8-Mile shows that skin color does not matter when following your dreams.

Rating: Null/10 (10 July 2003)

8-Mile is a success for rapper Eminem in which he plays an autobiographical part as Jimmy `B-Rabbit' Smith. Brittany Murphy plays Alex, a girl trying to get out of Detroit. The film also features Mekhi Phifer as Future, a young man who is hosting local battles in Detroit. 8-Mile shows that skin color does not matter when following your dreams.
Eminem shows his brilliance as an actor as he struggles with the issue of growing up on the wrong side of 8 Mile Road. Eminem is trying to make it as a rapper when Murphy comes into his life and tells him he will make it one day. Phifer is there to help Eminem reach his dreams. In a majority of the scene's Eminem is forced to face some sort of problem. Whether it is him leaving his girlfriend or trying to break the color barrier Eminem always seems determined to win the `fight'.
A fairly recent movie that had a similar story line was Save the Last Dance where a white ballet dancer was forced to move to the black side of town. There were similarities between this and 8-Mile
Curtis Hanson makes wonderful use of lighting in 8-Mile. Hanson uses high contrast lighting. One major scene with high contrast lighting is in the opening battle scene when Eminem is getting ready to battle, the room is fairly dark and there is a shaft of light from above shining down on him.

Eminem's first attempt at acting is brilliant and he shows that skin color does not matter when chasing your dreams.