Going the Last Mile of the Way.

Rating: Null/10 (6 November 2003)

Very loosely based on the life of real-life rapper Eminem, "8 Mile" ends up being one of those movies that is more content with selling soundtracks than making a legitimate cinematic point. In 1995 Detroit, Eminem seems to be a young man going nowhere fast. His mother (Kim Basinger) is the only real family around (and that is not necessarily a good thing) and his friends (led by Mekhi Phifer) are little more than urban thugs, running around and causing mischief. Eminem struggles through as a laborer at a plant that manufactures car parts and also suffers with stage fright issues when he has the opportunity to free-style rap at shady competitions (Eminem shy!?). He meets a girl from the neighborhood (Brittany Murphy) and instantly becomes attracted to her, but her past and present activities are suspicious at best. Mean dudes, the broken landscape of a major metropolitan area, poor relationships and a fiery attitude may be too much for Eminem to overcome in the end. "8 Mile" is a film that I thought would be an intense U.S. slice of life, but it becomes a cop-out movie that staggers around for a plot and becomes a tiring music-video-styled horror. Eminem shows some real talent. I have always been indifferent to his music, but he shows the makings of a potentially impressive cinematic performer. Everyone else just gets lost in the ugly mess. Basinger and Phifer never do intrigue and Murphy seems wasted as well (she too has shown some talent in the past). Director Curtis Hanson (who dominated with "L.A. Confidential" several years ago) seems like he just does not understand the film's dark landscape. I really think a director like Spike Lee, John Singleton or Antonie Fuqua would have been a better fit for "8 Mile". The primary theme, "Lose Yourself", was the Best Original Song Oscar winner for 2002. Eminem co-wrote that piece. 2.5 out of 5 stars.