Well-Acted Highly Original Detroit Hardcore Rapper Drama

Rating: 6/10 (22 August 2006)

Jimmy "Rabbit" Smith is a rap kid from the poor side of Detroit trying to escape through his music. At odds with his buddies, his bosses, his mother and his rival rappers, will he give up his dream and accept his fate, or strive to make himself heard ?
Ostensibly, this is a fictional film, but although some of the facts have been changed, it's essentially Eminem - The Movie. That's not a criticism though - it's a great story, and Eminem gives a great performance in it; he's angry and bucked-up, but he's also pensive, sincere and tender. And it's no vanity project either - it may be one man against the world but he makes plenty of mistakes and his success is in his intelligence and perseverance, not what he actually achieves. He radiates energy, like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, right from the opening scene where he practices his moves in a bathroom, and the Rap Battles which take up the last half-hour are a hypnotic piece of choreography, almost like a boxing flick where the fighters hit each other with words. Equally impressive is Basinger in a head-turning gee-look-what-I-can-do role as Jimmy's trailer-trash Mom. She completely debunks her sexpot image (typified by her role in Hanson's earlier LA Confidential) to play a fairly revolting sponger, but she doesn't make the mistake of overplaying it - she just slots into it nicely and seems completely authentic. With a good support cast, great locations in Detroit's gritty 313 area code and lots of cool music, this is a thought-provoking and highly original drama. I like the way the story constantly forces Jimmy to choose his path - should he stay with his old girlfriend, should he trust the buddy who says he can get him studio time, should he put up with his Mom's putz of a boyfriend, should he take the offer of a ride to New York - and eventually realises the only person who can change his fate is him. Other than his talent, what I admire about Eminem is his tenacity, and that's what this character is all about. The only thing the movie is a little lacking is a sense of humour, although Basinger does have one hilarious line. Even if you don't like hip-hop or the erudite Mr Mathers, check this film out - it's a great little wrong-side-of-the-tracks drama.