Urban melodrama of the old-fashioned sort, spiced up with hip-hop...and Kim Basinger as the Mom.

Rating: Null/10 (27 March 2003)

Curtis Hanson applies a suitable amount of craftsmenship to an old formula and gets decent performances from his cast, and a relatively watchable film for those in the mood. Eminem has a rather lackluster appearance and demeanor for someone associated with middle-class paranoia and political incorrectness. The music is underwhelming, and most non-adolescents feel like any 19 year old and their brother can do it. A much more interesting film could be made of the rap-record business and the racketeering associated with hip-hop record producers and artists.