The Real Marshal Mathers III stands up!

Rating: 8/10 (10 December 2002)

Singers should stick to singing and actors should stick to acting, but rappers, it would appear, can do whatever they want. Although far from critically successful, Ice T, Ice Cube, Tone Loc, LL-cool-J and even Busta Rhymes acquire regular billing in B-grade schlock and, at times, have all been top of their game in their primary profession. There is no doubt that Eminem is at the top of his game, so naturally, celluloid has beckoned, but there is no Eminem here, or Slim Shady, forget the monikers as it is time for the real Marshal Mathers III to please stand up, and he does.
8 Mile refers to the stretch of road that separates black urban from white suburban Detroit. In a place of poverty and crime, a man is measured be his street cred and this cred is measured by his ability to rap, or, by being a friend of a rapper. Mathers plays B.Rabbit, a white rapper with loads of untapped talent, held back by fear, his friends, his colour and domestic issues. It is a complex time for Mr. Rabbit and 8 Mile studies his struggle to raise himself above the adversities that surround him.
Thus, 8 mile is very formulaic and predictable, elevating the world of underground rapping to the same heights as nascar in Days of Thunder, Jet-fighters in Top Gun and almost every other hero-struggles-but-eventually-wins-the-day scenario. However, it is propelled above the masses by never rising above its station and by superb performances from Murphy, Phifer and Mathers himself. Scott Silver's script allows the many supporting roles to flesh out, without grabbing the lime light, but perhaps the audiences knowledge of Mather's life aids us in what is, supposedly, a semi-autobiographical movie.
8 Mile manages to present a world that many might believe does not exist by portraying it with reality and reason. There is little in the way of unbelievable theatrics and despite the massive draw power of its star, comes across more like and independent film than a Hollywood blockbuster. This is in large thanks due to Curtis Hanson whose direction is inspired. Like B.Rabbit's life, the film is gritty and dark, but allows enough humour to remind us that we are dealing with real people in a world where you never know who your friends are. B.Rabbits talent is also held back just enough to make the finale twice as rewarding, as Eminem's detractors root for Shady to cuss and rhyme more opulently than his opponent.
Obviously, in a movie such as this, music is going to play an important part and 8 mile kicks more goals than not on a soundtrack that his heaped with legends of the past (TuPac, Notorious BIG, Montell Jordan) and the present (Mathers himself). In a film with so many lyrics, the question posed is how much Mathers himself contributed to the rhymes, but they are often more witty than gross and may help to open the eyes of non-believers'. There is no doubt that the Lose Yourself' track and single is a killer tune and pleasantly, the rap-offs' are generally left to the skills of the combatants rather that the production team and there is no D.R.E label anywhere in sight.
8 Mile is a formulaic movie that, plot-wise, comes along way from shattering the boundaries Eminem's music career has with reckless abandon, but, it does portray his world without the gloss of MTV. However, with such a mature performance, returning to that music scene and taking his lyrics seriously may become and issue for some of his fans. How could B.Rabbit be Eminem? Whether he likes it or not, the past is definitely that for the king of Black' music, despite a finale which raises some possible racial concerns (white man leaving the black to the ghetto) that although subtle, are noticed. 8 Mile is a success for all concerned and I look forward to the next step in the career of this, the figurehead for 21st century culture.