Title – Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Director – F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job)
Cast – O’Shea Jackson Jr, Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins, Paul Giamatti
Plot – A biopic charting the rise and fall of the rap group N.W.A, who took the world by storm in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s, giving voice to those that before them had none.
“Speak a little truth and people lose their minds”
Review by Eddie on 8/09/2015
(Best enjoyed read to the tune of Boys in the Hood)
Straight Outta Compton is most certainly pretty dope
It’s long though so make sure you got ample popcorn and coke
The story of these pioneering rappers is a story worth telling
Even though there’s far too much intent starring and yelling
This is a tale filled with music, drama and boys from the hood
It’s important that the film then casted so good
Filled with up and comers, unknowns and a scene chewing Oscar nominee
Straight Outta Compton really creates a believable hip hop company
Stand outs are Jason Mitchell as Eaze-E, Corey Hwakins as Dr. Dre and O’Shea Jackson Jr as his father Ice Cube
And Keith Stanfield as Snoop Dogg really is quite the dude
Director F. Gary Gray directs with a steady and well-tuned hand
No doubt steaming from the time he had once spent with the band
He makes the group feel alive and the streets of Compton as well
Without this energy and attention it could’ve been the films death knell
The problem with Grey’s film is that it steadily loses steam
There’s also a lot of glossing over details that make the group seem a little to clean
And you can’t help but feel that the boys from N.W.A were slightly more mean
For in many ways the film feels gritty, realistic and raw
But the group itself only show glimmers of what made them enemies of the law
Overall the film shines most when the music takes centre stage and the creative process takes hold
And in the end you’re glad that this story was for the big screen told
One of the better music films of recent years
Despite its melodramatic TV movie nature, Straight Outta Compton brings the tunes, the laughs and the tears.
In Summary –
Straight Outta Compton is a slick and well-made biopic that does a fine job of handling so many stories in one cohesive narrative. After bursting out of the blocks Compton does eventually start to run out of steam however and it would be hard to argue against the fact that the films best scenes are held within the first half.
It’s hard also to not feel slightly ripped off by the fact that these men are made out to be slightly to pristine from their colourful background with crime and misdemeanours but with Mr. Cube and the Dr on board behind the scenes they clearly had a say on what the final cut looked like.
With a winning cast and fine direction from Gray, Compton is overall a winner and no doubt a great event for those array of fans of N.W.A that have for many years waited for this story to be told.
3 ½ Nash Edgerton’s out of 5
👊 movie of the year for me!
Oh glad to hear Kylie! I know the group I went with all really loved it.
E
Reblogged this on Eclectic Pursuits.
I loved it! I grew up with older cousins, so this is the rap that I know. There were some parts that irked me, but overall I enjoyed it. O’Shea did a darn fine job playing his dad. The resemblance is uncanny.
That was very true! Some times I actually thought I was watching Ice Cube, they look like twins.
E
Cool It is coming tomorrow in my country. I am looking forward to it. Nice review.
Hope you enjoy it Dude.
E
Good review Eddie. It’s a little too long. But it was entertaining enough to work.
Yeh was great entertainment mate and a nice look at the times.
E
Great review. You’re right, the 1st act is amazing, but the flick loses momentum. I hope we get a longer director’s cut on Bluray. That might make the 3rd act feel less rushed.
As for sanitizing these men… would an audience unfamiliar with NWA be able to look past the more negative events and still root for these guys? Or would they dismiss their struggles and achievements?
As for acting, Eazy E was the best of the bunch. That scene in the end, and earlier with Dre’s brother, were standout highlights for the young actor.
What an enthralling biopic! By the by, nice rap intro 😉
Great thoughts man. It’s true about the fact that many viewers may be unfamiliar with these men so perhaps their achievements would be sullied if they showed them in even a harsher light.
Ha, I really want to rap this review man, but that’s just the movie making us all keen to get our hip hop on.
E
Deffo… I couldn’t get that song outta my head either… cruisin down the street in my six four haha… and I would love to see the no holds bar depiction of their lives but not all would forgive that stuff within an hour of learning who dre is, for example… it would be cool for fans though… oh and when Suge showed up I started breathing like Vader. They toned him down too.
Not going to lie, got there album cranking in my car whenever I get in. I’ve heard lots of weird things about Suge, like he killed Eaze things like that.
E
hahah… NWA is still alive and well.
I heard Suge could have sent a woman to Eazy too. I also heard he hung Vanilla Ice over a roof, forcing him to give money from Ice Ice Baby to fund Deathrow records. And Suge killed Tupac so he couldn’t jump ship like Dre did. Going so far as to take bullets himself to avoid suspicion. Who knows what’s true? Maybe we’ll get that rumoured Welcome to Deathrow sequel and see this stuff on screen.
I love it man, so many theories!
E
Despite the whitewash of some of the more unseemly details around N.W.A. I loved this.
It was a quality flick Abbi 🙂
E
yo dude!! daytime reviewer ..nighttime rapper.. hahahahhaa I liked the film..though yeah..they left out tons..and I mean TONS.. being from here we knew all about what really went on..but they’ve changed now and I’m guessing that’s what they felt they could tell. I can’t imagine the film would’ve been picked up with the whole truth & nothing but the truth in there..ha!
Your very right there Peggy! I guess we can leave the whole truth to a doco and just enjoy this narrative tale.
E
Nice we both gave it the same rating. Honestly I completely agree with you, the third act of this film is filled with half truths and tries to make Dre look like an angel. Dope rhymes by the way
Cheers Reel time, I couldn’t help myself ha. Would love to record a review one day lol. Glad your with me on the ratings.
E
Yeah we’re thinking about podcasting in the future too if we can find the time!
Yeh times the thing isnt it mate ha.
E
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