Definitive hip-hop/inspirational movie!

Rating: 10/10 (16 February 2003)

This is the definitive inspirational movie of all time. The cinematography is great, there is a grainy, gloomy type of setting which signifies Rabbit's sorrow and anger for not being able to blow up and make it out of Detroit and 8 Mile road. The film (for those who haven't seen it and should), is about a young artist named Jimmy Smith Jr. (Em) who is very angry and frustrated with life. He raps in battles at a local nightclub, they don't rap for money in the streets of Detroit, they win the battles, they get the RESPECT, which is far more important to them. The film follows a very eventful week of ups and downs in Rabbit's life. He works a dead-end job at a steel mill called Detroit Stamping. His mother is a slut who is dating one of Rabbit's old high school classmates, she is about to get removed from her trailer for overdue rent with Rabbit's little sister, Lily. She is also constantly giving him crap about his rap career and his life decisions. He is forced to live with his mom after getting kicked out of his apartment by his girlfriend who says she's pregnant and is not, she also takes his car in the break-up. He finds a girl named Alex who he likes and she encourages him in his rap career, she ends up cheating on him with a so-called friend of his. He and his friends are in kahuts with another local rap gang-The Free World. Rabbit's group is from the 313 another local rap gang. His friend Future is the host of the battles at the club and encourages Rabbit because he sees his true potential. And in the end Rabbit finally makes it and wins the battles, gets the respect and goes home standing a little taller. This movie is the Rocky of inspirational films. It is raw, real and absolutely amazing. Eminem's performance is extraordinary for a first time actor, a performance not seen in a debut since Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. You should definitely see this film, it is a touching story underneath the gritty drama. Eminem does such a great job at playing a relatable character that you will find yourself laughing with his disses, feeling sorry for his losses, and rooting for him every step of the way.