Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment

Written By: Scott Silver

Despite his polarizing celebrity, Marshall Mathers, a/k/a Eminem, quieted a fair share of critics with his work in the 2002 film, “8 Mile.” Starring as Jimmy Smith, a 20-something kid living near the 8-Mile Road in Detroit, which divides the white suburbs from the inner city neighborhoods. Jimmy has the talent and desire to become a rap star, but seems to stuck running in the wheel of inner city life. Just dumped by his girlfriend, Jimmy is forced to move back into the trailer park where his mother and sister reside. Tasked with a dead-end factory job and nary a vehicle to call his own, Jimmy’s increasing desire to break free of his surroundings seems stifled at every turn. Jimmy’s talents exist in writing and performing rap and hip-hop, and these talents serve as the only means for him to express his frustrations, hopes, and desires. The only problem – he lacks the confidence and ego necessary to compete in the underground rap battles which he and his friends frequent. Whether Jimmy chokes or succeeds proves to be the catalyst for this “rags-to-riches” story, which by its conclusion proves a bigger success than one might have imagined.

Mathers portrays Jimmy with a seething intensity and the results are captivating. Under the guided hand of veteran director, Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys), Mathers is quiet and at times contemplative in his performance. The effect on the film is that you stop watching Eminem, the celebrity, “act” and instead see Mathers develop a character. Other cast members include Kim Basinger, in a wildly uneven and borderline campy performance, as Jimmy’s alcoholic mother. Mekhi Phifer gives a strong and assured performance as Future, the MC of the underground battles, who serves as a mentor to Jimmy and encourages him to succeed.

The script by Scott Silver is drenched in formula, but what makes “8 Mile” rise above the trappings of the “rags-to-riches” story is how well the movie is laid out. Tender scenes are balanced with humor, scenes filled with anger and frustration are tempered with the underground rap battles, where success in freestyling means credibility and stature amongst those who reside along the 8 Mile road.

“8 Mile” may not bring Mathers’ biggest detractors to a place of acceptance, but you have to hand it to him; he is a formidable entertainer with the talent to succeed at probably anything he sets his mind to.

• Best Original Song (“Lose Yourself”)

Should I See It?

If you are a fan of Eminem, this is a no-brainer.

Gritty, well-written, underdog movies are often easy to engage with, and the movie pays those rewards in spades.

For proof that not all musicians are NOT terrible actors.

NO

If the mere mention of Eminem turns you off, then you should probably avoid this.

Admittedly, the script resurrects a tired and constant theme of the underdog rising up out of the depths of despair, and while I felt it worked here, you may be exhausted with this being another of “those” kind of movies.

You don’t like or understand rap music and are of the mindset that it serves no purpose in the world.