A riveting soundtrack of life

Rating: 9/10 (16 August 2015)

I've seen about 30 movies this year, but this one is by far the best. As somewhat of a movie aficionado, I know it's very easy for a film to fail. Some have a good story but bad casting, or vice versa. Some are good stories but have a bad director. This movie is excellent in all three areas. I don't know how director F. Gary Gray elicited such great performances from his cast of mostly unknown actors, but he pulled it off. He also shows restraint when it comes to the gratuitous violence another director might resort to, considering the subject matter. Straight Outta Compton is not a PG movie by any means, but it uses stellar storytelling, solid performances and a sprinkle of humor as its vehicle. I'm not a big hip hop fan by any means but I enjoyed it as the producers pulled back the curtain and revealed how some hit songs were inspired and also gives insight into the music industry, where greed and intimidation are as commonplace as lyrics and videos. Lastly, I cannot forget the performance of Jason Mitchell as Eazy E. What a wonderful job this guy did of capturing a multi-dimensional man, bringing grit, humor and vulnerability in a totally believable display that is Oscar-worthy. As someone who has been a movie fan all my life, I always know when I've seen a good one. Because it stays on my mind for days after I leave the theater.