8 Mile (2002)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Curtis Hanson

Writer (WGA):

Scott Silver (written by)

Release Date:

8 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Go back to where it all started.

Plot:

A young rapper, struggling with every aspect of his life, wants to make the most of what could be his final opportunity but his problems around gives him doubts.

Plot Keywords:

Rap | Friend | Car Trouble | Lunch Wagon | Paintball Gun

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Eminem	...	Jimmy 'B-Rabbit' Smith
Kim Basinger	...	Stephanie Smith
Mekhi Phifer	...	David 'Future' Porter
Brittany Murphy	...	Alex
Evan Jones	...	Cheddar Bob
Omar Benson Miller	...	Sol George
De'Angelo Wilson	...	DJ Iz
Eugene Byrd	...	Wink
Taryn Manning	...	Janeane
Larry Hudson	...	Bouncer
Proof	...	Lil' Tic
Mike Bell	...	Shorty Mike
DJ Head	...	Battle DJ
Michael Shannon	...	Greg Buehl
Chloe Greenfield	...	Lily Smith

Also Known As:

8 Mile (Germany)
8 Mile - Jeder Augenblick ist eine neue Chance (Germany) (DVD box title)
Fight Music (USA) (working title)
Fight Song (USA) (working title)
Untitled Detroit Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, sexuality, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | USA:R (certificate #39361) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Taiwan:R-18 | Philippines:R-18 | Hungary:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:14 | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R13 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 (original rating) | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Chin Tiki Club - 2121 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Company:

Imagine Entertainment

Trivia:

The first film to have a rap/hip-hop song win an Academy Award.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the basement, Future is holding his cigarette between his fore- and middle-fingers, but in the next shot it is between his thumb and forefinger.

Quotes:

Alex: [Alex and Jimmy are sitting near the burning house] It's almost beautiful.
Jimmy Smith Jr: You know, when I was younger, I always wanted to live in a house like this, you know... how it was used to be.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jack Black/Neil Young (#31.9)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Shook Ones Pt. II

8 Mile will have potent impact on America's youth.

It is rare that an established filmmaker and production company create something that young people are able to grasp the complete meaning of. Intellectual jargon or unnecessary vagueness of plot often take precedence over lucidity and appeal.

Eminem's "8 Mile" has managed to break this cycle, presenting in poignant audio/video style the nature of the life so many of our nation's youth live, and how despite it all there always remains the possibility to break through.

The film's meaning is largely overt, not subtle, and makes itself available to a much wider variety of viewers than most films with any sort of dramatic moral. Just look at the box office reports for "8 Mile"s opening weekend.

I won't attempt to speculate on the effect the film will have among our youth, but I personally believe it will be positive in nature. It will be impossible for this film to become as transient as an action blockbuster or as esoteric as a cult classic. It's depth and range of appeal are simply unparalleled in our time.