Jimmy Smith, known to his friends as Rabbit, is a young man trying to make his way out of the burned-out shell of inner-city Detroit. Rabbit's entire life has been a hard climb, and it certainly hasn't gotten any easier lately; Rabbit has just been dumped by his girlfriend, forcing him to move back in with his emotionally unstable mother, Stephanie, and he's getting along especially poorly with Stephanie's new boyfriend. Rabbit has a factory job that's tough, demeaning, and doesn't pay especially well, and he's convinced his skills as a rapper are his only real hope at a better life. Rabbit makes music with a crew of DJ's and MC's who call themselves Three One Third, among them his close friend Future, but his status as a white kid making music in a predominantly African-American community and culture is extremely intimidating, and after Rabbit freezes up in the midst of an MC battle, he's convinced he's missed his chance and that he's doomed to lead a marginal life as a factory rat for the rest of his days. With the help of his friends, and his new girlfriend Alex, Rabbit struggles to work up the courage and the confidence to take one more shot at making his dream a reality.
Eminem was very good in this film and was convincing as a struggling rapper trying to make a name for himself in the rap game. Of course, this movie was inspired by Eminem's own life, so it wasn't exactly a stretch. It was pretty engaging and the supporting actors were as important to this film as Eminem and they definitely held their own. There was a lot more to the plot than the struggle to become a rapper, but I thought the most interesting parts were the rap battles. The special features section had footage of unscripted rap battles that were particularly impressive. I think the film ended too soon since there is much more to the story, but I suppose everyone already knows how the post-script plays out. Even if you're not a fan of rap, this movie has enough of a "meaty" story that you could still be entertained without being completely annoyed.
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer
I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.
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