One of the Best Films of 2015

Rating: 10/10 (26 January 2016)

I watched this (with great caution) on On-Demand. To say I was blown away, would be a huge understatement. To say this is one of the best films of 2015 doesn't do the service this film deserves.
"Straight Outta Compton" is a music bi-op about the rap group N.W.A., which was formed circa 1987. That group consisted of Eazy- E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and others. The group hit profoundly with fans because of their no-holds-barred lyrics and the messages behind them. They were the first balls-to-the-wall gangsta rap group. They did not apologize for their lyrics, their songs messages, of for themselves. Their music reflected their lives--what they lived, breathed, and witnessed every day in Compton. As a 62 year-old white dude, my eyes were opened to a life I did not understand simply because I did not have to live it. Constantly harassed by policemen--even black policemen--simply because they were young and black AND pigeon-holed into every stereotypical category imaginable, they learned to fight back with their music.
There is quite a stink concerning the fact that the Oscars failed (again) to recognize ANY black actor for their performances. I can honestly say they certainly failed with regard to this movie. O'Shea Jackson (as Ice Cube), Jason Mitchell (Eazy-E), and Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre) ALL deserved at least nominations for supporting actor. I actually thought Jason Mitchell's performance was worthy of a Best Actor nod. Director F. Gary Gray did an absolutely incredible job in keeping the pace, the flow, and acting at a believable pace. Both the good and uglier facets of this lifestyle were examined, and Gray never shied away from anything.
I saw (and recommend) the unrated Director's cut of the movie, which lasts 167 minutes. This is the best movie I have seen in 2015. It's a shame it will not get the accolades it deserves. The unrated version contains constant graphic language, nudity, violence, and drug use. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.