September 7, 1996. It was supposed to be a night unlike any other. Mike Tyson was defending his Heavyweight Title, proving to one and all that he still reigned in the boxing world. Rapper and friend Tupac Shakur sat ringside, consumed by the excitement and energy of it all. He was supposed to go to a party at Suge Knight's club immediately following the fight"¦he never arrived.
Marked as a night that will forever live in infamy, September 7, 1996, shocked the hip hop world as it stole one of their most promising stars. No one knows exactly what happened that night"”gangs, drugs and violence were a part of Shakur's life"”but when the famed rapper was announced dead six days later, it was clear that an era had unexpectedly come to a close.
Reggie Rock Bythewood's documentary One Night in Vegas takes a look at that night, both with Mike Tyson and Tupac Shakur, and dissects the events to tell the story. But rather than investigate to discover who did the shooting, who made the hit, or the injustice of the LVPD, Bythewood opts to look at a relationship: showcasing how September 7, 1996, marked the end for two rulers, each in their own respective industries.
Two prose speakers steal the show as Bythewood introduces and concludes with them standing in a ring. Their energy and delivery give the film a ruthless edge. To the common eye it won't necessarily strike a chord, but after their intro was complete, I quietly whispered "awesome," as I knew the next hour was sure to be a treat.
Interviews with the likes of Reverend Al Sharpton, and Oscar-winning actor Mickey Rourke give us even greater insight into the two protagonists. Granted, we all know the ending to this tragic story, but the way that the paths of both Tyson and Shakur intertwine and overlap is nothing short of amazing. A good edit and concluding note allows the film to excel, putting its rather short running time of only 53 minutes to full use. One Night in Vegas isn't flawless, but much like its subjects, it deserves its spot on top, if only for a night or two.
