`8 Mile' shows that despite the environment that surrounds an individual, success can be found through inner strength and an unwillingness to settle for what one is handed in life.

Rating: 7/10 (18 March 2004)

`8 Mile' shows that despite the environment that surrounds an individual, success can be found through inner strength and an unwillingness to settle for what one is handed in life. This theme is reflected most often in the character of Jimmy `B-Rabbit' Smith, played by Eminem, who is a fledgling rapper trying to find his voice in an environment that does not want to accept him. In many ways, this is a simple coming of age story, but I think the best comparison still comes from Sylvester Stallone in `Rocky.' Both Stallone and Eminem's characters are in negative environments, they both are looking to move up and out, but only have one real vehicle to do it. Stallone's was boxing, Eminem's is rapping.
The inner strength theme is also played out through the film by the techniques that the director, Curtis Hanson, and the cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, use to tell the story. They are especially effective at using shot angles to convey the emotion of Eminem's character. In the opening scene of the movie, when Eminem is handed the microphone, they are quick to focus solely on him and the audience surrounding him, intimidating him. They use high angle shots to make him look smaller, more vulnerable, and also do their best to keep his battle opponent out of the shot, as to symbolize that Eminem's current battle is with his surroundings, not his opponent. They are also quick to zoom right in on Eminem when he is first handed the microphone, making him look trapped within the screen, symbolizing his trapped feeling on stage. The entire opening battle scene is symbolic of Eminem's feeling of helplessness, that he has no control over his situation.
Hanson and Prieto do a wonderful job of weaving this theme of the sometimes negative impact environment and circumstances can have on an individual and how they can overcome these obstacles. Without this theme, `8 Mile' is nothing more than a showcase of the pitfalls of the inner city, falling into the usual belief that nothing positive comes from these areas. This theme changes the entire movie, making it a message of hope and courage, showing that an individual can overcome the pratfalls and accomplish their goals if they refuse to accept failure as the inevitable.