Starring: O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Corey Hawkins and Paul Giamatti
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Rated: R
Running time: 2 hrs 27 mins
Universal
Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars
In the movie business, timing is everything. On August 2, 1991, the film “Body Parts” opened to virtually no business. Two-weeks before the film opened, a young man’s arrest made national headlines. The young man was Jeffrey Dahmer. That was a textbook bad example.
This past weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Whatever your feelings are about the events that led up to Mr. Brown’s death, you can’t deny the fact that there is a large discourse in this country among young African-Americans and law enforcement. This isn’t something new. Almost a quarter-century ago this nation had the same problems, brought to a head by the videotaped beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles. The acquittal of the four policemen involved brought about the same reactions we are seeing today. It was this injustice, and many before it, that helped inspire a new kind of hip-hop music, referred to as “gangsta rap.” And when it came to the best of the best, you only had to watch the news and you quickly learned of N.W.A.
“Straight Outta Compton” tells the story of the group that took its life experiences, both good and bad, put them on its shoulder and told the people what was going on their world. Led by Ice Cube (Jackson) and Dr. Dre (Hawkins), the group went on to inform a nation that things needed to change. The film follows the group from earnest beginnings to the in-fighting and disagreements that follow. Along the way, the group meets two very different people with two very different ideas. First up is Jerry Heller, a white record producer who recognizes the group’s talent and promotes them. The second is Suge Knight, a hulk of a man who also wants a piece of the pie.
What makes the film so good is that this is not some tepid screen biography. With Ice Cube and Dr. Dre working behind the scenes, nothing is left out. This is N.W.A., bruises and all. The cast is outstanding, with (try to follow me here) O’Shea Jackson, Jr. playing his father, O’Shea Jackson, better known as Ice Cube. He captures the anger that is constantly bubbling just under the surface, as well as the fun sense of humor that Ice Cube often displays in interviews. As Dr. Dre, Corey Hawkins gives the most layered performance. It is his beats that propel the group to the top and his beats that led him to the place in the world he occupies today. Another stand-out is Jason Mitchell as money-man/reluctant rapper Eazy-E. Giamatti is strong as is R. Marcos Taylor, who makes Suge Knight so scary I found it hard not to squirm in my seat every time he came on screen.
Director Gray, a veteran of music videos, gives the film a slick, powerful look. It’s an outstanding achievement, putting it on my short list of the year’s best films.
And, of course, there is the music. It was the soundtrack of a turbulent time almost thirty years ago. Sadly, in some areas, those times haven’t changed.