A Stunning Glimpse Into N.W.A.'s Tribulations and Legacy

Rating: 9/10 (16 August 2015)

Ever since I can remember on Universal's 2002 semi-biopic 8 Mile, regarding how Eminem came to be (albeit name changed and loosely based on his life), I expected Straight Outta Compton was going to follow in that same fray. The moment the film began and completed it from start to finish, I was left bewildered and further curious on how much N.W.A. went through in the early 1990s, much like how Eminem wanted recognition in his skill despite his appearance and background. I may have been too young to understand what was going on in that era, but it piqued my interest even further since such harsh circumstances still reverberate in today's culture.
The cast was profound. Jason Mitchell's take on the late Eazy-E was so spot-on and performed solidly as the one who basically held N.W.A. together. O'Shea Jackson Jr. does bear a striking resemblance of his own father Ice Cube and convincingly portrayed. While Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre certainly brought out the dramatic tension he faced when it came to confronting Death Row Records owner Suge Knight. And even Paul Giamatti's Jerry Heller - whom at one point had put their careers on the map until his methods were questioned altogether - felt suitable for Giamatti's skill in drama. For example, that one scene where Ice Cube leaves the group when he finds out about the contract deal the group would face individually when signed, I can already foresee what would immediately follow from there: diss tapes and retaliation (which was a big deal in the prime of the 90s).
The entire film does live up to its namesake because it was all about five individuals whose lives weren't the best in the ghetto areas of Compton, yet their combined talents in writing music and shameless ways of expressing their lives in song really shook up the music industry, notably their hit song "F*** tha Police" which got them into serious law trouble during one stage performance. The Rodney King beating, L.A. Riots, and even the tragic loss of member Eazy-E greatly affected them, but despite the tribulations overtime, they certainly left a mark on hip-hop/rap culture that continues to influence newcomers in the business years later. Director F. Gary Gray (Friday) definitely provided a stunning glimpse into these mens' lives and I applaud him and the cast for showing how the hood is not entirely all what is believed. Surviving police brutality and racial injustice were just of the few problems they've endured. Among the many reviews I've read nitpicking how it's so "offensive" or "noisy" and this is actually "erotic porn" because of the gratuitous sex/nudity, pervasive language, and violence, the old-timers who despise such music seriously underestimate this movie without seeing what is trying to be accomplished here. Sure, they're nowhere perfect or classy (in the best sense), let alone heroes. But deep down it's expressed from the heart and a must-see for music enthusiasts of the old and new generation.