Hey folks, Harry here... Holy Shit! Quint really dug the film, wow. If Quint dug it, then... wow... Well read on and just realize that Quint doesn't have a hip hop bone in his body. He's pure Duke of New York, A #1! Read on...
Ahoy squirts! The one and only crusty seaman, Quint, here with my views on Curtis Hanson's newest flick, 8 MILE, starring Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mikhi Phifer and Brittany Murphy.
I remember my first reaction to the news that Curtis Hanson was following up his vastly overlooked WONDERBOYS with a then reported biopic of white rapper Eminem. It wasn't a hostile reaction, it was more of a "whuuuuuuu..." confused reaction. Of course I knew who Eminem was, but I never cared to listen to any of his stuff. My interest in rap dwindles after the glory years of artists like Run DMC and Sir Mix-A-Lot. Hell, very little of the music I listen to and enjoy came after those years. To this day, the only 2 modern music makers I listen to are Fatboy Slim and the greatest band in the world, Tenacious D.
So, like most of the people out there who are bashing Eminem, I really knew nothing about him that wasn't a headline news item. Unlike those bashers, I recognized my ignorance and with this so called biopic, which turned out to be an untrue label, I put all my trust in Curtis Hanson. Hanson obviously saw something I didn't know about.
Flash forward to the last MTV Movie Awards (hosted by The D's Jack Black). I was watching and Eminem came on to sing (I believe) Without Me... I could be wrong, but whatever song he sang, he actually kept me from flipping during his performance, a feat none of the other musicians that appeared on the show had been able to do before him. I didn't turn into a crazy Eminem fan. As of this writing I only know 5 or 6 of his songs, but I gained an appreciation for him. I saw some of his music videos, which really impressed me (especially the one he did with Dr. Dre where they were the opposite sides of different people's conscience) and even got a few of his songs stuck in my head.
Understand, I really didn't seek these videos or songs out, merely just didn't flip away when they came on. Also understand that for me, that's a huge deal and a great compliment to any current artist. I have a good deal of respect for the guy, as I do with anyone who'll unflinchingly call out the hypocrisy surrounding us, no matter how politically incorrect or dangerous to one's public profile it is to do so. I still don't own any of his CDs and haven't gotten around to adding any of his songs into my WinAmp player. In short (too late!) I wasn't head over heels in love with Eminem when I saw 8 MILE, but I wasn't going in with anything against the man, either.
Now with all that information on my opinion of Eminem before seeing the movie, know that 8 MILE will end up in my Top 10 films of the year list. It's that good. When you boil it down, 8 MILE is an underdog story and a very smartly executed underdog story at that. From the very first scene we feel a sympathy for Eminem's character, Rabbit, a sympathy that is slowly built upon until we are behind Rabbit 1000%, want to see him rise up, face his fear and succeed.
The film really avoids pretension and cliché, two of the easiest pitfalls in this kind of film. I don't know who's to compliment here. Is it Eminem's subtle, natural performance? Is it Scott Silver's (JOHNS, THE MOD SQUAD) first great script? Is it Hanson's strong direction? I think it's all of the above, every perfect ingredient coming together in the right amounts to make a damn satisfying meal.
Hanson marvelously guides us through Detroit's rap underground, a place that's a foreign land to most including a white-bread cracker boy like myself. Hanson keeps it real and fresh. His lively direction and camerawork really gives the film a pulse, a life, a character. That in and of itself is a great achievement as most of the films out there, good or bad, are blandly shot, all character coming from the actors, the camera and lighting only used to capture the image, not add to the life of the story.
I don't expect everyone to love 8 MILE, but I think there are a lot of people out there who'd be surprised if they give the film a shot. I know there's a rabid anti-Eminem base out there (many of whom will be in the talkbacks, I'm sure) who won't give the film any chance whatsoever and wouldn't like it if they did because they already have their minds made up. They'll look at Eminem's natural, nuanced performance and see him only Eminem playing himself. I don't know Eminem or his public profile well enough to comment on that view, but at the very worst he's playing a version of himself in the same way that people like John Wayne or James Dean did. Just because these actors put a lot of themselves in their performances doesn't make the genuine talent and charisma go away.
It also helps that Hanson gave Eminem a great supporting cast. Mikhi Phifer in particular stands out as Rabbit's best friend and mentor. Phifer has a great look with short cropped dreads... a great "don't fuck with me" look. Evan Jones gives a very funny and sweat performance as the tragically unhip, totally clueless, but kindhearted Cheddar Bob. Brittany Murphy turns in one of her trademarked cute dirty slut roles that she is so damn good at. That's not a knock, she's very good in the film, but it was a role that had her name on it from day one, if you know what I mean... Kinda like... "We need a huge, black dude... Where's Michael Clarke Duncan? We need a crazy white guy... is Crispin Glover available? How about Christopher Walken? We need a slutty, but sweet girl... Where's Brittany Murphy?" You know what I'm sayin'.
Kim Basinger is probably the weakest link in the film, but that really doesn't take anything away from it. Her terrible southern accent is survivable. It is kind of odd to see her in a scene with fucking Eminem where he's running circles around her in terms of acting and turning in a real, believable character. She does have some great moments, though. Curiouser and curiouser.
The story, like I said above, is an underdog story, which I love when pulled off correctly and 8 MILE is executed damn near perfectly. The relationship between Rabbit and his little sister gives a perfect balance to his wild night life, his drab day job and his constant battles with his mom and her boyfriend, a guy who's all of 2 years older than Rabbit. The movie avoids convention, which was honestly my biggest fear going into the film. I was sure it was either going to be a super happy or super sad ending. He was going to sign that big contract, become a superstar and live happily ever after or start his upswing only to be shot down in a drive-by. I was sure of one of those two things was going to happen. I'm not saying what happens, but the ending on the film is a perfect fit that lies somewhere in those extremes.
As I wrap this up, again I'll say that this film isn't for everyone and I don't expect the world to unite and praise 8 MILE as the best thing since CITIZEN KANE, but it's a damn solid movie that blew me away. It really worked for me, a 21 year old, white movie geek who would take a good FUNK song over a good RAP song any day of the week. If it worked for me, it'll work for you if you're open minded at all. I'm happy for Curtis Hansen for keeping up his great streak that started with LA CONFIDENTIAL. I'm happy for Eminem for proving himself as a real talent in more than just rhymes. Above all, I'm happy for us movie goers. We're getting into some great films right now, 8 MILE included.
It's time for me to shove off, squirts. I got a pretty neat, if kind of unexpected, set visit coming up next week which I'll let you in on as soon as I can, plus a look at the continuing adventures of a certain little wizard. 'Til that day, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
email: Click here and you can email the Real Slim Crusty!!!
