City of Lies (2018)

A Haunting Dive into Truth, Corruption, and the Murder of Biggie Smalls

City of Lies, directed by Brad Furman, is a gripping crime drama based on true events surrounding the unsolved 1997 murder of rap icon Christopher Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G. The film blends real-life conspiracy with dramatic storytelling, uncovering the tangled web of deception, police corruption, and institutional silence that followed one of the most high-profile murders in music history.

Johnny Depp stars as Russell Poole, a former Los Angeles Police Department detective whose life was consumed by the investigation into Biggie’s killing. Obsessed with the case and convinced the LAPD was involved in a larger cover-up, Poole’s career fell apart as he refused to let the truth be buried. Years later, journalist Jack Jackson, played by Forest Whitaker, approaches Poole for help in understanding what really happened. As they team up to dig deeper, the film unfolds through flashbacks, interrogation room sequences, and tense discoveries.

Depp delivers a subdued yet emotionally intense performance, portraying Poole as a man hardened by loss and haunted by the lies he was surrounded by. Forest Whitaker adds balance and empathy, playing a man who begins as a skeptic but becomes pulled into the dark reality beneath the surface.

Visually gritty and atmospheric, City of Lies captures the tension of late 90s Los Angeles and the lingering shadow of racial tension, fame, and corruption. The film doesn’t offer easy answers — instead, it paints a complex picture of power, loyalty, and the cost of seeking justice in a world where truth is often inconvenient.

More than just a murder mystery, City of Lies is a reflection on how institutions protect themselves, how media shapes perception, and how one man’s refusal to look away can become both his curse and his legacy.