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Director: Curtis Hanson
Release Date: November 8th, 2002
Rating: R (for strong language, sexuality, some violence and drug use).
See it on Amazon
 There has been more hype for 8 Mile than Eminem's last album. Although this movie wasn't available on the Internet before it hit the theaters, there are plenty of people talking about it. When the movie was finished, producer Brian Grazer (the same producer of A Beautiful Mind) went as far to say that Eminem should be up for best actor this year and that "He's turned in a performance that reminds me of Stallone in Rocky."
Statements like that coupled with the overwhelming advertising hype are enough to make anyone wonder if there is more to Eminem than just the controversial songs.
Winning the uphill battle
Although Eminem is extremely talented, that talent has been overshadowed by the content of his songs that cover such topics as killing his wife and raping his mother. Seeing that theme in his lyrics tone down (just a little) with the release of The Eminem Show, it is evident that he is willing to move past the shock factor that some considered needed to help the rap world get over him being white. In fact, he has showed a more personal side to his lyrics and has started explaining his feelings as opposed to just spitting out his initial, primal instincts.
Now that Eminem has jumped that impossible "white" hurdle and even made it on the cover of The Source, he can let his talent shine more than his lawsuit-attracting lyrics. But, as 8 Mile shows, that talent doesn't stop with the music.
How hard is it to play yourself?
8 Mile's story is very familiar. Eminem plays a young rapper growing up in Detroit with a dysfunctional family straight off of Jerry Springer. While working a below-minimum wage job, he is trying to make it in a rap world that doesn't accept whites.
It's hard to read the plot and not think that this movie is just another singer's failed attempt at Hollywood stardom (Cool as Ice and Glitter). On the contrary, Eminem has set himself out as the next all-in-one multitalented star. He puts off a memorable performance that could very well end up at the Oscars. This movie is not about Eminem winning the day with ease like some superhero; it's Eminem being so scared to get on a stage that he pukes on himself. Then when he finally makes it up there, he chokes and becomes the scorn of the whole city.
Then it is Eminem getting in all-too-real arguments with Kim Basinger, who plays his dysfunctional mom, in the middle of their trailer park home. With the world making fun of him, his only support is his friends, who he is tired of thinking they know what is best for him. It's someone with a screwed-up life trying to keep going.
It shouldn't be any surprise to anyone that Eminem is a talented actor since he never really killed his wife nor did he rape his mother. With that said, 8 Mile is more in Eminem's realm since the movie is based loosely off of his own life story. What will put Eminem over-the-top is if he plays a role in a movie that has nothing to do with the world we've known him in.
Those annoying plot holes
While Eminem and the supporting cast were great, there were some annoying plot holes in the film. For the life of me, I could not figure out what angle Brittany Murphy's character was coming from. Was she trying to play Eminem? Was she just a slut? There is never a real explanation.
Also, the little girl that lives with Eminem and his mom was never clearly defined as to who she was. My best guess is that it was Eminem's little sister, but in songs throughout the movie suggest that she was his daughter.
Bringing light to Rap Battles
Eminem has established himself as one of the greatest freestylers in the industry. With the ability to come up with a rhyme about virtually anything at any time, many rappers have been left in defeat when competing against Eminem in a duel of rhymes. The cultural phenomenon of the rap battle has stayed fairly underground since it started. That leaves most people with only hearing what is produced by major record labels - which is typically crap.
Some of the greatest lines in rap have been birthed on the spot in freestyling. 8 Mile has shed some light to this part of the rap world and rap may never be the same afterwards. As opposed to people focusing on who's got the biggest car or the shiniest jewelry, they might actually start looking at talent.
8 Mile contains some explicit sex scenes, sexual references, plenty of vulgar language, violence, drug use, and Eminem. I guess I could have just said that Eminem stared in the movie and that would have covered everything. For those who are fans Hip Hop and those who appreciate a good story of overcoming the worst of circumstances, this is a must-see movie.
Related links:
8 Mile official website
Eminem's offical website
The Music Industry is slitting its own throat
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