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8 Mile
(Reviewed November 7, 2002)
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If you discount the fact that his character's emotions range only from "sullen" to "morose," Eminem actually does a pretty good job of portraying a white, broke, troubled wannabe rapper with a car that's actually a bigger piece of crap than mine. (Now THAT's saying something!)
He sure does a better job than Kim Basinger, who is stunningly awful as his mother. (She does get to deliver the movie's funniest line, though, when she casually complains to her son that her latest lover "won't go down on me." Calling Dr. Phil!)
Brittany Murphy is hot-'n'-slutty as the Object of Em's Affection. All that ruins their steamy, stand-up shag is the fact that rap's bad boy doesn't bother to dispense with Brit's bra and bobble her bobos after unbuttoning her blouse. So much for "keepin' it real..."
Mekhi Phifer is flat-out excellent as Em's mentor/friend Future, a cheerful and friendly chap with an always sunny 'tude. (Hey, he's the anti-Em! And this sure ain't Kansas! Ha-ha, I just crack myself up.) Phifer, who also was great last year in "O," is a superstar in the making.
The basic po'-boy-breaks-out plot of "8 Mile" isn't shockingly original, but then again, it's unlikely that members of this flick's target audience has seen many Elvis Presley movies. It may sound like "damning with faint praise," but "8 Mile" actually is better than it had to be, as is Eminem's wordplay and melodies in what the world laughingly calls rap "music."
Another thing that will make you feel good about seeing this movie is knowing that, no matter how much you hate where you live, at least it's not the mean, cold, hopeless streets of Detroit. And if you DO live in Detroit...PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!
Back Row Grade: C
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