Enjoyable movie let down by story

Rating: Null/10 (19 January 2003)

I found "8 Mile" thoroughly enjoying, however it wasn't the best movie I've ever seen. I don't think the story was original well structured or had a decent ending. I also found that a lot of it seemed to consist of hackneyed "large group of extras cheering and snarling" shots, while many of the scenes were of the "gang meets gang and they get angry" variety.
Eminem's performance was very good. I was disappointed that Brittany Murphy had such a small insignificant role, given the way the movie was advertised.
Kim Basinger was also good, although there were a couple of moments where I found her accent not convincing enough (it wasn't THAT bad).
The movie was well shot and the sound was done well. I liked the handheld, sweeping feel and the dirty, brown PD and cinematography was quite suitable to the setting (Detroit). It reminded me a bit of "Ali". As I've mentioned, the acting was good (I would go so far as to say some of it, including from Eminem, was excellent). Dialogue was good - and not just in the rapping.
The humour was good. I found myself laughing, however most of this was at Eminem (rabbit)'s words in the finale.
The only thing that I think caused a number of problems was the story. With a more original, more structured story, with better conflict and resolution, and cause and effect, the movie could have been better.
The characters in the group were not well developed and were based on trite stereotypes - the white, stupid guy provided comic relief (as does the fat guy), the taller intelligent guy with glasses spent the movie saying things that were supposedly 'intellectual', and so on. The characters in the rival gang 'free world' seemed to be even more devoid of personality.
However, the good direction, art, sound and technical quite an enjoyable movie. Utimately a good movie that has been let down by what is, in my humble opinion, a weak screenplay.
I won't see it again in cinemas. Maybe I'll get it on DVD one day.