Preview

8 mile film analysis

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2331 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
8 mile film analysis
Jackelyn Puignau
Thurs 6:30-9:00
Film Analysis: 8 Mile
The 2009 film, 8 Mile, parallels the true life story of multi-platinum artist, Eminem. Directed by Curtis Hanson, the film takes place in 1995, a time where hip-hop music was growing and Detroit, Michigan had hit an all time low. Eminem (formally referred to as Marshall Mathers) plays Jimmy, a wannabe rapper from the poor side of Detroit and stars like Brittany Murphy, Kim Basinger, and Mekhi Phifer all play key roles in the film. The film follows the lyrically talented Jimmy, also known as Rabbit by his friends, and his struggle to become a white rapper in a predominately black field. He also struggles with dealing with his alcoholic mother, poor social status, and his rival gang who call themselves “The Free World” (8 Mile, Wikipedia.com). The film effectively portrays the rap competition in Detroit and Jimmy’s fight to be on top. 8 Mile’s urban tale raises questions about stereotypes, class separation, and segregation, while gaining the viewers respect for hip-hop music and successfully developing characters and using real life matters to reproduce a true story.
The film begins with Jimmy Smith (Eminem), a young and unhappy blue-collar worker from a poor family, struggling with different aspects of his life. He has moved back north of 8 Mile Road to the rundown trailer home in Detroit, Michigan of his alcoholic mother, Stephanie (Kim Basinger), his little sister Lily (Chloe Greenfield), and Stephanie 's abusive live-in boyfriend Greg (Michael Shannon). Jimmy is focused on getting his music career started, but he seems unable to catch a break. Jimmy comes to realize that his life has remained largely the same since he graduated high school. (“8 Mile”, rottentomatoes.com)
At first, he considers himself a victim of his circumstances and blames others for his problems. Over time, though, Jimmy begins



Cited: "8 Mile." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. "8 Mile (2002)." 8 Mile. N.p., 16 Feb. 2002. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. . "8 Mile (film)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. . "8 Mile ." Chicago Reader. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. . "8 mile lyrics." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. . "Eminem." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. . "Full Cast & Crew." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. . “8 Mile Quotes.” Quotefully - Browse Your Favorite TV Show and Movie Quotes." Quotefully - Browse Your Favorite TV Show and Movie Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. . "The 10 Most Memorable Rap Lines From '8 Mile '." Vibe. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. .

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Nigga Quotes

    • 249 Words
    • 1 Page

    Shit, cause the judge look just like that put our ass on the boat and made me a nigga…

    • 249 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Diddy Quotes In Beowulf

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Diddy (Cornwall): [to Lil Kim (Goneril)] Post speedily to my lord your husband. Show him this letter. The army of Death Row Records (France) is landed. Seek out the traitor Tupac (Gloucester). [Some Servants exit] Biggie (Regan): Hang him instantly.…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Boyz N the Hood

    • 522 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Boyz N the Hood” is one of the many films from the 1990’s that displayed gang violence among African-Americans in urban areas such as “Juice,” “South Central,” and “Menace II Society.” However, “Boyz N the Hood” is known for more than just depicting violence. The Library of Congress had place it on preservation in its’ National Film Registry and even referred to it as “culturally significant” in 2002. Never realizing it after watching it the first few times, this film gives a perspective on what the typical African-American family is like during this period. 2 of the families the movie focused on the most were Tre’s and Doughboy’s. They shared a lot of differences and a few similarities but the most common factor is that their parents weren’t together.…

    • 522 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Jimmy Valentine

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Jimmy wanted to change his morals by becoming more respectful towards others.Jimmy became more respectful towards others by changing his name to Ralph. Jimmy strated to be more respectful to others so, he could restart and be more respectful to others and their property, instead of robbing them and taking their money.Jimmy also used his new name to open up a shoe store he used his shoe store to give people more respect because instead of robbing banks in the day he was working at his shoe store. Another way Jimmy also wanted to change his morals with respect by using his name to treat others with more respect than he did in his old life vs. his new one.He treated people with more respect by talking to people in more kind way then he did proof of him trying to be more respectful is “, and also by having better…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Up until the early 1990s, the decay of inner-city America largely went unnoticed by the general American public. However, the rise in popularity of gangster rap and the release of such films as New Jack City and Menace II Society drew the publics’ attention toward the largely ignored urban areas. Of all the films in the genre that came out, though, one in particular stood out. Boyz N the Hood, directed by John Singleton, became widely acknowledged as the definitive film for inner-city African Americans. Regardless of age, race, or religion, the film’s powerful and gritty imagery captivated audiences nationwide. Though many Americans had a general idea of the rough lifestyle endured by many inner-city dwellers, the situation wasn’t fully exploited until a film, such as Boyz N the Hood provided truly realistic imagery to go along with the verbal descriptions many had heard in rap songs. As author John Berger stated in the article “Ways of Seeing,” “It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding world; we explain that world with words, but word can never undo the fact that we are surrounded by it” (Berger 134). In a sense, Boyz N the Hood became the imagery necessary for many people to fully comprehend a lifestyle they had never been exposed to. Though many people had heard of the rough life style experienced by many inner-city teens, the film became the visual the country need to truly recognize how rough it was to overcome the obstacles that stood in the way of many of these teens. Unfortunately, it took a fictional film to bring to light, and raise awareness for, the many problems facing inner-city African Americans.…

    • 1651 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jimmy Valentine Identity

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Jimmy was successful while stealing, but the minute he saw Annabel, none of that mattered. Jimmy gave up everything to become a new person and so he and Annabel could live a great life together. When people fall in love, they tend to do some crazy things. In this case, Jimmy gave up everything he knew to be with someone he didn’t know. He took the chance of being caught for love. In the story, Jimmy says, “I tell you Billy, she’s an angel. She believes in me; and I wouldn’t do another crooked thing for the world” Henry, page 4. Jimmy confesses to his friend though a letter his love for Annabel and how he wouldn’t go back to his old ways. This quote clearly states how how he isn’t going to do anymore robbing because of Annabel. Love can make people do crazy things, but it can also heal wounds and help people…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the movie Boyz N the Hood, it follows the lives of five friends that grow up in a time and place filled with struggle, racism and oppression. Three of those main friends are Tre, Ricky and Dough Boy (Ricky’s Brother). Each of these boys all deal with many similar situations and have dreams and hopes. But they all have their short comings in life, having to leap and jump through many hoops in life. The setting for the film was set in South Central Los Angeles which displays what it is like to grow in a black American community during the nineties in one of the most dangerous places to live during that…

    • 2604 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Triple 9 Film Analysis

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Australian filmmaker, John Hillcoat, is known for sturdy crime thrillers where the violence usually plays a preponderant role.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    8 Mile Research Paper

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The film 8 Mile is a semi-biographical film about the rap artist Eminem’s life and the start to his career. This film stars Eminem himself as the main actor and has many ties and relations to real events in his life. This film was award winning, not just for its production, but for its soundtrack as well. This film was written and produced very well with great acting, creativity, and accuracy to real events. 8 Mile is a spectacular movie because of its production, storyline and its inspiration.…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    References: Bradley, Adam. (2009). Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip-Hop. New York: Civitas Press,…

    • 1653 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Lil Snupe

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Meek Mill has come a long way in life and in the industry. People are still trying to bring him down. The lifestyle that he’s living is so good that when he goes in to court for probation, it looks like he’s dressed up for trial. If he gets locked up or anything happens to him he’s still going to look like a star. He making it in the streets and in the music industry, so he’s working hard. He is doing all of this to take care of his grandma, mama, and his sister. All I want to do is make it doing something, so I can take care of my family.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Eminem's 8 Mile

    • 334 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I’m a big fan of rap and hip-hop music, so one of my favorite movies is ‘8 Mile’. It is a semi-autobiographic film about Eminem’s life. Starring well-known artists in the movie industry, such as Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer, Omar Benson, Kim Basinger, and Eminem himself, ‘8 Mile’ became one of the most successful movies about musicians ever made.…

    • 334 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of my favorite John Singleton movies, “Boyz 'N The Hood,” is always on BET and I had considered it to be a huge impact on society. “Boyz 'N The Hood” introduced America to the reality that exists when living in poverty as many families do when you reside in the ghetto. As it relates to our society, John Singleton’s masterpiece portrays life in the hood; it covers issues such as the struggles of children raised up in a single parent household, under the adversity of violence, gang involvement, drug abuse, and poverty. Of the three main characters, Tre, Ricky, and Doughboy, Tre has only fatherly support, while Ricky and Doughboy, who are brothers, are raised by their mother.…

    • 719 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    White America

    • 1140 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ford, Ryan. "Hip-Hop White Wash: The Impact of Eminem on Rap Music and Music Industry Economics." Socialism and Democracy Online. Word Press. Web. 09 Apr. 2012. <http://sdonline.org/36/hip-hop-white-wash-the-impact-of-eminem-on-rap-music-and-music-industry-economics/>.…

    • 1140 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jimmy Santiago Baca

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The first chapter reflects his tough childhood memories. Jimmy did not has a normal and the common type of childhood life, his father was drunk all the time and his mother abandoned him and his siblings and went away with a white man. In his early age, Jimmy and his siblings were raised by their grandmother few years before Jimmy and his brother Mieyo were moved to live in an orphanage. However, after spending few painful years in the orphanage, he ran away from there and ended up in a detention school facility where he became a football star player. Jimmy tried to fill his emptiness and loneliness that were caused by his parents abandonment, he wanted to feel like normal kid, but he felt unsuitable in that place and displaced so he left school after his brother Mieyo’s visit. They moved to live in different place and work as plumbers.…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics