Compton is back on the map

Rating: 10/10 (24 August 2015)

This is one of the best movies of 2015, in my humble opinion. Actually, I rarely go to the movies anymore, but I made a huge exception to go see this one. What caught my attention immediately was the ethnic diversity of the audience. I haven't seen that kind of variety since I saw "Rush Hour 3", where half of the movie patrons were black, and the other Asian!! This shows how movies like "Straight Outta Compton" bring people together. It bridges the cultural gap. Middle-class people can catch a glimpse into the lifestyle of a teenager growing up in a low-income neighbourhood where often there aren't a lot of options that don't involve crime and welfare. At the screening I attended, there were a lot of Koreans. I wonder if this has anything to do with the history of poor relations between blacks and Koreans (merchants) in Los Angeles, especially during the Rodney King riots, and the shooting death of Latasha Harlins, who was a young black girl killed by a female Korean store-owner.
"Straight Outta Compton" was an amazing movie to me because I love the group NWA, even though I was still only a little girl when I first listened to their music. I was intrigued by their audacity, failing to give a sh about what anyone thought of them. They were raw and genuine. The actors did a great job of showing this. They interloped into a culture that saw them only as a skin colour, as criminals, as thugs and gang-bangers, and they won so many fans all over the world, of all backgrounds. Even Axl Rose dressed like them.
Little O'Shea did a fabulous job portraying his daddy. I wonder if it ever felt awkward for him. I love how he kept a notebook handy for whenever poetic inspiration hit him.
The concert scenes were outstanding as well. My only complaint is the blatant misogyny, but I did laugh at the word play they used by calling that groupie in the hotel "Felicia" after she performed fellatio on Eazy-E. I read that this was also an allusion to Ice Cube in the movie "Friday".
Great job, I cannot wait until it's out on DVD.