"Straight Outta Compton" follows the rise and fall of the N.W.A. (Don't know what that stands for? Google it...) and follows the trials and tribulations of Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), and Eazy E (Jason Mitchell). There's alot to like about this film, so I'll get started with the obvious one...the soundtrack! The music is just incredible, which it should be considering it's a movie based on a music group. The lyrics are just as powerful today as they were back then and gurantees a head bop or a foot tap sooner rather than later. Most notably, the best thing about "Straight Outta Compton" is how REAL it is. What I mean by that is that it showcases the real struggles of living in an improverished neighborhood like Compton, that is showcased to share the same traits of living in a Detroit, or Brooklyn. Gang Violence and Dope Dealing is a real problem in multiple neighborhoods and when mainstream society only see those factors as a main representation of that community, it becomes harder for anybody to get out of the hood and be given an oppurtunity to rise above it. The director, F. Gary Gray, makes that point evident by having the name of Compton dismissed numerous times in early moments of the film. It also showcases the harsh politics of show business through the motives of Paul Giomatti's character, Jerry Heller, and R. Marcos Taylor's Suge Knight.
In terms of acting, every one brings their A+ performances to the table. You hate the characters you're suppose to hate and you fall in love with the characters you're suppose to love with. Everyone has cohesive chemistry on screen and Hawkins, O'Shea Jr. and Mitchell bring an abudance of sympathy and empathy to the main three of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy E. Plus, the youthful hip hop appearances of an early Tupac and Snoop Dogg starting out in the biz are fun little easter eggs.
The tone of the movie shifts DRASTICALLY after the second act. It feels like the characters see making music as a personal gateway to form comradery amongst themselves in an attempt to deal with serious issues like gang violence and police brutality, but then, once everyone becomes famous and decides to go solo, blood starts to boil, and jealousy, envy, loyalty and pride somehow ends up becoming a dangerous side effect of being given money and power for the first time. It's truly depressing but understandable. The only complaint I have about this movie is about the same complaint I have with every biopic I watch. It was just so long!
"Straight Outta Compton" truly gives us a much needed break from the action and sci-fi films of summer 2k15 while also giving us a well rounded underdog story as well as a thoughtful tribute to the legacy of the N.W.A. "Straight Outta Compton" gets a J-Banging score of 4.6 out of 5.
Man, J-Bang killin it with these reviews
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