The 'Rocky' of hip hop films... go Rabbit!

Rating: 6/10 (30 May 2005)

When I watched this movie on TV last night I wasn't expecting anything great. Just something to kill some time. Well, I didn't get anything great, as expected! 8 mile ain't no Oscar winner, but it does contain some interesting insights and social commentary. Rabbit (Eminem) is a young white boy who lives in a trailer park with his mum and young sister. His mother is an alcoholic who is dating someone barely older than him. In fact they went to the same school! Who wouldn't be frustrated with that? His friends are all wannabe rappers who just think it's a matter of time before they get a record deal. Rabbit is also a talented MC, but freezes in front of people other than his friends. Since music is the only outlet for his frustration, this kinda sucks! He is constantly promised that he will be a part of a music 'empire' which always fails to materialize. The film follows his frustration with his white trash existence and his struggle to come to terms with it and realise his own potential. It's not hard to root for Rabbit. Who doesn't know guys that sit around talking s#!t about when they become the next big thing, only they never get off their ass to do anything about it? Who doesn't know families that seem to exist day by day, or people that are always looking for a hand out and not a hand up? Who hasn't been promised this or that by someone who tells you they have connections? OK maybe not everyone, but everyone loves an underdog, right? Rabbit ultimately decides he needs to walk his own path, and not rely on anyone else, which is the message I feel this movie is trying to push. No one is going to hand you what you want in life, you have to work hard and sacrifice to get to where you want to be. The ending isn't typical Hollywood drivel either. He's not handed a record deal, he's not famous, but he is determined and knows what he has to do to get there. Work hard at your day job, stay passionate and keep focused on the goal. Not sure how close the film is to Eminem's own success story, but there are some great positive messages that can be taken out of this film. Great to see my man Rabbit get his props!!!!