Detroit in 1995, Jimmy, aka Rabbit (Eminem), struggles in life. Failing financially and personally, he has recently broken up with his girlfriend, who claims she’s pregnant. Jimmy wants to hit the big time as a rapper, but the many obstacles from life and his close friends and family keep slowing him down.
The film opens with Jimmy trying to motivate himself in an old bathroom, even vomiting due to his nerves. He is about to do something huge, jumping on stage to compete in a rap battle. However, while Jimmy is confident, now he’s required to rap in front of a massive group; he freezes up, cannot speak a word, and ultimately gets beaten. Jimmy returns to his mother (Kim Basinger), who lives in a trailer park, struggling to make ends meet. For the next few weeks, Jimmy attempt to lay low, earn some cash and permanently leave the city.
Despite desiring to run away, his best friend Future (Mekhi Phifer) has put Jimmy down for the second round of rap battles. Future believes Jimmy has what it takes to make it and keeps encouraging him every step of the way. Still, Jimmy is exhausted and somewhat forced to renter the rap contest, having been previously embarrassed. Jimmy also gets another promising opportunity, leaving him unsure which path he should take and which one will give him the best outcome.
8 Mile is best described as a drama. Those who adore music, especially rap music, will also be treated to a great soundtrack, including the hit ‘Lose Yourself, which became the first rap song to win an Academy Award. I can’t say I’m a massive fan of rap by any means, but that being said, I can’t help but love and appreciate the talent this film offers, including its key actor Eminem.
The world was quite surprised to see a rap artist tackle a drama film, but to my shock, Eminem as Jimmy is excellent and delivers many emotional and intense moments. Jimmy, as a character, can’t seem to catch a break, and it’s easy for the audience to feel compassion for him, even if he is a bit rough on the edges. Jimmy is presented with many options and choices throughout the film, which have unpredictable outcomes, including his new relationship with a young woman named Alex (Brittany Murphy).
Overall, while I'd never call myself a hardcore rap fan, I’m surprised to say how much I love this film. While it covers the familiar beat of an underdog story, what makes the film engaging is a surprising performance from rap artist Eminem. He gives a crack at delivering a solid soundtrack and successfully bringing many dramatic situations and emotions to life. Some aspects here feel like they are not required, especially the outcomes of side characters that feel poorly written. But at its core, I found a fair amount of enjoyment with this film, and I guess you might say I lost myself in the music and the moment.
* This review has been written for Sanity. For more reviews from Walkden Entertainment, check out the link here: www.walkdenentertainment.com