Worthy effort by Eminem saves simple story

Rating: Null/10 (13 July 2014)

My teenage son suggested we rent 8 Mile because he has been listening to a lot of Eminem's rap music lately. The story is pretty simple really. These rappers in downtrodden Detroit look to rap as a way to get a record deal and escape the hopelessness they experience daily.
If they work, they work in manual labor plants making car parts, or drink, or fight, or hang out. Eminem is the hope whose coattails these good guys hang to. They have a beef with the Free World rappers, not sure why. They act like Eminem is the only white guy they ever saw. You could look at this as Rocky, or as Karate Kid, where the leader is looking to get out and better himself while there are forces trying to hold him back..
Eminem's mom, played by Kim Basinger, gives a decent portrayal as his down and out mom living in a trailer park, shacking up with some going nowhere dude who is obviously just using her. Eminem's posse is pretty interesting, and they have his back always. They get into trouble and do stuff, and people promise stuff that turns out to be smoke/mirrors. It's all leading up to the climatic final rap battle at The Shelter.
Eminem does a pretty good acting job as Rabbit. My son thinks that the young girl theme follows his music, so there may be some reality behind the young Hailey who lives with his mom in the trailer. Finally Brittany Murphy is the shining star, acting wise. With her impish look, floused up hair, red lipstick, and cheap talk, she oozes sex appeal, and Eminem succumbs. She teaches him a lesson or two about honesty and how to make it in a tough world, and boy does he learn.
Overall, a better than average film that gives you a stark view of the poverty of Detroit, and the lives of the 3-1-3 people of D. Enjoy.
p.s. You should watch the Special Features Rap Battle segment which shows a really cool rap battle put on by the production team with the extras. good stuff.