8 Mile

8 Mile is set in the impoverished motor city of Detroit in the mid-1990s, where a young guy, Jimmy, is trying to make it as a rapper. He has the ability, but his self-confidence falters when he is on stage in front of a spoilt, predominantly black audience. Jimmy is very much a minority in this milieu, where most people look askance at him because he is white. He does, however, have a couple of good friends who believe in his talent. When he falls for the ambitious aspiring star Alex, he gets another kick up the backside.

The film makes a big deal of the verbal battles on stage, where the combatants try to put down their opponent as effectively as possible, and it is actually not boring, especially once Jimmy finally finds his tongue.

The role of Jimmy seems written for Eminem, and reportedly there are quite a few similarities between Eminem and his character, for example their social background at the bottom of society. Considering Eminem's reputation as a provocateur, 8 Mile is a surprisingly sober and realistic drama, and there is not the slightest hint of show-off attitude, which may disappoint some of the star's fans. The film certainly does not pander to its audience, as the understated ending also shows.