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Eminem proves himself on the big screen with this extremely well-made
film loosely based on his own life in innercity Detroit. He plays
Rabbit, a guy who roams the streets with his friends (Phifer, Miller,
Wilson and Jones), mostly looking for trouble. Everyone is trying to get
him to participate in the weekly rap competition, but his nerves won't
let him get on stage. He's living with his loser of a mother
(Basinger), her even worse boyfriend (Shannon) and his little sister
(Greenfield), working in a grim factory and struggling to keep away
from both his ex (Manning) and the rival gang. But he has a real talent
for rapping, and eventually his pals and a new girlfriend (Murphy)
encourage him to take centre stage.
Intriguingly, this is no rags-to-riches story. Nor is it "boy from the
hood makes good!" It's instead a quietly personal story about finding
the inner courage to go after your dreams. Hanson films it like a very
big-budget indie--gritty and edgy, bristling with real life and natural
rhythms, and most of all keeping everything small and finely focused.
At times it feels like a rap musical, as the songs and the dialog
overlap and intermingle. In this framework, Eminem's talent shines. He's
a very good actor, grabbing the screen and never letting go, allowing
us inside him and making the character a compelling, fascinating
person. The story's considerable tension builds because of him and him
alone--his relationship with his mother, his new girl, his rivals, his
boss, all of this draws us in and helps us identify with him. It's a
terrific film debut, although it leaves unanswered the question of his
range or versatility. Meanwhile, Basinger delivers a very strong
supporting turn, as does Phifer. This focus on the people, not the
spectacle, makes it a very involving film indeed-- raw and honest,
passionate and energetic.
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