Synopsis

Corrupt vice detectives Frank Divinci and Rodriguez murder an undercover DEA agent, then discover they have killed the wrong man. To protect themselves, they frame a homeless man named Joe Doe and manipulate the evidence, witnesses, and investigation. As the scheme grows more elaborate, the detectives face mounting pressure from federal agents and the possibility that their deception will collapse.

Factoids & Trivia

• Filming took place in Los Angeles from July 22 through August 30, 1996, only weeks before Tupac Shakur was fatally shot on September 7 and died on September 13, 1996.

• The film became Shakur's final completed movie appearance. It was released in the United States on October 8, 1997, and dedicated to his memory.

• The project is also known by the alternate title "Criminal Intent."

• The production began under Motion Picture Corporation of America. After MPCA was briefly taken over by the revived Orion Pictures, the film was released as an Orion title.

• Jim Belushi recalled playing Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" for Shakur as a possible sampling idea. Shakur liked the song so much that he preferred leaving the original recording untouched.

• An anecdote from the production describes Shakur favoring one or two takes, while Belushi preferred repeating scenes several times. Their contrasting working styles reportedly added tension to their onscreen partnership.