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Born to play this role? |
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Shockwaves resounded as the words "Oscar" and "Eminem" were heard in the same sentence! Could this be true.....? |
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Born to play this role? |
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Shockwaves resounded as the words "Oscar" and "Eminem" were heard in the same sentence! Could this be true.....? |
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What's the Plot?
Detroit. 1995. The 8 Mile road is a dividing line between urban and suburban decay and wealthy, black and white. Jimmy "Rabbit" Smith Jnr (Eminem) lives on the black side in a trailer with his mum, Stephanie (Kim Basinger) and his little sister, and hangs around with his small group of friends led by Future (Mekhi Phifer). As the host of the local "rap battle contest", Future knows that Jimmy could prove to be more than a match for anyone if only they could stop him freezing up during the competition. He definitely has the talent but before Jimmy can step up, he must deal with who he is; his mother; the new girl on the scene - Alex (Brittany Murphy) and the possibility that his friends are holding him back. And that's just before the battle of words can begin.
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The Review From views of a city in a shocking state of decay through to an almost balletic final showdown on the mic where the camera freely moves around the contestants as it it were in a boxing ring, 8 Mile serves up the expected clichés that this kind of film deserves but does it in such a way that you don't notice them until afterwards. A lot of that delaying tactic is down to Eminem who shockingly, and yes, I admit, is damn good. Whether he was born to play the role or vice versa, it doesn't matter because the harsh truth is, if he didn't make the grade then 8 Mile would unquestionably fall as most of the movie has to be carried on his shoulders.
If recognition bells begin to sound then well done! 8 Mile is another take on the individual from the wrong side of the tracks trying to break out (and free) involving some sort of a showdown - Rocky, Flashdance, Saturday Night Fever, The Karate Kid etc. What they all have in common is that you don't have to like the method in which they express themselves (boxing, dancing or in this case, rapping) to get caught up in the journey and almost cheer them on at the top of your voice. And that's exactly what director Curtis Hanson has given the audience, whilst pulling off a successful hat trick with LA Confidential and Wonder Boys and now this. |
Yes, the supporting cast is solid; Basinger again, like in Hanson's LA Confidental shows that given a good part, she can deliver the goods, whilst Phifer, not matching up to his impressive debut in Spike Lee's Clockers, still holds his own with what essentially the "I believe in you" buddy role. Most of the screentime and story however falls on the white rapper who, "could be good if only he tried." His "chocking" during the opening sequence where his lack of rap gets him booed of stage, as he tries to shield his little sister from the violence he creates and invites with his mom's boyfriend and local rappers, does a wondrous job in hiding the wrath that is finally unlashed in cinematic showdown that is one of the finest in recent memory. Oscar winner! Maybe... Oscar nomination? Definitely! Forget whether you like rap or not, 8 Mile is a bloody great example of it's genre so give it ago.
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Copyright © Steve Murphy 2003
