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It doesn't matter whether you listen to rap a lot and are an Eminem fan or heard of his music occasionally on the radio, "8 mile" does an exceptional job at captivating the audience to the point that by the end of the movie, you are rooting for "Rabbit" - the nickname for eminem used in the film - to win and succeed. "8 mile" is about the backstory of a famous rapper at the time of its release in 2002, Eminem starring as himself in the movie. The story takes place in 1995 in Eminem's hometown of Detroit, which adds credibility and a realisticness to the story line.
He grows up in a poor neighborhood "across 8 mile road", a road which is mentioned many times throughout the film and very strategically. 8 mile road is used as a symbol in the film of the barrier the poor "white trash" lifestyle "Bunny Rabbit" is living in during most of the film to the rich and famous lifestyle full of power and clout that "Eminem" reaches after the film, and aspires to reach during the movie.
The filmmakers did an excellent job making this story line based off the life of Eminem seem to be real. Even though it is not 100% an accurate documentary like some of the rapper themed movies that were coming out at the time, "Biggie and Tupac"(2002) or "Rhyme and Reason"(1997), it still displays similar emotional aspects to what you would think he may have gone through. Convincing the viewer of this realistic storyline creates some extra emotional attachment to Eminem (Rabbit) making it all the more intriguing even for those not interested in rap or not familiar with Eminem and his backstory.
This rebelliousness you see in "8 mile" is a common theme in many films especially those coming out around this time. The style of the movie was also somewhat basic. The classic underdog movie where in this case a poor person grows up under harsh conditions and finds a way to get success and achieve his dreams is not as creative as it could be and is very common historically in films such as the "Rocky" series or "Karate Kid". This lack of creativity makes the film very predictable as you are never during the film left wondering whether or not Eminem will win the final rap battle or get the respect he aspires because it is blatantly obvious he will. Besides the basic aspects of the film it still does a great job portraying the life of a unique and obscure character in Eminem.
Another thing that the movie does well is its use of subtle yet specific camera angles. Towards the beginning of the movie, Eminem's first rap battle is displayed with a close up of his face for an extended period of time looking very nervous and still, while towards the final scene of him rapping in front of the crowd they specifically chose a low angle shot of Eminem looking down on the crowd and at his opponent as well conveying his power and confidence in that scene. This does a good job of showing how Eminem's character has grown from his mistakes and gained more confidence. *Once again a common theme but still a strong one*.
The editing in the film is minimal and not noticeable. The soundtrack is great and is well placed in scenes creating an uplifting and badass emotion while watching Eminem embark his journey into the spotlight.
score 8/10
markbigtimber 16 January 2019
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4586351/ |
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29-11-2019 18:54:57
