Rocky Vs Eminem?

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2003)

I won't admit to being a fan of Eminem and when I heard that he was making a movie, i thought instinctively of Vanilla Ice (saying that, 'Marky' Mark Whalberg and Will Smith don't seem to be doing too badly).
Though I will admit to having been impressed my the trailer and various previews and so I was looking forward to this after I was left disappointed and disillusioned with films by Gangs Of New York the previous week.
Certain reviewers compared 8 Mile to Rocky but then I like Rocky so thats not really a big thing. In fact it gave 8 mile standards to meet.
Thankfully I wasn't left disappointed by an inspiring tale set in a gritty and painful backdrop.
The cast didn't over-perform and certainly didn't under-perform as they carried out some real and meaningful scenes. Eminem proved that he can act though it is difficult to see him in any other role, the story of Rabbit is practically biographical. The only slight doubt in casting was Kim Basinger. Not that her performance was bad, in fact she was fantastic as Rabbit's trashy mother, however she seemed a little too glamorous for the part.
I have never really been a big fan of rap but I sat in open-mouthed amazement as Eminem did his stuff in the various battles throughout the film. The final battle is an immense build up of emotion and leaves you on a real high.
There is nothing to say other than this film delivers in a big way. It was everything that I hoped it would be and I was hugely impressed and entertained.
So Eminem does meet the levels of Rocky in terms of the film but I still know who I'd back in a fight.
8 Mile deserves a street-wise 9/10