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It’s not easy to discuss personal issues with anybody. Some either
hide from it others or run away from them. Rap artist Marshall “Eminem”
Mathers is very successful with his music, but it wasn’t always
like that. Growing up in a trailer with a mother and sister in an
urban part of Detriot was and is not a cool thing. But through his
rhymes and good friends, he persevered to become one of the best-known
lyrical rappers of today. 8 MILE is the fictional story of how Eminem
through his character embraced his personal situation and made a
name for himself. Director Curtis Hanson has taken this story and
made a “Rocky” like film where all who go see this film will be
entertained.
Jimmy “ Rabbit” Smith (Eminem) is ready to come on stage at Showdowns,
a local club where rap battles occur. Think of it like the Apollo
Theater for rap. Suddenly as his opponent finishes, Jimmy can’t
open his mouth. He clams up when he’s insulted because of his race
and his background. Comforted by his boys (Mekhi Phifer, Omar Benson
Miller, De’Angelo Wilson), all is not lost. While he may have had
stage fright back at the club, his home life doesn’t make life easier.
Forced to go back to trailer where his unemployed mother (Kim Basinger)
and his sister live, he has to put up his mother’s boyfriend, whom
he hates. While working at factory where his co-workers are ex-cons,
Jimmy senses the time is now for him to get out of the city. A chance
meeting with a new girl (Brittany Murphy) enlivens his possibility
of fighting his fears. When the reigning rap champ of the Showdowns,
Papa Doc (Anthony Mackie) challenges him to a rap duel, Jimmy backs
off. As gifted as he is, he doesn’t want his personal issues aired
out for the world to know. Sooner or later, Jimmymust overcome his
fear.
8 MILE reflects Eminem’s life without factually being his life.
The same was done many years ago with “Purple Rain”, which starred
Prince. When a rapper/ singer decides to get into the film industry,
heads are ready to roll because the acting is horrible and the story
is not credible such as Glitter. With 8 MILE, Eminem is brilliant.
He’s no Marlon Brando, but he holds the film together along with
the well-rounded cast. He rhymes may be controversial but they make
sense in the long run. Mekhi Phifer lends a good supporting hand
as the best friends who know Rabbit’s potential. In a small but
captivating role, Kim Basinger goes the extra mile playing the mother
of Jimmy. With Hanson’s direction and Scott Silver’s script the
settings and the dialogue is well placed. What ultimately stand
out are the music and the rap battles. Many rap artists talked about
their upbringing in their music and in 8 MILE, the film shows that
embracing and fighting your personal issues works in your favor.
8 MILE is an entertaining film that will please all.
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