Eight Mile

After I just remembered how awesome L.A. Confidential is, I decided to give in and watch 8 Mile. It wasn't bad.

Eminem’s rap skills have been apparent for some time to our nation’s youth, but his acting skills may catch us by surprise in 8 Mile, a dramatic story of a young rapper’s struggles. Loosely based on the star’s personal life, 8 Mile strives to be an inspirational story of success against the odds.
Director Curtis Hanson, who scored with previous hits Wonder Boys and L.A. Confidential, captures the gritty demise of Detroit’s slums. He ably tracks Eminem’s early days, working at an auto-stamping plant by day, rapping for all sorts of events at night. The rapper might be living with his mom, Kim Basinger, in a trailer park, but he has his sights set higher. His friend, Mekhi Phifer, wants to make deals for him, but Phifer’s idea of getting noticed means competing in insult-spewing rap battles at night. When Eminem gets stage fright on his first try, he’s branded a quitter.
The rapper tries hard to keep his family life in check and achieve his dreams, but his friends don’t always help him. His problems increase with Brittany Murphy, a young seductress who looks for a way out.
Hanson tries to keep the film as real to its street origins as possible, and it is no doubt dark. In the end, however, it remains the clichéd idea of a young person from a poor family trying to make it big, a formula that’s been used so often in films. Fortunately, Eminem stands out from typical heroes with his freestyle ability and rough candor. Rap fans will be delighted with this film, but it may not reach all audiences as well. Nonetheless, it’s a solid pick for an uplifting, rags-to-riches tale.