This instinctual hip-hop biopic showcasing NWA’s sudden
rise to fame at times struggles to avoid falling into Hollywood cliché. Still, “Straight
Outta Compton” proves as contagiously entertaining as it is educational thanks
to F. Gary Fray’s splendidly surfaced and a catchy soundtrack that confirms rap
as the protest music of its time. Despite gangster rap is now for legends, “Straight
Outta Compton” reminds audiences that for some it was – and still is – a way of
life. The beginning shows Eazy-E, played by Jason Mitchell, leaving out of the
grilled window of a drug house, after a police military tank, without warning, crashes
its way right through the front door.
In mid-eighties Compton, Los Angeles, there’s no initial
stimulation to violence. Christine Jun said in her review, “This includes
corrupt cops who don’t hesitate to seize and arrest any black men on the
streets with impunity.” In this environment, the friendship of lyricist Ice
Cube (real life son, O’Shea Jackson Jr.), aspiring DJ Andre (Corey Hawkins) –
aka Dr. Dre – and neighborhood drug dealer Eric “Eazy-E” Wright ends with NWA
and Ruthless Records. Jun mentioned, “Interested in more than just a fierce
display of raw talent and braggadocio, rap becomes their way of voicing their
anti-heroic reality with brutal honesty.” At first, a local club owner doesn’t
want their hardcore material and all-black audiences remain somewhat doubtful.
These guys can’t even stand on the pavement without
being immediately taken-down and insulted by cops. However, injustice only
becomes feed for art, when NWA later becomes popular with their controversial F
Tha Police. Jun noted, “In the wake of white fans bulldozing piles of
their CDs in protest and the FBI’s sanctimonious threat of arrest, the members
of NWA refuse to censor themselves on-stage in Detroit. A raging Ice Cube leads
the chanting arena crowd in what amounts to civil dissent; except instead of a
Black Power salute, he gives them the triumphant middle finger. Unsurprisingly,
as soon as NWA transitions to commercial success, the swindling starts.” Their predicament
with music industry hunters requires a different set of street intelligence, as
white music manager Jerry Hill, played by Paul Giammati, graciously promises, “I
can make you legit.”
Jun said, “The group’s growing internal division over
unfair contracts is tempered by the spectacle of hoopties bouncing up and down
Crenshaw Boulevard, hotel celebrations, and unapologetic bling. Despite the
obvious bigotry, Eazy-E’s Wet N’ Wild Party – where female nonentities are more
likely to appear topless than speak – makes same-era MTV Pool Party look
incredibly tame by comparison. By the time footage of the Rodney King beating
and 1992 LA riots rolls around, Straight Outta Compton cements itself foremost
as a tale of solidarity:” Jackson and Hawkins provide lively, moving
performances when it comes to Eazy-E’s premature death from AIDS. However,
while NWA have long since gone mainstream for white and black audiences
altogether, sadly, the African-American fight against police brutality remains
very familiar today as a theme.
I remember when this movie was being released and Ice
Cube and his son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., were going around promoting this film. I
wasn’t familiar with NWA, but I think I might have seen their shirts and I know
the memes that came out after this film was released. Check this film out on Max,
but this is not a film to be seen in front of the entire family. Because of
what is portrayed in this film, you should find it best to watch this alone
without parents or little children present. Check it out because this is a
powerful film, especially if you’re a fan of NWA.
Check in next week for the continuation of “Black History
Movie Month.”
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