Glamazons,
If you follow me on Snapchat (@DressUpWithJess), you know I screened Straight Outta Compton on Monday. I couldn’t share my reaction then but finally, I can tell you how much I enjoyed it (seriously, I can’t wait to see it again!). It’s more than your typical music biopic. It’s a gripping portrayal of one of rap’s most transformative eras. Though it conveniently left out some crucial plot points, I loved the movie and connected even more with these rap legends and their rags-to-riches story after seeing it.
Here are 5 thoughts I had after screening the film Monday.
(P.S. If you’re completely unfamiliar with NWA or Eazy-E then there are some spoilers here.)
1-Their anti-police brutality stance is still relevant today.
When NWA burst onto the scene in 1988, they revolutionized the American music landscape. Never before had we witnessed such a fearless takedown of police brutality and unflinching glimpse into LA’s most dangerous neighborhoods. The movie does a great job of capturing how the group’s members (Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella) defied destiny: if it wasn’t for their extraordinary talent and drive, we can assume they would’ve never escaped their hopeless surroundings. Through run-ins with racist cops and violent encounters with gangbangers, Straight makes it clear that they barely made it outta Compton alive. In one scene, a cop tells their white manager (Jerry Heller, played by Paul Giamatti), he’s wasting his time investing in the group. They’re not artists, the officer explains. They’re gangbangers. The line speaks volumes on the prejudice cops have toward black men in Compton, and the belief that their lives have little to no value.
At the same time NWA‘s fame started soaring, Rodney King was beaten nearly to death by five cops, who were later acquitted of all charges. In the context of the film, that grave injustice proved why NWA‘s song “F*ck the Police” was so powerful; it gave a voice to the marginalized victims of police brutality who had no justice or protection under the law. Sadly, the song is still relevant today.
2-The cinematography was brilliant.
F. Gary Gray (Friday) brings a sense of humanity and dignity to NWA‘s story that will connect with both long-standing fans of hip hop and viewers learning Dr. Dre and Ice Cube‘s backstory for the first time. Under the direction of Matthew Libatique, the cinematography intensifies scenes like when an irate Ice Cube destroys a record exec’s office or Eazy-E narrowly escapes a late night drug raid.
3-The characters were (mostly) convincing.
Try not to fall in love with the charming Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell) or keep from doing a double take as O’Shea Jackson, Jr. eerily captures his father Ice Cube‘s mannerisms. Corey Hawkins nails Dr. Dre‘s cold demeanor and steely determination. Though cameos by Tupac (Keith Stanfield) and Snoop (Marcc Rose) didn’t blow me away, R. Marcos Taylor is sadistic and menacing as one of rap’s most feared figures, Suge Knight.
4-Dr. Dre’s abusive history was glaringly omitted.
It was refreshing to see Straight Outta Compton acknowledge the role of the women of NWA but the movie neglects Dr. Dre‘s history of domestic violence. The rap mogul’s abusive past is well-known: his ex-wife Michel’le opened up about how Dre beat her so bad she needed plastic surgery. There’s also Dee Barnes, the host of the ’90s show “Pump It Up,” whose head was slammed against a brick wall by Dre because Ice Cube dissed NWA in one of her interviews. The movie dedicates a lot of time to NWA‘s beef with Ice Cube yet excludes Dre‘s assault.
Of course as producer, Dre has a chance to deify himself and in some ways, rewrite history, and he took full advantage of that. In fact, Dre‘s interactions with women in the film are mostly above board: he’s shown being disciplined and later comforted by his Mom, and wooing his girlfriend. We do get a brief glimpse of NWA‘s misogyny in their dealings with groupies but it’s generally downplayed or left out of the narrative completely.
5-It’s a beautiful tribute to Eazy-E.
You can’t help but love Eazy-E. His character is funny, charming and trusting (to a fault). As you watch his downfall (which the movie mostly attributes to manager Jerry Heller), you can’t help but empathize with him. It’s heartbreaking to see Eazy-E try to reunite in the studio with the former members of NWA and die before he has the chance. The movie handles his death with dignity. It’s a worthy tribute to the fallen rapper that will emotionally resonate with fans new and old.
Watch the trailer here:
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And umm, I had to…
Will you go see it when it hits theaters on Friday, August 14th?
Kisses,
Glamazon Jessica
Images: Time, Straight Outta Compton, Straight Outta Somewhere Meme Generator
