: 8 Mile
An impressively good movie. I like Eminem. I don’t think I’d really buy any of his albums, but he’s an interesting guy. I get the feeling he really is a musical genius, though it’s not the kind of music most of us would appreciate. I wanted to see this film to learn more about him and his world, and I did. As I expected, he did a good job in the lead role. I don’t know why people are so suprised: it’s not like he’s acting. He’s just playing a version of himself. Besides, almost all famous people are putting on a persona — that’s how they survive the media — and that’s acting. He comes across as likable, intelligent, and troubled — pretty much who he is in real life, I suspect. The plot of the film is simple: a young rapper struggles to survive, being pulled different directions by friends and family and responsibility. He’s got a lot of talent and everyone wants a piece of him, but he doesn’t know who he is. By the end of the film he’s figured that out. I liked the way the film explored deeper aspects of existence without hammering us on the head with it, I liked the portrayal of the various characters and the conflicts. It was realistic and interesting. The “rap battles” — where two rap artists compete against each other and the audience votes on who advances to the next round — was unusual and fascinating. I’m not a rap music fan — it all sounds the same to me — but I definitely could appreciate the skill and amazing wit of these guys to think of rhymes on the fly as they sing. Very cool. Well-done film, with humor, drama, tender moments, coolness, and a touch of depth. Forget that Eminem’s a big star: watch this because it’s a good film.
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