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MILE Rating:  Director: Curtis Hanson Producers: Brian Grazer, Curtis Hanson, Jimmy Iovine Writer: Scott Silver Director Of Photography: Rodrigo Prieto Cast: Eminem, Brittany Murphy, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
 Click the photo to buy merchandise from 8 Mile |
Review by: Dan
Tester
11/10/02
I'm not sure which parts of 8 Mile, the new film from L.A. Confidential and Wonder Boys director Curtis Hanson starring Eminem, are autobiographical and which have been enhanced for dramatic effect, but overall it definitely seems inspired by two particular films from the 1970s, Rocky and Saturday Night Fever. 8 Mile's story follows that of those two films closely, almost shamelessly, depicting an underdog outcast with a dream. This is really a painfully overdone story structure by now to be sure, but amazingly 8 Mile rises above it all, due mainly to the unique subject matter, intriguing production value, and a startlingly convincing performance by an unlikely lead.
Naysayers will moan that Eminem is "just playing himself here," so his performance was easy. I disagree. Regardless of the autobiographical nature of the story, Eminem is indeed playing a "character," and performs so naturally and genuinely that it was a complete surprise to this reviewer. He plays Jimmy Smith, a 19-year-old "white trash" loser with dreams of making a name for himself in the local hip-hop world of mid-90s Detroit. His performance runs the gamut of emotions, all performed with utter believability. Eminem is definitely in his element in the role of a street hustler with an attitude, but he also has some very nice scenes with his young sister at home, quietly singing her to sleep after a violent confrontation outside, and lovingly protecting her from the horrors of her trailer park existence. He creates a real, sympathetic character, which is intrinsic to a tale of 8 Mile's ambition, and is the reason most films of this ilk don't work anymore; the filmmakers often seem to forget that detail.
Detroit, Michigan is one ugly place. I have never been there, but based on its depiction in 8 Mile, I think it could give Tijuana a run for its money as the most unlivable place on earth. I can guarantee that the Detroit Tourist Council will not declare 8 Mile "the feel good movie of the year." This depiction was possibly a little overdone, but it effectively plants the aesthetic feeling of the doomed future that not only young Jimmy Smith faces there, but indeed all of this crumbling town's inhabitants face. Despite the bleak production design, 8 Mile is a very good-looking film. Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto (he also shot Frida) has really created a desperate looking world, and his lighting (tending almost exclusively to dark and overcast) is very effective.
The story concerns the attempts of young Jimmy Smith to conquer the seemingly "black exclusive" world of hip-hop music against all odds. His main obstacle, obviously, is that he is white. A room full of African-American teens laugh him off stage in the opening scenes as he freezes on stage, and he retreats back into his unbearable life living with his alcoholic mother (Kim Basinger) and his young sister in a metal trailer, and toiling endlessly at the local factory. Basinger is good in the unglamorous role of the unbalanced mom, although she is a little miscast. She is definitely the "hottest" white trash mother in all of Detroit proper.
We also meet Smith's group of "homies," but this group is definitely Cinema 101 time, and they represent one of the only real negative aspects of the film. Everyone else in the underground world of Detroit hip-hop walk around like the dangerous gangbangers that they are, but Jimmy Smith's circle of friends more resemble the lovable "Sweathogs" from Welcome Back Kotter than they do the Bloods or the Crips. Honestly, these goofs wouldn't last five minutes in the inner-city world of 8 Mile, but these are unfortunate Hollywood "creative" manipulations that are necessary to endure these days. The scenes involving Eminem and his crew are there for nothing more than comic relief most of the time, and a few of the subplots involving them that are completely ineffectual to the story should have been trimmed; particularly the scenes involving a seemingly retarded buddy who is always "getting into all sorts of wacky trouble." At some point, it wouldn't have been a surprise for Eminem to shake his fist at this mentally challenged dufus after one of his "bungles" and holler, "Ohhhhh, yooooooou!!" and then everyone turn to the camera and wave as the end credits rolled. It was really just silly sitcom material in an otherwise pretty solidly written screenplay.
Jimmy Smith's main obstacle to his success comes in the form of a rival gang of hip-hop artists determined to embarrass and humiliate him at every chance. The scenes of Jimmy's battles with these thugs are well done, and these "bad guys" are thankfully not just standard Hollywood enemies, but instead believable street kids protecting their perceived creative territory. The scenes involving the spontaneous confrontations in the streets are interesting and entertaining because they focus not so much on violence but instead on verbal exchanges, the winner being the one who has most successfully humiliated his opponent with rhyming verbal assaults. This is also the way to build credibility in the streets, and when Jimmy finally starts to scream back, his star begins to rise. But ultimately the streets are only one of many of the distractions Jimmy must overcome to find his redemption. Another is the sexy and dangerous muse named Alex, played by Brittany Murphy. Murphy is strangely intoxicating as the mysterious love interest, and her sexual appeal is definitely evident as Jimmy is hopelessly drawn in. Her performance is kind of strange, as if she is drunk all the time, but her character is supposed to be strange, so it worked for me. She has a way of glaring at Jimmy with big, beautiful eyes that convinced me.
The ending gives us the obligatory "showdown" between Jimmy Smith and the thugs, finally allowing Eminem to show his wares. Again, this is a world I am very unfamiliar with, and I found the final contest very entertaining and filled with genuine tension. I was actually nervous for ol' Jimmy Smith, and I have seen this ending no less than 200 times in my life. And the final payoff is really very effective, allowing Jimmy to succeed not only on his own terms, but also convincingly demonstrating the possible genesis of Eminem's style of self-reflective lyrics.
I saw 8 Mile with a friend visiting from Wisconsin, and he said afterward that he couldn't get into the movie because he just doesn't think it is that impressive to just "rhyme things." I can't say I'm a big fan of rap myself, but there definitely is a style and art to it, and Eminem, for better or worse, always seems to have something to say in his songs. But then again, my friend is very white, and so am I for that matter. Quite frankly, we make the Van Pattens look like the Van Peebles. So I guess it is that much more credit to director Curtis Hanson and star Eminem that I liked 8 Mile as much as I did. Peace, out.
But as always, it is only one man's opinion.
(A Universal Pictures release. Opened wide on November 8.)
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