8 Mile (2002)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr.	Eminem
Stephanie Smith	Kim Basinger	½
David "Future" Porter	Mekhi Phifer	½
Alex	Brittany Murphy
Cheddar Bob	Evan Jones	½
Sol George	Omar Benson Miller
DJ Iz	De'Angelo Wilson	-
Wink	Eugene Byrd	½
Janeane	Taryn Manning	-
Greg Buehl	Michael Shannon	½
Lil'Tic	Proof	-
Papa Doc	Anthony Mackie	-
Lily Smith	Chloe Greenfield	-

Review

Eminem's film debut stands firmly on its own as a truthful semi-autobiographical account built upon a recognizable movie formula, thanks in large to Eminem's well-rounded performance and director Curtis Hanson's ability to make the young rapper's struggles come off as authentic despite utilizing a handful of rather worn plot devices in order to get to them. Let's call it good workmanship. Or clever moviemaking. The picture not only recalls Saturday Night Fever, but also turned out to be just as significant for rap music as the 1977 film was for disco culture. And that's a well-earned accolade, because 8 Mile certainly goes about its task of informing and illuminating its audience on rap battling and the burgeoning Detroit hip hop scene with dilligence. Also, the ending is very tasteful. Based on a savvy script by writer Scott Silver (later of The Fighter and Joker), but it's Eminem's own pennings which really sparkle in here.