8 Mile

8 Mile was a film that rather pleasantly surprised in its quality and viewing pleasure. It tells the story of small time white rapper Jimmy ‘B-Rabbit’ Smith (Marshal ‘Eminem’ Mathers) as he struggles to make something of his life, all the while battling poverty and racial discrimination in this predominantly black setting. This film is a brilliant take on the underdog story and shares much in common with the likes of Rocky, even making the lead character an embodiment of his native city, in this case Detroit. The most is gotten out of the novice Mathers, by tailoring an effective and realistic script to him to the extent he was essentially playing a version of himself. He was also supported by a competent supporting cast including Kim Basinger in possibly her finest role ever. Curtis Hanson should be commended for crafting such an entertaining film from what seemed like dire material that was a mere cash in. Not only does he effectively tell the story and get great performances out of his cast he also shows visual flair while doing it. This film far exceeds expectations, Rocky for a new generation.

Score 4/5