Common Sense Note
Parents should know that the movie is rated R for nonstop profanity, violence, drug references, and very explicit sexual references and situations. Characters vandalize and burn down an abandoned house and a character accidentally shoots himself. There is a reference to child rape.
Eminem's character (nicknamed Rabbit) has an unstable mother who is living with a boyfriend his age, and she speaks to Rabbit in very inappropriate ways about her sexual relationship. Some viewers will be upset by the neglect of Rabbit's sister, a little girl who witnesses violence, family fights, a mother who drinks and has sex with a young man, and other abusive situations.
Families who see this movie could talk about what changed in Rabbit's life to give him the guts to perform. Why was his willingness to insult himself before anyone else could a show of strength that was more devastating to his opponent than an attack could be? How is Eminem in the tradition of white musicians of the past who became successful by appropriating the music developed by black performers? Why did Future support Rabbit? Why did Rabbit support Bob?
Families could also talk about the way the movie makes clear that having sex with someone should not be confused with thinking that you know the person or that you have a relationship. What were the signs that Alex was more interested in her career than in getting to know Rabbit? Note that in one scene, a character watches a short excerpt from a movie called Imitation of Life in which a black woman discovers that her daughter has been passing for white at school. Why would the director chose that scene to include? Families could also talk about how they feel about Eminem's lyrics and why they have been so popular with both teenagers and critics.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Nell Minow
The dialogue in 8 MILE has a vocabulary of fewer words than the 223 in The Cat in the Hat, and that's counting giving someone the finger as a word. Other than the usual expletives, with one in particular used almost non-stop, the most frequently used words are "dawg," "all right" (pronounced "i-ite"), and "man."
It is a little odd, then, that this is a movie about a world in which status and self-worth are achieved by wordplay. Loosely based on the real-life story of white rap superstar Eminem, this movie is very much in the tradition of other "poor kid with a dream" stories like Saturday Night Fever and Rocky. The structure of these stories is simple: a talented character has to learn to take risks and believe in himself. He has some setbacks, but ultimately triumphs.
There's nothing wrong with that story -- it has enduring appeal and many movies tell it well. But despite 8 Mile's top behind-the-scenes talent like director Curtis Hanson (of L.A. Confidential and Wonder Boys) and producer Brian Grazer (of A Beautiful Mind), this version's primary appeal will be to the fans Eminem already has.
For those who accept the premise that rap is an art form, this movie will be easier to believe. This is not the genre-transcending triumph that it was intended to be, but it is far ahead of instantly outdated bombs like Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. Eminem has the ability to hold the screen, and if he is not exactly an actor, he is able to muster the few expressions required: tender when he looks at his sister (Chloe Greenfield), hopeful when he looks at Alex (Brittany Murphy), and sullen most of the rest of the time. Years from now, they will need subtitles -- maybe even footnotes -- under the dialogue to translate the early 2002 argot to future audiences. ("313" equals "Detroit," a reference to the area code.)
There is a sweet little sort of almost-hugging thing the guys do when they see each other and there is a charming, even witty scene as Rabbit makes up new lyrics to the song "Sweet Home Alabama," showing the way that even music that is not his genre gives him an avenue for expression and release. Brittany Murphy and Mekhi Phifer are fine as the girl who catches Rabbit's eye and the friend who believes he can make it.
Families who enjoy this movie will also enjoy Rocky, the more critically acclaimed Hustle and Flow, and the docudrama Tupac: Resurrection.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentGraphic sexual references and situations. |
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ViolenceCharacters are beat up, we see a bloody gunshot wound. |
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LanguageConstant and extremely strong profanity. |
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Social BehaviorLots of bad behavior. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoDrinking and smoking, a drunk character, many drug references. |
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