8 Mile

Starring: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2002

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Follows the story of Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith (Eminem), a white rapper-wanna-be who works at New Detriot Steel and lives at home with his alcoholic mother (Kim Basinger). He desperately wants a new life, and thinks maybe he can get enough street credit as a rapper by participating in rap battles hosted by his best friend (Mekhi Phifer). His life begins to change when he meets a girl (Brittany Murphy), and he begins to realize he's living his life the wrong way.

Review:

Tim: I was absolutely amazed by the performance of Eminem in this movie. With so many films thta star singers/rappers turned actors, their debut film is never that great. And, I don't care who you are- there are at least a few moments in that film when you reveal the fact that you're not an actor, but a musician. Mariah Carey in Glitter, which was an awful movie, for example. Even Britney Spears in Crossroads had a number of moments where she showed she was not an actor first. Unbelievably, Eminem is brilliant throughout this movie. Not for one moment did I question his ability to act. I honestly believed he should have been given an Oscar nomination for his performance, but I guess I can settle for him winning one for best song (Lose Yourself- which, by the way, is one of the best rap songs ever written).

8 Mile is a gritty look at life for lower class people living in Detroit. For those of you who don't know, 8 Mile is the street that seperates the white side of the city from the black side, an appropriate setting for this film. Eminem does a terrific job making you believe everything you see on screen. Before this film, I was not sure how I felt about him, but after seeing him here, I can say that I truly am an Eminem fan. I think the guy is a genius, and listening to him rap in this movie, at times I am simply in awe.

Perhaps the best part of the film is the rap-battles at the end. If you don't know what rap battles are, basically, two people get up on stage and rap, making fun of each other. The end sequence of rap battles is terrific, and Eminem is never more brilliant than he is at this point. I could watch this scene over and over, and be amazed every time. It is hilarious, yet it also goes a long way showing everything Jimmy Smith (or Eminem) for that matter, had to overcome to get where he is. 8 Mile is a terrific film, and it's definitely worth checking out.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 9



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys, Crossroads, "O"