Average Rating: 
Rating:  - WOW!
This is the first time I've ever seen a movie on opening night, and it was well worth the wait and trouble. I'm extrememly lucky to get tickets, practically all the theaters in the entire area have been sold out! Jimmy Smith, Jr., a.k.a. Bunny Rabbit (Eminem) lives in inner city Detroit, with his alcoholic, yet highly interesting mother, played by Kim Basinger; and his younger sister, Lily, who is absolutely adorable, and Rabbit's only obvious weakness. He dreams of making it big, along with his group, 313, including Future (Mekhi Pfipher) and his buddies, including the hilarious, [silly] Cheddar Bob, and the politically active Iz. Jimmy works in a stamping factory, where he meets Alex (Brittany Murphy), an ambitious woman with dreams of modeling, whose only real wish is simply to leave Detroit and escape to New York City. "All I need is a plane ticket." Future resides over rap battles at the shelter, and, having faith in Rabbit's skills, invites him to rap. After we open with Rabbit choking on his lines, he is invited once more. Soon, we are faced with a dilemma, because Rabbit must choose between making it on his own through his talent at the battles, or his friend Wink's supposed connections at a record company, who promises to give Rabbit fame if he meets with a record producer. Eminem is an impressive actor, though he isn't exactly stretching to meet his role. However, compared to the "Glitter trauma" that affects so many singers who aspire for the big screen, it's an affecting debut. "8 Mile" is rated R, based mainly on the language, of which the affect wears off after the first 15 minutes, but also for some graphic sexuality, including Jimmy walking in on his mom, and making love with his girlfriend in the factory. This was an impressive movie and I was glad to have seen it, I would reccommend it to anyone over the age of 15.
Rating: - Better Than Expected
I have to say that I am not a fan of Eminem. Nothing personal, I just don't care for his music, excpet Lose Yourself, but I decided to check this out based on all the hype surrounding it and all the positive reviews it was given. It is a very good movie, and Eminim gives a dramatic, intense performance that I would never have expected. Everyone knows the premise of the film, a white rapper trying to make it. The films moves along quickly, has some intense rap battle sequences, and invloves Em's relationship with his mother played by Kim Basinger, and Brittany Murphy, the girl who convinces him to go for it all. Eminems performance is the standout of the film, but Brittany Murphy does an excellent job as Alex. She's sweet, sexy, and dangerous and it's always a pleasure to see Brittney in any film. Kim Basinger is way over the top. I didn't buy her performance one bit, and felt she was completely miscast. I highly recommend this film to all Eminem fans and even not his fans, since I am not one. I have a new respect for the guy. He is immensely talented, and now we have a reason why he is so successful. It is clear to me that it is Talent over Image.
Rating: - If your a fan of movies go see this one.
I personally have never been a fan of rap or hip-hop. I come from The Who, AC/DC, Eric Clapton and Motorhead. However as big of a music fan as I am I am also just as big of a movie fan.
After seeing the the trailers I must admit I rolled my eye's, like i'm sure a lot of people did, and dissmised it. After learning that Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind)was producing the film and Curtis Hansen (LA Confidential) was directing I knew that the movie would be watchable. Finally I swollowed my prode and went to see the film.
The movie is about a young aspiring rapper from Detriot named Jimmy Smith Jr. (Eminem) struggling to cope with life and his unclear future. The movie opens with Jimmy becoming frozen onstage during a battle. By opening the movie that was I think that you care about Jimmy right from the get go. He moves back with his mother (Kim Basinger) in a trailer park. Jimmy struggles with his mother and other rappers.
Solid preformances by Britt Murphy as Jimmys girl and Mekhi Phifer as Jimmys friend. Still the movie belongs to Eminem.
The movie and the charactors are well devloped and the plot is simple but plauseable (The Quiet Man wasn't a big story either). The acting is very good and surprising considering that Eminem has never acted in a movie before.
The movie also deals with racisim on both sides of black and white and for that alone this movie is worth commending.
The music suits the movie well and even though i'm not a fan of the music on a whole I found myself humming the title song later in the day.
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