8 Mile

OK, yes--Eminem can act. The charismatically angry white hip-hop star shows potent, resourceful nuance, and emotional intuition in 8 Mile, inspired in part by his own days as a hungry young rapper, scrapping his way through smack-down rhyme battles in mid-1990s Detroit. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he's directed by Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys), who gives the film a sooty, gray ambiance and a polished narrative maturity that complements the music but never buries it in MTV style. The storyline here is not the clichéd rise-to-glory tale of a boy from the hood who makes good with a lucrative recording contract, but rather a realistic, working-class drama about a tough kid from the white side of the Motor City ghetto who wants to prove himself as a rapper and "get out of the D." More time is spent on character than song, but 8 Mile is bookended by two brilliant, rousing rap battles in an underground club, in which contestants have 45 seconds to slur each other in ad-libbed hardcore rhymes. Sure to be popular, this better-than-expected Eminem showcase is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include 23 minutes of exclusive rap battles and auditions, a 10-minute making-of featurette, Eminem's uncut music video “Superman,” music highlights from both soundtracks (8 Mile and More Music From 8 Mile) with text information and jump-to-scene song excerpts, production notes, cast and filmmaker bios, a trailer, and DVD-ROM Total Axess features. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a sure-to-be-popular release.] (R. Blackwelder)[Blu-ray Review—Mar. 31, 2009—Universal, 111 min., R, $29.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2002's 8 Mile features a nice transfer and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. Blu-ray extras include all of the major bonuses from the previous DVD release, including 23 minutes of exclusive uncensored rap battles and auditions, a 10-minute “making-of” featurette, and star Eminem's uncut music video “Superman,” as well as trailers. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray debut for a popular film.]