8 MileStarring: Eminem, Brittany Murphy and Kim BasingerDirector: Curtis Hanson*** 1/2 out of five

“8 Mile” may be Eminem’s first foray in Hollywood, but the film is a far cry from the mediocre movies most musicians-turned-actors appear in.

For one thing, the film sports incredible behind-the-scenes talent, including Curtis Hanson, the director best known for the acclaimed film “L.A. Confidential” and producer Brian Grazer, who has been involved with such high-brow films as “Apollo 13” and “A Beautiful Mind.”

Then there’s the film’s impressive supporting cast of Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy and Mekhi Phifer. These stars, combined with Eminem’s eccentric style, make for a fascinating underdog story set in the 1995 Detroit rap scene.

Eminem, contrary to popular belief, does not play himself, but Jimmy Smith Jr., who goes by the nickname “Rabbit”. Jimmy is down on his luck when the film begins, having just broken up with his girlfriend Janeane (Taryn Manning, “Crossroads”). He has a crappy job at a stamping factory and now has to move back into his mother Stephanie’s (Basinger) trailer.

The main drive of Jimmy’s life is music. He is constantly listening to beats on his headphones, scribbling down lyrics and turning to music as a way out. At the insistence of his friend “Future” (Phifer), he continually tries to participate in underground rap standoffs to build his credibility, but always chokes when it’s his turn to perform.

Weighed down by his self-doubt, intrigued by the sexy Alex (Murphy) and unsure if he can trust the promises of friend and entrepreneur Wink (Eugene Byrd, “Sleepers”), Jimmy becomes convinced that he must get himself off his dead-end track before it altogether consumes him and extinguishes his dreams of rap stardom.

Clearly, there are a lot of parallels between Jimmy and Eminem himself, making it an easier role to portray. In fact, I would be surprised if Eminem makes another movie after “8 Mile”. But I also know that no other actor could have portrayed Jimmy like Eminem does.

Shedding his cockier attitude, Eminem brings a lot of humility to the role. Jimmy’s a nobody, he’s a tiny speck in the Detroit music scene. But he is portrayed as the classic underdog, a character with potential that even the audience can detect. We experience his character in a variety of emotional states, whether it’s getting into a brawl with his mother’s trailer-trash boyfriend or tenderly crooning a lullaby for his little sister.

Basinger, as Stephanie, impresses in a whole different way. Though she’s best known for playing glamorous, desirable women, Basinger here plays a woman in the gutter, someone who has nothing to offer but a broken car and her aging body. Stephanie’s angry fights with Jimmy let Basinger show off a whole other side.

In supporting roles, Murphy and Phifer do good jobs with their characters, acting as catalysts for Jimmy. Murphy’s Alex wasn’t presented as the love of Jimmy’s life. Instead, Alex sparks something in Jimmy, bringing life to him. Murphy’s pouty lips, sultry walk and husky whispered lines do the trick. Phifer is charismatic as “Future”, someone who possesses the self-confidence Jimmy lacks.

“8 Mile” is at its best when music is at the forefront. One of the best scenes has Jimmy and Future making up raps to the tune of “Sweet Home Alabama.” The underground music battles were also crowd-pleasers, the rhymes the performers were coming up with doing more damage than their fists. It was also wise of the filmmakers to set the film in 1995 and have the characters get into debates about the East Coast/West Coast rap wars.

Overall, “8 Mile” is an entertaining film with a strong performance from Eminem. It will surely be a hit with fans of the rapper and the music that the movie’s characters so clearly love.

Christopher Reilly is a junior magazine major. His reviews appear Fridays in the Daily Orange. E-mail him at passpopcorn@yahoo.com.

Published on November 14, 2002 at 12:00 pm