8 Mile

8 Mile
Curtis Hanson

Well before its arrival on UK screens, the elements of 8 Mile will be familiar to its potential audience. We've been told it shows that Eminem can act, that the soundtrack scorches and the narrative structure is the same as the first Rocky movie. Shift from Stallone's Philadelphia to Marshall Mathers' deindustrialised Detroit and there's little else to say about it. If you've seen the rap video for 'Lose Yourself' you've seen it already. Or have you?

8 Mile may be a music star vehicle, but it still surprises. Speculation will continue as to the biographical similarities between the fictional Jimmy 'Rabbit' Smith and the blond rapper with the alliterative name, but ultimately this is irrelevant. Director Curtis Hanson takes us through seven grim days in the life of its protagonist, who moves through homelessness, production line drudgery, and humiliation at the local rap 'battle', hosted by Future (Mekhi Phifer).

Although accompanied by a flotilla of hangers-on all dreaming of a big break, there can be no lasting happy endings for Rabbit in the screen time available, only temporary respites recorded by kinetic hand-held camerawork.

In its focus on friendship and frustrated talent, 8 Mile resembles a stripped-down, less bloated version of Good Will Hunting. Jimmy's skills are in verbalisation, not simultaneous equations. He's hardly a genius, but his waster buddies all recognise his raw talent, even as they suspect he's holding them back. Cheddar Bob (Evan Jones) is a particular source of embarrassment, but his true friends still back him up to the hilt.

As an investigation of male bonding - both the 'homosociality' explored by academics and the 'peer pressure' blamed for social problems by policy wonks - the performances are at their strongest. (Friendship also shines through when life imitates art: rap nerds in the audience can have fun spotting Eminem's real-life sidekicks and protégés playing bit parts, including Obie Trice and Xzibit.) Other relationships in the movie convince less, from the syrupy kid sister (Chloe Greenfield) to Jimmy's on-off girlfriend Alex (Brittany Murphy). A turn from an unrecognisable Kim Basinger as trailer trash mom Stephanie Smith is a reminder of Eminen's high profile feuds; perhaps she's saving a lawsuit for the sequel.

8 Mile is strongly recommended especially if you've absolutely no interest in rap music. It captures the importance and vitality of strong, spontaneous personal bonds against the post-industrial backdrop of a demoralised and disembowelled Detroit.