8 Mile (2002)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Curtis Hanson

Writer (WGA):

Scott Silver (written by)

Release Date:

8 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Go back to where it all started.

Plot:

A young rapper, struggling with every aspect of his life, wants to make the most of what could be his final opportunity but his problems around gives him doubts.

Plot Keywords:

Rap | Friend | Car Trouble | Lunch Wagon | Paintball Gun

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Eminem	...	Jimmy 'B-Rabbit' Smith
Kim Basinger	...	Stephanie Smith
Mekhi Phifer	...	David 'Future' Porter
Brittany Murphy	...	Alex
Evan Jones	...	Cheddar Bob
Omar Benson Miller	...	Sol George
De'Angelo Wilson	...	DJ Iz
Eugene Byrd	...	Wink
Taryn Manning	...	Janeane
Larry Hudson	...	Bouncer
Proof	...	Lil' Tic
Mike Bell	...	Shorty Mike
DJ Head	...	Battle DJ
Michael Shannon	...	Greg Buehl
Chloe Greenfield	...	Lily Smith
Mary Hannigan	...	Mrs. Helgeland
Anthony Mackie	...	Papa Doc
Strike	...	Lyckety-Splyt
Nashawn 'Ox' Breedlove	...	Lotto
Na'Keya Snoddy	...	Papa Doc's Girl
Malik Barnhardt	...	Moochie
Day Golfin	...	Day
Allen Adams	...	Omar
Hom	...	Parking Lot Rapper #1
Obie Trice	...	Parking Lot Rapper #2
Njeri Earth	...	Parking Lot Rapper #3
Jennifer Kitchen	...	Willing Girl
Kyla Womack	...	Alex's Friend
Melissa Zaglanikzny	...	Christine
Rockey Black	...	Rocky
Craig Chandler	...	Paul
Paul Bates	...	Manny
Miz-Korona	...	Female Lunch Truck Rapper
Xzibit	...	Male Lunch Truck Rapper
Abdul Salaam El Razzac	...	Joe Lee Patton
Steven Monroe	...	Plant Worker
John Smith Jr.	...	Lobby Security Guard
Venicia Foreman	...	WJLB Receptionist
Waverly W. Alford II	...	Big O
Bushman	...	WJLB Disc Jockey
Adam Brook	...	Roy Darucher
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kyle Clarington	...	Club goer (uncredited)
Dave Daniels	...	Chin Tiki Club Goer (uncredited)
Karin Dicker	...	Sarah Jane - Age 8 (archive footage) (uncredited)
Brandon T. Jackson	...	Chin Tiki Club Goer (uncredited)
Jason Jarchow	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Kei Leong	...	Shelter Nightclub Goer (uncredited)
Juanita Moore	...	Annie Johnson (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sara Stokes	...	Girl in Crowd (uncredited)
Steve Van Hee	...	Chin Tiki Club Goer (uncredited)

Directed by
Curtis Hanson

Writing credits (WGA)
Scott Silver		(written by)

Produced by
Carol Fenelon	....	executive producer
Gregory Goodman	....	executive producer
Brian Grazer	....	producer
Curtis Hanson	....	producer
Jimmy Iovine	....	producer
Stuart Parr	....	co-producer
Paul Rosenberg	....	executive producer
James Whitaker	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Proof

Cinematography by
Rodrigo Prieto

Film Editing by
Craig Kitson
Jay Rabinowitz

Casting by
Mali Finn

Production Design by
Philip Messina

Art Direction by
Kevin Kavanaugh

Set Decoration by
Kristen Toscano Messina

Costume Design by
Mark Bridges

Makeup Department
Matiki Anoff	....	key makeup artist
Jane English	....	body makeup artist: Ms. Basinger
Camille Friend	....	key hair stylist
Erma Kent	....	hair stylist supervisor
Winnye Knight	....	assistant makeup artist
Donald Mowat	....	makeup supervisor
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist: Ms. Bassinger
Mitchell Stone	....	hair stylist: Ms. Basinger
Kymber Blake	....	daily assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Kimberley Kirkpatrick	....	daily assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Brandi Mitchell	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Valli O'Reilly	....	makeup artist: Ms. Basinger (uncredited)

Production Management
Mary Courtney	....	unit production manager (as Mary J. Courtney)
Graham Stumpf	....	post-production supervisor
Zane Weiner	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Heffron	....	first assistant director (as Eric N. Heffron)
Michael J. Moore	....	second assistant director (as Michael Moore)
David K. Riebel	....	second second assistant director (as David Riebel)
Jason Cox	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Thomas Betts	....	set designer
Mike Bomar	....	set painter
Richard Boris	....	head greensman
Shane Buckallew	....	plaster foreman (as Shane R. Buckallew)
John Bullard	....	gang boss propmaker
Sophie Carlhian	....	set decorating buyer
William Rob Chalk	....	set dressing foreman
Darien N. D'Alfonso	....	scenic artist
Keni Davis	....	signwriter
Bill Duffin	....	gang boss propmaker
Michael Jon Duffin	....	gang boss propmaker (as Michael Duffin)
Louie Esparza	....	set painter (as Louie Esparza Jr.)
Robert Fidalgo	....	labor foreman (as Robert Fildalgo)
Gerard Forrest	....	construction foreman
Hank Giardina	....	paint supervisor
William Gideon	....	construction foreman (as William W.Gideon)
Nickolas Gilbert	....	set dresser (as Nikolas A. Gilbert)
Aaron C. Holden Jr.	....	assistant property master
Bruce Johnson	....	set painter (as Bruce L. Johnson)
Bryan Johnson	....	set painter (as Bryan C. Johnson)
Elizabeth Keenan	....	set dresser
Bud Kucia	....	welder
Charles Lawson	....	set dresser (as Charles E. Lawson)
Steven B. Melton	....	property master
Joe Miller	....	propmaker (as Joseph Miller)
John Moore	....	construction buyer
Lance Newton	....	propmaker
Mary O'Brien	....	set painter (as Mary M. O'Brien)
Harry E. Otto	....	set designer
Jim Paniagua	....	construction toolman
Larry Paulus	....	propmaker (as Lawrence Paulus)
Beth Peterson	....	set dresser
Troy Alan Peters	....	set dresser (as Troy Peters)
Paul Richards	....	leadman
Neil Rust	....	set painter
Jerry Sanders	....	set dresser
Robert Schleinig	....	set dresser
Chris Snyder	....	construction coordinator
Dale Snyder	....	gang boss propmaker
Nicole Sylvester	....	art department coordinator (as Nicole C. Sylvester)
Joshua Weil	....	set painter (as Joshua T. Weil)
Tracy Turner Weil	....	set painter (as Tracy S. Weil)
Paul Williamson	....	set dresser (as Paul M. Williamson)
Curtis Yackel	....	gang boss propmaker
Chris Zimmerman	....	stand-by painter
Kevin Dalton	....	conceptual artists (uncredited)
Marc Gabbana	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Brad Good	....	props (uncredited)
Guy Hietala	....	painter gang boss (uncredited)
Melody Miller	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Mark Robert Taylor	....	art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Adrian	....	sound effects editor
Nancy Barker	....	first assistant sound editor
Ron Bartlett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Bretter	....	sound recordist
Stephanie Brown	....	assistant sound editor
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Gail Carroll-Coe	....	utility sound technician
Dane A. Davis	....	supervising sound editor
William R. Dean	....	assistant sound editor (as Bill R. Dean)
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Thom Ehle)
Julia Evershade	....	supervising sound editor
Stephanie Flack	....	supervising dialogue editor
Paul Hackner	....	assistant sound editor
Eddie Kim	....	assistant sound editor
Andrew Lackey	....	supervising foley editor
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer
Mark R. La Pointe	....	sound recordist (as Mark Lapointe)
Mark Larry	....	sound effects editor
Danny Michael	....	production sound mixer
Joe Milner	....	sound effects editor
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (as Alyson Moore)
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr recording mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Andrew Schmetterling	....	boom operator
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thom Brennan	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Christopher Eakins	....	sound effects (uncredited)
John Marquis	....	sound effects (uncredited)
Noel McIntosh	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
James Azizi Penny	....	group adr (uncredited)
Victoria Rose Sampson	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jim Baker	....	special effects assistant
Sam Barkan	....	special effects assistant
Ryan Evans	....	special effects assistant
Rodman Kiser	....	special effects foreman
Frank Krenmuller	....	special effects assistant (as Frank R. Krenmuller)
John D. Milinac	....	special effects coordinator
Don Parson	....	special effects assistant
Thomas J. Ridgen	....	special effects assistant (as Thomas Rigden)
John Rigden	....	special effects assistant
Michael Kay	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
David Waszak	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Chris Crowell	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
John R. Ellis	....	digital cleanup artist (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	digital cleanup artist (uncredited)
James D. Tittle	....	digital visual effects coordinator: Pacific Title (uncredited)

Stunts
Clayton J. Barber	....	stunt double (as Clayton Barber)
David Barrett	....	stunts
Stanton Barrett	....	stunts
Kiante Elam	....	stunts
Kofi Elam	....	stunts
James Fierro	....	stunts (as Jim Fierro)
Willie Green	....	stunts
Jeff Imada	....	stunt coordinator
John 'Punch' Lewis	....	stunts (as John Lewis)
Richard Lexsee	....	stunts
Larry C. Tankson	....	stunts (as Larry Tankson)
T.J. White	....	stunts (as Terence James White)
T.J. White	....	stunt double: Michael Shannon (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark David Adler	....	video assist technician (as Mark Adler)
Michael W. Anderson	....	lighting technician
Robert Baumgartner	....	chief lighting technician
Carl Blair	....	grip
Glenn Brown	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Matt Cantu	....	rigging electrician
Jesse Cecchini	....	rigging electrician
Michael J. Conner	....	lighting technician
Dave De Brincat	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as David DeBrincat)
Michael Duarte	....	grip (as Michael R. Duarte)
Brad Fanfalone	....	camera loader
Ryan Floyd	....	grip
Donald Glenn	....	dolly grip (as Don Glenn)
Ron Glenn	....	second company grip
Joel Hale	....	rigging electrician (as Joel T. Hale)
Brad Irvin	....	lighting technician (as Brad J. Irvin)
Gary Jay	....	camera operator
Glenn Kaplan	....	second assistant camera (as Glenn D. Kaplan)
Mark Karavite	....	Steadicam operator
Brian Kelly	....	grip
Michael Kelly	....	lighting technician
Dean M. King	....	first company grip (as Dean King)
Kenny King	....	grip
Brad Knopf	....	rigging electrician (as Bradley A. Knopf)
Jay Levy	....	first assistant camera
David 'Louie' Lukasik	....	lighting technician (as Dave Lukasik)
Patrick Pask	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Patrick J. Pask)
Todd Piepenbrok	....	rigging electrician
Eli Reed	....	still photographer
Jim Rogers	....	lighting technician
Tom Rondot	....	electrician
Anthony 'Spike' Simms	....	rigging gaffer (as Anthony Simms)
Bill Summers	....	grip
Don Sustrich	....	grip
Peter Walts	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Scott Zuckerberg	....	rigging electrician (as Scott D. Zuckerberg)
Trevor Carroll-Coe	....	film loader (uncredited)
Michael Chamberlain	....	additional rigging electrician (uncredited)
William Eichler	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Scott Ghrist	....	lighting assistant (uncredited)
Matthew Haskins	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (uncredited)
Chris Milani	....	electrician (uncredited)
Vinny Walsh	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mindy Bazar	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Stacy Opalewski	....	casting assistant (as Stacey A. Opalewski)
Sharat Raju	....	casting assistant
David Rapaport	....	casting assistant
Deedra Ricketts	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Casey	....	costume supervisor (as John C. Casey)
Lizzie Cook	....	costumer
Alix Friedberg	....	costumer
Sukari McGill	....	costumer
Donna O'Neal	....	costumer: Ms. Basinger
Christine Orth	....	key costumer
Barnaby Smith	....	costumer
Marianna Harrison	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Bernadine Vida	....	costume stitcher (uncredited)

Editorial Department
John Peter Bernardo	....	assistant editor
Steve Bowen	....	digital color timer
Aaron Brock	....	assistant editor
M. Wilson Burdorff	....	post-production assistant
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Richard Conkling	....	first assistant editor: film
Liza D. Espinas	....	assistant editor
Katie Hedrich	....	second assistant editor
Cecilia Hyoun	....	first assistant editor: avid
Matt Mayer	....	first assistant editor: avid
Eric O. Schusterman	....	first assistant editor: film
Angus Spottiswoode	....	second assistant editor
Kenny Becker	....	color timer (uncredited)
Carole Cowley	....	digital intermediate producer (uncredited)
Ben Estrada	....	digital colorist assistant (uncredited)
Amy Tompkins	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Eminem	....	additional composer
Eminem	....	music arranger
Carol Fenelon	....	music supervisor
Carlton Kaller	....	music editor (as Carl Kaller)
Steven King	....	music arranger (as Steve King)
Steven King	....	music engineer (as Steve King)
Debra Mannis-Gardner	....	music clearance (as Deborah Mannis-Gardner)
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Universal Pictures
Luis Resto	....	additional composer
Luis Resto	....	music arranger
Robert Schaper	....	supervising music engineer
David Raymond	....	music playback (uncredited)
Gary Raymond	....	music playback (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Linda Barnes	....	driver
Larry Cumeralto	....	driver
Patrick Dougherty	....	transportation captain
Kenneth Fistler	....	driver
John Gerhard	....	driver
Norbert Grzywacz	....	driver
Christian Hoerger	....	driver
Kurt Knudsen	....	driver
Pat McCartney	....	driver (as Patrick McCartney)
Dennis McCleod	....	driver
Frank Morreale	....	driver (as Francesco Morreale)
Lee Nicholson	....	driver
Thomas Rexa	....	driver
Vince Riggle	....	transportation captain
Marc Scott	....	transportation coordinator
Ken Stevens	....	driver (as Kenneth Stevens)
Jaime Trujillo	....	driver
Michael A. Williams	....	driver (as Michael Williams)
Charles Wolschlager	....	driver
Dave Zugaj	....	driver (as David Zugaj)
Gina August	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Kokayi Ampah	....	location manager
Kevin Baker	....	assistant: Mr. Hanson and Ms. Fenelon
Jody Beaudin	....	first assistant accountant
Ralph Bertelle	....	production office coordinator
Jamie Biehl	....	production secretary
Joshua Biton	....	cast associate
Robert C. Bonnell	....	production assistant
Ron Bozymowski	....	production assistant
Felecia Hatcher Brown	....	production assistant (as Felicia Hatcher-Brown)
Michael J. Burmeister	....	location manager
Eva Z. Cabrera	....	script supervisor
Kathleen Callahan	....	craft service (as Kat Callahan)
Lanei Chapman	....	adr voice: Click
Jason Cox	....	production assistant (as Jason M. Cox)
Kim Crabb	....	production assistant
Django Craig	....	adr voice: Click
Anna Culp	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer
Mike Grady	....	production assistant
Shannon Hamed	....	production office coordinator
Todd Havern	....	production assistant
Pamela Hilse	....	assistant production coordinator
Paula S. Hudson	....	first aid
Anthony Jackson	....	production assistant
Eric Jackson	....	production assistant
Loki Jordan	....	adr voice: Click
Dara Kartz	....	assistant: Mr. Rosenberg (as Dara Cartz)
Erin Kelly	....	first aid
Marc Labelle	....	logistics coordinator: Eminem
Ted Leonard	....	production assistant (as Ted J. Leonard)
Tali Lipa	....	production accountant
Terence Mathews	....	adr voice: Click
James Maull	....	post-production accountant (as James O. Maull)
Carol McConnaughey	....	unit publicist
Jason McGuire	....	assistant: Mr. Iovine
Roy McMullen	....	production assistant
Guy Morrison	....	production assistant
Hilton Napoleon	....	security advisor
Lionel Nealy	....	production assistant
Todd Nesbitt	....	assistant: Mr. Whitaker
Liz Probst	....	payroll accountant (as Elizabeth Probst)
Scott Puckett	....	assistant: Mr. Goodman
Cheo Ramsey	....	production assistant (as Cheo M. Ramsey)
Ginger Ramsey-Grippe	....	assistant: Mr. Iovine
Miguel Raya	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer
Maria Rodriguez	....	production assistant
J.T. Rogers	....	production assistant
Jerrell Skinner	....	production secretary
Michael A. Sluder	....	production assistant
Jeffery Sudz	....	production assistant
Zak Szyszko	....	production assistant
Nancy Tarr-Wager	....	assistant: Mr. Hanson and Ms. Fenelon
Carson Taylor	....	projectionist assistant
Mark Taylor	....	production assistant
Marta Tomkiw	....	production assistant
Harold Turel	....	dailies projectionist
Richard Turel	....	dailies projectionist
Patrick Wager	....	production assistant
Mitchell Waxman	....	assistant: Mr. Hanson and Ms. Fenelon
Marvin Williams	....	key set production assistant (as Marvin J. Williams Jr.)
David L. Wolfson	....	location manager
Dawn Zoltek	....	production assistant
Cynthia Blaise	....	dialect coach: Mekhi Phifer (uncredited)
Mark Chambers	....	production safety (uncredited)
Kylee Fagan	....	stand-in: "Lily" (uncredited)
Karen Golden	....	additional script supervisor (uncredited)
Nancy Haecker	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Marisol Jiménez	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Arif S. Kinchen	....	voice-over (uncredited)
Peter Martorano	....	location manager (uncredited)
Anthony Morrison	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Kelly Morrison	....	production assistant (uncredited)
George A. Parker	....	technical supervisor: preview (uncredited)
David Rumble	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Jennifer Secord	....	stand-in: "Alex" (uncredited)
Aricka Shuck	....	photo double (uncredited)
Aricka Shuck	....	photo double: Kim Basinger (uncredited)
Steve Van Hee	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Thomas Zambeck	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Craig G	....	special thanks
Maurice Malone	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Imagine Entertainment
• Mikona Productions GmbH & Co. KG

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (2003) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Japan) (theatrical) (Far East)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Veronica (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Other Companies

• Boyd Reliant Services  location security
• Click  adr voice group
• Danetracks  sound post-production
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing (as Deluxe)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• EFilm  digital mastering
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Hart Medical  emergency medical services (as Hart Medical E.M.S.)
• Imagine Entertainment  presents
• Interscope Records  soundtrack released by
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies
• Kodak  film
• Mario's Catering  catering
• Mid America Cine Support  expendables
• Mid America Cine Support  generators
• Mid America Cine Support  grip and lighting equipment
• New Center Stamping  thanks
• Pacific Title  main and end titles
• Pivotal Post  telecine by
• Playback Technologies  24 frame video playback
• R & S Security  location security
• RPM Group  promotion and marketing
• Rocky Mountain Motion Pictures  cameras and lenses
• Shady Records  soundtrack available on (as Shady)
• Skyline Entertainment  publicity
• UMG Soundtracks  soundtrack released by
• Universal Pictures  presents

Also Known As:

8 Mile (Germany)
8 Mile - Jeder Augenblick ist eine neue Chance (Germany) (DVD box title)
Fight Music (USA) (working title)
Fight Song (USA) (working title)
Untitled Detroit Project (USA) (working title)
8 Mile (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Восьмая миля (Russia) [ru]
8 Mile (Finland) [fi]
8 Mile (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
8 Mile (Greece) [el]
8 Mile (Portugal) [pt]
8 Mile (Denmark) [da]
8 Mile - Rua das Ilusões (Brazil) [pt]
8 Mile: Calle de ilusiones (Argentina) [es]
8 mérföld (Hungary) [hu]
8 mil (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
8 millas (Spain) [es]
8. mila (Poland) [pl]
Calle de las ilusiones (Chile) [es]
Rua das Ilusões (Brazil) [pt]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, sexuality, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | USA:R (certificate #39361) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Taiwan:R-18 | Philippines:R-18 | Hungary:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:14 | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R13 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 (original rating) | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Chin Tiki Club - 2121 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Company:

Imagine Entertainment

Trivia:

In the last battle against Papa Doc, Rabbit says, "...he's shook 'cause ain't such thing as halfway crooks." This is a reference to the instrumental playing in the background which is taken from the rap duo Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones Pt. II", in which the chorus is "There ain't no such thing as half-way crooks, scared to death, they scared to look, they shook..."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Rabbit and his crew are driving through Detroit at night before they shoot the pintail's, they pass a CVS Pharmacy store. These stores were known as Arbor Drugs in 1995 before they were bought out and turned into CVS.

Quotes:

Future: I had a lotta names, baby - The most jealous names. I used to be called Maximum, Brimstone, Godfather D - None of 'em worked, you-know-what-Ima-sayin'? 'Til one day someone said I was the future of hip-hop in Detroit. And that was it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in White Men Can't Rap (2005)

Soundtrack:

Juicy

Not a great story – but has good moments and a good central performance

Jimmy Rabbit is a white kid on the poor (black) side of town. Growing up with this influence he has developed rapping skills but is too intimidated to showcase in the cruel `Shelter' battles. Split from his girlfriend, Jimmy returns to his Mum's trailer park home and her young boyfriend. He keeps his job in a pressing shop while working on his rhymes and trying to work out who, out of all the hopes and promises, will be able to help him work his way out of Detroit.

After missing preview screenings and not being able to go when friends went, I eventually saw this a few nights ago. I was maybe better prepared by this point because the hype had been watered down by a few bad or balanced reviews of the film in the media. This helped me lower my expectations so that I wasn't let down. The plot is, well, difficult to describe because there isn't really one narrative to speak of, rather it is Rabbit's story. As a result it is a little rambling with things just drifting through the film. However that it still works is to it's credit. The film holds the attention and the story still has enough in it to follow it.

The telling is what does it the best I think. The direction is good, with washed out cameras not willing to glamorise anything. The biggest smart move was the liberal use of hip-hop through the film. Occasionally we get a beat of a song but it isn't wall to wall music like many rapper's films. Even where a Eminem track is played, Em's voice is limited to a few broken up words – saving his skills for the climax. Some of the film doesn't work – I got tired of several rap scenes in everyday situations and it didn't grasp me as reality (although in fairness I don't know if this is the norm in some lives). Also there are a few too many scenes of meaningless violence that didn't come across as normal life for Rabbit but instead felt like the film trying to show Rabbit to be tough and ready for action.

It is difficult to write a fair review after seeing the climax – which his why I left it a few days before writing this. The climax is a series of short battles in the Shelter that are pumping and exciting. Not to spoil it but some of the rapper's lines are cool – until Em takes his turns and rips the place down. It was so funny and funky that I wished that he had made some of his own joints that sharp in his recent Benzino disses. This is where he shines in the role but he also does well generally – maybe not worthy of an Oscar nomination but certainly very good. He makes his character likeable but not easily, and he avoids being a sympathy figure.

Phieffer is not as good and didn't convince me as well as I've seen him do. He can act but here he is not really a good character. The support cast are all pretty good and are believable and only a few are clear stereotypical groups. Happily the usual rapper cameos are minimal and not in your face too much. There may be more but I only spotted Xhibit and Obi Trise and neither of them took anything away by their presence. Murphy is pretty good – sexy yet trashy – but her character and her sub-plot didn't really have anywhere to go and just became another part of the wandering story. Basinger is OK but she isn't as bad as I expected her to be (or felt she needed to be). She didn't need to be like his Mum in the songs, but a little less `victim of circumstance' would have helped buy into it.

The message is worthy but heavily made and the story part of the film just didn't totally come off for me – instead it was a bit ordinary and not well written. However the telling makes it worth seeing – the direction is pretty good and the liberal use of music is one of the many good touches, meanwhile Eminem ensures that it is always worth watching – whether doing witty disses in a car park, ripping the opposition in a battle or just being understated in a good role. Understated! Now there's a thing I thought I'd never say again about a rapper in a lead role of a film since Pac died!

Like him or loathe him, Eminem prevents an average (at best) story being unwatchable by the sheer strength of his presence. However those who aren't fans of hip-hop or Eminem may wish to avoid this, as there ain't too much else on offer.