A flawed, but loving, tribute to Eazy-E

Rating: 8/10 (8 May 2016)

I've had an on/off relationship with hip-hop and rap music, and I'm certainly not well-versed in the history or behind-the-scenes goings-on with the artists themselves. However, I love a good musical biopic and STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON is certainly that. For those few unaware, "Straight Outta Compton" was the debut album (and title track) from rap group NWA, with members Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Easy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella (there might be more, but the film focused on those five). It tells the story of how the group came together, created some of their hit records, and broke up due to various reasons, mainly involving money and contracts. If that sounds like a lot to fit into a two and a half hour movie, you'd probably be right. It doesn't just stop with NWA's breakup, then following the solo careers of the three most important members. If there's a strike against the movie, it's that there was too much ground to cover and not enough time to do it satisfactorily. Still, the performances were excellent and I thought the actors did an incredible job of inhabiting their real-life counterparts. It should also go without saying that the film has stellar soundtrack. Narratively, the film seems to focus the most on Eazy-E, who the film is dedicated to, and most of the best moments involve him. There were many great moments, in fact, ranging from elation and awe, to a few that will probably have you tearing up. As for the film's Oscar snub, I can see why many felt it deserved a nod, but it honestly was a little too overreaching and bloated. Entertaining and fulfilling? Yes, but not necessarily Oscar-worthy. However, Jason Mitchell (Eazy-E) was most definitely snubbed. Overall, I feel like NWA's story would have been better served as a miniseries, considering how complex and large in scope the narrative is, but there is a 20-minute longer Director's Cut that I will be checking out in the near future. As for what I just watched, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON is a fascinating look at the rise of some music legends, an intimate look behind the curtain of the music business, and a loving tribute to a friend.
UPDATE (Director's Cut): I honestly couldn't tell where they added a lot of material. There didn't seem to be any new scenes, but what I did notice was extra material added to the beginning or ending of scenes, extending them by a small amount. As I had hoped, most of it fleshed out the story a little more instead of just adding extra material for the sake of it. Overall, I enjoyed the film more the second go-round, although the weaknesses in the second half still remain. Another thing I noticed, or considered, is the possibility that some scenes were probably constructed specifically for the film (all in the second half). Although maybe not 100% accurate to real life, I thought that some conversational scenes dealing with the prospect of bringing NWA back together (before Eazy-E's illness and death), regardless of whether or not they actually happened, worked dramatically and allowed some partial closure to what was one of music's most infamous breakups. Thinking back on the two times I've watched STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON now, I have to consider this a new standard for musical biopics. More than just relaying a series of events, it touches on issues that unfortunately still remain relevant, namely the struggle between artists and management and, more importantly, the often contentious relationship between cops and the people they're supposed to serve. In this way, I think the film really captured the zeitgeist of this day and age, and will endure as a staple of its genre.