Excellent Rap Biopic

Rating: 10/10 (18 August 2015)

There are a number of very good period biopics out there. Here is another one. However, there are not many period biopics that reflect and define both the era in which they take place and the era in which they are released. "Straight Outta Compton" joins that short list. The film perfectly displays the rise of N.W.A. in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It also fits into the scope of where we are now in 2015. A year after the Ferguson shooting, and amidst the rising accusations of police violence, the film's message and content could not have come at a better time.
It may seem hard to believe that N.W.A. released their debut album 27 years ago, considering how much their influence is still felt. This extremely well-made film, directed by F. Gary Gray, leaves out a few factors of the group's rise to prominence, but does not take any shortcuts. These characters are presented as misogynistic gangsters, some of which previously had lives selling drugs, and are taken as they are. It's quite remarkable how the film still manages to present these guys as heroes despite their flaws and upbringing. That's what the film is all about, but I did not expect it to be done so well or convincingly.
Every performance in the picture is exceptional, but I'm choosing to focus on the main three. First off, O'Shea Jackson Jr. plays his father, Ice Cube, in a strong, convincing manner. He steps into his old man's shoes and develops the role. We see Cube's shift from a kid trying to survive in Compton to a furious, influential man who advocates against police brutality following the Rodney King shooting (in an excellent scene in which he argues with a reporter) and pumps up the crowd with a ferocious tone and booming voice. Next is Corey Hawkins, who feels the role of Dr. Dre. This character is special because he is the most relatable. He's the one who gets caught in the middle with the feud between Cube and Eazy-E. He's the one we're still thinking about the most when the picture ends and the one we want to succeed most. Hawkins delivers a commanding, yet perfectly subtle performance that sticks with us long after the credits roll. Last but not least, there's the excellent Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E. In a film full of stand-out performances, he delivers most. As the leader of the group (mostly) a strong performance is needed from Mitchell, who gives more than is necessary, in a good way of course. He delivers the biggest laughs and the deepest sobs. He is exceptional and deserves to be noticed for future big roles.
Not only are the actors spitting images of the real-life artists they portray, the embody them completely with the help of a terrific script filled with surprising laughs and deeply moving moments. The new "Fantastic Four" film happened to be released a week before this film. After seeing the two films on consecutive nights, I must say that I would take this rag-tag group of gangsta superheroes over that un-unified group with amazing powers. That's what these guys feel like in this film: flawed, raunchy superheroes that take on the world.
A film not only of its time, but also of the moment, "Straight Outta Compton is one of the year's best thus far, and one of the top three films of this summer. Like Eminem's excellent 2002 film "8 Mile," you do not have to be a fan of rap or N.W.A. to enjoy this movie. Whether or not you agree with what these guys stood for, give their film a chance.