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I say a hip hop a hip hip hop and hippity hop and you don’t stop. Okay so this white girl can’t rap, but that white boy Eminem sure can. Even if you are not a fan of rap music, you can jump on board this movie for an interesting trip into Detroit’s slum called 8 Mile. So now you know what that silly name of a title is for, but wait until you hear Eminem’s character is Bunny Rabbit, no not another silly rabbit, Trix are for a kids, old rap, but momma (Kim Bassinger, LA Confidential) nicknamed her bucked teeth baby, rabbit and in his mid twenties he still goes by that name. 8 Mile opens in a scummy looking bathroom in some club, Rabbit is working on his act and then gets so worked up he pukes. He then leaves the club to get his garbage bag of clothes he hides behind a trash dumpster so he doesn’t have to go on stage covered in vomit. But it doesn’t matter much since once on stage he freezes in the rapping duel. Once laughed off the stage he bails on his buddies, Future (Mehki Phifer, Impostor), Cheddar Bob (Evan Jones), and Sol George (Omar Benson Miller, Sorority Boys) because home boy needs to find a place to sleep and all his friends live with their moms. Jimmy Smith Jr. AKA B. Rabbit just broke up with his girlfriend Janeane (Taryn Manning, Crossroads) so he is homeless, broke and he gave the bitch his car. Well Momma or Stephanie is doing her twenty something boyfriend on the sofa of her small trailer when Rabbit walks in and asks if he can stay a few weeks. The guy is homeless, doesn’t have a ride, just lost his girl, pride and is back in a shitty trailer park living with his mommy and little sister, Lily, what else could go wrong. Well his mom’s piece of crap car doesn’t start, he is late to work and gets yelled at. Just then this as hot as your gonna get white trash chick Alex (Brittany Murphy, Don’t Say a Word) walks up looking for the boss, her dad. These two hook up again in the parking lot of the club Rabbit was in the night before. He still has stage fright and doesn’t want to go back on. His friend Wink (Eugene Bird) wants to get him a record deal like he is setting up for last night’s winner Papa Doc (Anthony Mackie) but Future reminds him what a fake the guy is. This movie has sex, fighting, guns, music, betrayal, friendship, goals, love and dumb luck to make it a hit. Yes, Eminem can act as well as rap, so that makes for a delightful surprise. He was every bit convincing as an angry young man struggling with life and his music. It is all pretty predictable, but writer Scott Silver did a good job making it enjoyable. Director Curtis Hanson did a fine job putting it to the big screen and setting the tone for Detroit’s streets. Others in this film were Chloe Greenfield, De’Angelo Wilson, Proof, Michael Shannon and Michael Bell. 8 Mile was a gritty and honest film and makes you ask when should you stop living up here and start living down there. Only his up is down for most of us. I enjoyed this film and give it nine couches out of 10. Peace out.
Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:47:42 AM Click Here to get back into frames.
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