Interesting take on a well-tread theme.

Rating: Null/10 (10 June 2003)

I really wasn't expecting much from this film. I had already shrugged it off as another hiphop advertisement geared at malcontents and hooligans complete with materialistic superfluity and a self-indulgent, career boosting performance by yet another rapper. Fortunately this wasn't the case. We don't get too many pictures about the grim reality of life at the 'bottom of the food chain' where, as viewers, we are even denied a glimpse of the world we are so accustomed to. It's thought provoking. The graininess of the film and shaky cameras helped create the atmosphere of enslavement in this reality, claustrophobia.. in a Dogme-reminiscent style. The performances are good; Eminem is surprisingly three-dimensional and convincing as struggling proletarian rapper Jimmy Smith Jr. Even with the autobiographical overtones we forget it is actually him. Most of the other leading parts seem flat and underdeveloped; Jimmy's sister is a sad excuse for showing off his sympathy and his would-be step father is plain evil, etc. The story is actually pretty standard with generic plot twists complete with the good old theme of the underdog overcoming obstacles and succeeding, with great satisfaction for the audience. As for the hiphop, I was surprised that the other elements of hiphop (graffiti, breakdance, DJing) were given no attention. They would have helped non-afficionados of this movement conjure a clearer picture of where hiphop is derived from and what the motivations behind it are. Freestyling as a form of competition and means of degrading others surely is not the essence of rap. I did find the rhymes clever but not the best I have heard and they were obviously premeditated. Oh well, after all it is not a dogme film. The competition is the focal point of this film and goes hand in hand with the Karate Kid theme i pointed out earlier. Nevertheless it is worth a watch or two..