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We've heard this rap before
8 Mile, Eminem's acting debut and thinly veiled autobiography, is an old story about new music.
By STEVE PERSALL, Times Film Critic
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 7, 2002
[Photo: Universal Studios]
Eminem stars in 8 Mile as Jimmy “Rabbit” Smith Jr., who wants to get out of Detroit and be a great rapper.
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I know what you're sayin'.
I'm a middle-aged white guy.
But I'm fly
Busting rhymes that make your mama cry.
Sit back and take a lesson, cinephile,
While I preach about a flick that's called 8 Mile.
It's the acting debut of Eminem.
Like Tupac Shakur, all eyes are on him.
Can he act? Can he remember his lines?
Well, if acting is a crime, he won't be payin' no fines.
He plays Jimmy, a rapper,
But homeys call him Rabbit.
Choking in a rapoff, a very bad habit.
Gets booed
Right off the stage
While his mom's shackin' up, which contributes to his rage.
I know, I know fans can feel his pain.
But we saw this act before in Purple Rain.
Or was it Krush Groove? Or maybe Eddie and the Cruisers?
Or any musical making winners out of losers?
He's Rooney and Garland with a hip-hop flow
Shouting out: ''Hey, posse, let's put on a show!''
But he's white, so everyone's a hard act to follow
In front of a crowd that could scare the Apollo.
8 Mile is where Jimmy resides.
Right side of the tracks?
No, the other side.
De-troit
No place to run and hide
Except in Mom's trailer, a double-wide,
With her boyfriend, an easy clown to harass.
Jimmy knows him. In school they shared a class.
With a mother like that, Jimmy's chances are slim
Like the actor in the role
(See: Basinger, Kim).
What can you say? How much should you know?
Two whack scenes have her saying ''bingo.''
Curtis Hanson, director, a name that's essential.
He got Kim an Oscar for L.A. Confidential.
Gold.
On the shelf it looks snazzy.
Now she needs to make some room for a Golden Razzie.
Sold.
I'm not.
Her scenes could be trimmed.
But you can't spell ''Mom'' without Eminem.
Hanson makes his movie a perpetual frown
Because there isn't happiness on this end of town.
Jittery, bitterly, funny just intermittently
Even the sex scene
Has no room for glittery.
No hope, he's dope
Face encased in steady mope.
Loosely based on the life of Eminem,
It's a wonder we ever heard about him.
Not even a sunset for Jimmy to walk into.
The only change
From other
Movies that you've been to.
8 Mile finds its groove
Only when Jimmy's rapping
And I dare you not to move.
Busting rhymes.
Sometimes.
Not nearly enough.
Like Jimmy's two expressions:
Scared Rabbit, then tough.
Sinking, no drinking
Seldom ever blinking
When his eyes move back and forth, you can tell he's thinking.
Attitude, no gratitude.
Give the man some latitude.
First time out, Eminem's not bad-itude.
Better than Kim, but that isn't enough.
Stick to concerts.
This acting gig's rough.
Word.
[Photo: Universal Studios]
Kim Basinger, left, is miscast as the mother of Jimmy (Eminem) in 8 Mile.
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8 Mile
- Grade: C
- Director: Curtis Hanson
- Cast: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Eugene Byrd, Evan Jones
- Screenplay: Scott Silver
- Rating: R; profanity, violence, sexual situations, brief nudity
- Running time: 110 min.
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