Straight Outta Compton
2015
****
Director: F. Gary Gray
Cast: O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Paul Giamatti, Neil Brown Jr., Aldis Hodge, Marlon Yates Jr., R. Marcos Taylor, Lakeith Stanfield, Alexandra Shipp, Corey Reynolds, Tate Ellington
In the late 1980s, a handful of young and angry black men in Compton California form N.W.A. (Niggaz Wit Attitudes), a controversial and influential rap group. This supremely entertaining biographical drama focuses on Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube and their respective relationships with the group's manager Jerry Heller. The film offers a terrific mix of drama and comedy, and it paints a believable portrait of the lack of options a young black man has when he grows up in a tough neighbourhood, much like Boyz N' the Hood, which incidentally starred Ice Cube. In addition, the story covers the highs and lows of show business: the excitement of creative work and live performances, the adoration by fans, and the inevitable aftermath of living a life of excess. The young cast is very imprressive.
