British view

Rating: 9/10 (18 November 2002)

For those of you who haven't heard about this movie, it's the acting debut (ignoring Da Hip Hop Witch Project and The Wash) of Marshal Mathers III. This is not another film with a singer wanting to play at acting, this is Eminem demonstrating that the last three years of switching between Slim Shady, Eminem and Marshal have taught him how to play at being someone else. And that is the last I intend on referring to Eminem (as he is credited) and his other career, not referring to him as an actor demeans him and this movie.
Not due out for a couple of months in this country, I will try not to spoil too much of the story for you. I will however, try to save you from a little of the hype - and there's going to be a lot of hype. This film is not a semi-autobiographical `Life of Eminem,' it has a couple of similarities and that's it. Set in Detroit in 1995, 8 Mile tells the story of Bunny Rabbit (Eminem), a white, working class rapper and his struggle against gangs, racism and his own insecurities. 8 Mile focuses on Rabbit's attempts to get a record deal or at least some respect for his skills as a rapper. At the start of the film we see Rabbit `battling' on stage at a rap venue, the only problem being that there are no words coming out of his mouth. Despite the directors (Curtis Hanson) pedigree, this is still an American movie and we can all see where the narrative is going. What Hanson does manage to do is guide us through the journey to its inevitable climax without us ever being too concerned with the fact that we know where we are going.
The supporting characters are well played by a mix of actors and rappers. Mekhi Phifer is probably the pick of the pack as Future, Rabbit's best friend, who hosts the battles and pushes Rabbit when he needs pushing, even at the risk of their friendship. Basinger as Rabbit's alcoholic trailer park mother is cast strangely. Her performance is perfect, but perhaps the make-up department could do with a few tips. If a poor single mother of two was living in a trailer park desperate for money to avoid eviction and she looked like Kim Basinger, she would be straight to Playboy. Basinger needed making-down, not up. Brittany Murphy, apart from looking eternally drugged to the eyeballs, was sorely underused, serving mainly as a shag piece for Rabbit just after he has defended a gay guy (the audience obviously needed reminding that Rabbit was open minded but heterosexual). The other performances are fitting, no one steeling the show and everybody contributing to the plot. We can only assume that Hanson directed them all well, as he has certainly directed the rest of the movie well. Locations are honest (especially as the whole movie was shot in Detroit) and the visually are realistic, at times seeming almost like a documentary. The final showdown battle feels like a climax to Faking It.
8 Mile is a portrayal of the individual following their dream and doing what they need to do to achieve it. The entire meaning of the film is captured by Eminem himself in the theme tune to the film: `Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity / To seize everything you ever wantedOne moment / Would you capture it or just let it slip?' The movie is uplifting in an unusual way. It would not be giving away the ending to say that it doesn't end exactly the way you expect, although you can't help but feel a little pleased for Hollywood for having made a film that satisfies the audience yet doesn't stick to all the rules.
Talks of Eminem being Oscars bound are probably a little premature. There is no doubt that he has what it takes to be an Oscar winner, but it seems unlikely that this will be the performance that will garner him the little golden genital free man. The film itself probably won't win too much by way of serious silverware, other than maybe for the soundtrack (which is itself integral to the film, in the most part). In terms of major drawbacks from enjoying 8 Mile there are only a couple. The same reason that most people will want to go an see it, Eminem, will be the main reason that lots won't. Those that aren't staunch Eminem haters should give this a chance, as he succeeds where so many singers fail, he convinces you that he is the character, you stop seeing him as Eminem very early on. The other problem may well be the language barrier. Large sections of the movie are rapped, not like a hip hop musical, but because the scene dictates this. The battles, where much of the character creation takes place, for example, requires a keen ear to catch every word, but you will be rewarded for your concentration with some insults of quite unbelievable grace.
This is a convincing debut from about the most famous man in the entertainment world and a good film that might suffer due to its inevitable hype. Worth seeing as soon as you get the chance, in the hope of avoiding the media attention 8 Mile will get. It is in parts amusing, tragic and painful, and will leave feeling hopeful although not completely euphoric as many an American fell good movie can do. This is intelligent entertainment, something the film world is often found lacking.

Mark: 8.5/10 Who to go with: Anyone, but not a first date.