for language and drug use throughout, violence, some nudity and sexuality

Playing at: Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: C