Familiar but enjoyable and believable (***)

Rating: Null/10 (25 November 2002)

First of all, I should start by saying that I'm not the world's biggest Eminem fan. I've generally liked several of his songs (especially "Stan"), but not enough of them to ever buy an album. That's not to say I don't respect him. He's smart, talented, and I like anybody who isn't afraid to ruffle some feathers. He also seems like the kind of performer who would have a natural ability to be a good actor, and from the first time I saw a trailer for "8 Mile", I knew that was the case.
I wasn't wrong. Admittedly, you can argue that he's more-or-less playing an earlier version of himself, but this ain't no music video. Eminem is more than a capable actor, he's an excellent one, able to do what he's required to here, which is anchor the whole movie and impress a lot of people out there (fans included) who would so quickly be naysayers if he didn't do a great job.
It also didn't hurt that he had a really good director (Curtis Hanson, of "L.A. Confidential" and "Wonder Boys") and cinematographer (Rodrigo Prieta, of "Frida" and Spike Lee's upcoming "25th Hour") leading the way.
Eminem plays Jimmy Smith, Jr., an aspiring rapper who goes by the nickname "Rabbit". He and his family are poor, living in a trailer park with an eviction notice on the door. His mother, Stephanie (Kim Basinger) is loving but selfish and a hard drinker. Also living in the trailer is Stephanie's pathetic white-trash boyfriend, Luke (Michael Shannon) and Rabbit's kid sister, Lily (Chloe Greenfield), who is the only family member he feels genuinely close with. Lily, his music, and his friends are the only things that really keep him going.
This kind of believe-in-yourself, dreams-can-come-true plot won't be unfamiliar to anyone who has seen a few movies before, but by the end of the film, we suddenly realize that the issues at hand have become more complex and deeper than that simple outline.
It's not perfect. It's a little too long, the climax is too drawn out, and some of the comic relief is kinda lame. But this is a movie you go to for the feeling, the performances and the little moments and scenes that make you go "wow, this is really good". "8 Mile" has lots of those.