8 MILE

US, 2002, 110 minutes, Colour.
Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Evan Jones, Taryn Manning, Michael Shannon.
Directed by Curtis Hanson.

8 Mile is a star vehicle for rap artist Eminem who was the subject of controversy in the early 2000s, especially because of his lyrics in his rap songs and the focus on violence, women, homophobia. However, the criticism does not seem to be justified by this film, the performance or his lyrics.

Eminem is not a natural actor. This film is based loosely on his life and growing up in Detroit. He had a hard life, seemed to be full of anger, expressed this anger in his songs and rose to some kind of eminence, even winning an Oscar for Lost Souls, the song from this film. Kim Basinger appears as his mother, Mekhi Phifer as his supportive friend, Brittany Murphy as a sympathetic girl that he meets. There is a strong supporting cast of African American actors.

The setting is Detroit, the wrong side of the tracks, 8 Mile. Eminem’s character went to school with the African Americans and they have remained friends, especially in the rap competitions where artists rap for almost a minute in insulting rhyming slang against their opponents. The audience joins in with great enthusiasm.

The story is familiar, the young man who is something of a loner even with his friends, works in a factory, has a slatternly mother, fights with her boyfriend, is supportive of his little sister, lets his anger erupt and turn against his friends, fighting them – but, eventually, going into the competition and winning and heading off to a new career.

The film was directed by Curtis Hanson, something of a surprise for the director of LA Confidential and Wonder Boys prior to this film.

1.The target audience for the film? African Americans? White Americans? Rap fans?

2.The Detroit setting, the uglier side of the city, the factories, the trailer homes, the streets and the clubs?

3.The music, the rap lyrics and their content, themes, violence, social concerns, controversial? The nature of the music and rhythms? The performance throughout the film? The background score?

4.The focus on Jimmy Smith, his nickname B-Rabbit? In himself, his friends, in the mirror during the credits, his wanting to be a rap artist, his being frozen on stage and laughed at?

5.The family background, Kim Basinger as his mother, her relationship with Greg, Greg and his dislike of Jimmy? Their fights, Jimmy eventually ousting him? His mother’s upset, drinking, going to bingo, with the men, not having money? Love for her son, giving him the car? Angry, ousting him? His concern about his little sister, protecting her, fond of her and helping her? Her response? Her observing the violence around her, especially the beating at the end?

6.Jimmy and his friends, Future and his being the compere at the club, trying to help him, promoting him, Jimmy getting angry with him for making all the decisions? The other members of the group, travelling in the car, their banter, support? The confrontations and the fights?

7.Their individual personalities? Future? Cheddar Bob and his being very slow, his shooting himself and the wound? His friendship? The range of other friends? The rival, his trying to organise the studio time? Jimmy’s anger with him and his relationship with Alex, his fighting him? The return fight, his allowing himself to be beaten?

8.Alex, at the factory, her brother? The attraction to Jimmy, listening to him and the rap? Going out with him, the dates? His kissing her? Her encounter with his friend? Jimmy’s anger? Her farewell?

9.Janeane and her being his girlfriend, saying she was pregnant, his giving her the car, discovering that she only told him this to deceive him? His anger with her at her visit to the factory?

10.The build-up to the climax, Jimmy and his anger towards Future, wanting to withdraw? His fight with his friend at the studio? His anger with his mother and her ousting him – but her win at Bingo and making a meal for him? Going to the appointment, promising to work overtime, his friend giving him the time off, the performance in the club, his winning the rounds, the confrontation with the champion? His shrewd move in insulting himself when he went first in the competition, leaving his opponent nothing to say?

11.His walking into the future – and the audience knowing that Eminem actually became a success?