8 Mile
2002
****
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Evan Jones, Omar Benson Miller, Anthony Mackie, Taryn Manning, Michael Shannon, De'Angelo Wilson, Eugene Byrd
Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. is a young aspiring rapper from Detroit, who wants to break out from his dead-end life and make a name for himself in the competitive rap scene. It's hard to tell if Eminem can actually act since he basically plays himself with all of one expression on his face, but he is a commanding presence in his debut performance. This is a gritty film, which doesn't make anything easy for its protagonist. The rap battles, on the other hand, are very entertaining. Lose Yourself won an Academy Award for best original song.
