I hate to admit it, I enjoyed it

Rating: 6/10 (6 January 2003)

First let me say that this is a FICTIONAL account of Eminem's life! Sorry all you young gullible fools, I know you WANT to think that this is true but its NOT. So get over it! Anyway, I hate rap and I went to see this film with a chip on my shoulder and even though its far, far from being a top ten film of the year I have to admit I was somewhat entertained. Eminem is not bad in the film. He gives that raw type of performance that studios and directors look for when they put singers(!) in films. The film does have a gritty and dirty look about it that I found effective and of course, the big competition at the end! It was exciting and fun. I was very entertained by the rap competition, in fact I think it made the whole film work. Like the big match at the end of "The Karate Kid". But I did have some problems. Kim Basinger is horribly miscast as his mother. She doesn't work, lives in a trailer home and of course dates some worthless bum. Brittany Murphy plays the cheapest, filthiest whore since Jennifer Jason Leigh in "Last Exit To Brooklyn". Her character really has no redeeming quality and I felt like I needed a shower after her character was onscreen. And all the dumb dialogue...Yo Dawg! The shooting with the paintball gun I thought was a backfire for the makers of the film. If you want us to root for the guy he's going to have to act a lot more mature than shooting passerby's with a paintball gun. But I was entertained and the competition at the end is a rouser! Yo Dawg!