Product Details

• Actors: Eminem, Brittany Murphy, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Evan Jones
• Directors: Curtis Hanson
• Writers: Scott Silver
• Producers: Curtis Hanson, Brian Grazer, Carol Fenelon, Gregory Goodman, James Whitaker
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: August 5, 2003
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (412 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000089727
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,291 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Rap star Eminem makes a strong movie debut in 8 Mile, an urban drama that makes a fairly standard plot fly through its gritty attention to detail. Jimmy Smith (Eminem), nicknamed B Rabbit, can't pull himself together to take the next step with his career--or with his life. Angry about his alcoholic mother (Kim Basinger) and worried about his little sister, Rabbit lets out his feelings with twisting, clever raps admired by his friends, who keep pushing him to enter a weekly rap face-off. But Rabbit resists--until he meets a girl (Brittany Murphy) who might offer him support and a little hope that his life could get better. Under the smart and ambitious direction of Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys) and ably supported by the excellent cast and the burnt-out environment of Detroit slums, Eminem reveals a surprising vulnerability that makes 8 Mile vivid and compelling. --Bret Fetzer

From The New Yorker

In Eminem's first movie, the white rap star plays a barely disguised version of his pre-celebrity self: Jimmy Smith, Jr., a wounded young man who lives in a trailer in inner-city Detroit with his slatternly mother (Kim Basinger). During jousts at a local club, Jimmy goes up against the best black rappers and fights for the respect of the black audience. These improvised raps are his only release, a spasmodic assertion of self. Curtis Hanson, working from a script by Scott Silver, lays out the narrative and the character relationships methodically, even slowly. The movie may be a shrewdly engineered piece of proletarian pop in the tradition of "Rocky" and "Saturday Night Fever," but Eminem's vile candor gives it a convincingly gritty tone, and the great Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto ("Amores Perros") keeps the visual palette ugly and raw. With Mekhi Phifer as a local rap impresario and Brittany Murphy as a bright-eyed little mover who takes to Jimmy. -David Denby
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, November 9, 2002

By 

Diana Stegall - See all my reviews

This is the first time I've ever seen a movie on opening night, and it was well worth the wait and trouble. I'm extrememly lucky to get tickets, practically all the theaters in the entire area have been sold out!

Jimmy Smith, Jr., a.k.a. Bunny Rabbit (Eminem) lives in inner city Detroit, with his alcoholic, yet highly interesting mother, played by Kim Basinger; and his younger sister, Lily, who is absolutely adorable, and Rabbit's only obvious weakness. He dreams of making it big, along with his group, 313, including Future (Mekhi Pfipher) and his buddies, including the hilarious, [silly] Cheddar Bob, and the politically active Iz.

Jimmy works in a stamping factory, where he meets Alex (Brittany Murphy), an ambitious woman with dreams of modeling, whose only real wish is simply to leave Detroit and escape to New York City. "All I need is a plane ticket."

Future resides over rap battles at the shelter, and, having faith in Rabbit's skills, invites him to rap. After we open with Rabbit choking on his lines, he is invited once more. Soon, we are faced with a dilemma, because Rabbit must choose between making it on his own through his talent at the battles, or his friend Wink's supposed connections at a record company, who promises to give Rabbit fame if he meets with a record producer.

Eminem is an impressive actor, though he isn't exactly stretching to meet his role. However, compared to the "Glitter trauma" that affects so many singers who aspire for the big screen, it's an affecting debut.

"8 Mile" is rated R, based mainly on the language, of which the affect wears off after the first 15 minutes, but also for some graphic sexuality, including Jimmy walking in on his mom, and making love with his girlfriend in the factory.

This was an impressive movie and I was glad to have seen it, I would reccommend it to anyone over the age of 15.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eminem Displays Talent in New Film, January 16, 2003

By A Customer

Eminem, probably the most controversial rapper today, who is best known for his highly disturbing lyrics, stars in the first motion picture of his career, 8-mile. Eminem plays Jimmy Smith Jr., a young white rapper trying to make it big in a black dominated area in Detroit near 8-mile road, the barrier that seems to keep him from accomplishing his goals. He struggles trying to deal with home life in a trailer park with a near psychotic mother, as well as earning respect as a white rapper. He attempts to gain recognition for his talent by competing in battles between rappers of the street, he being the only one who's white. The movie seems all too familiar, being somewhat based on Eminem's real life. Kim Basinger plays his mother, Brittany Murphy his "sort of" girlfriend, and Mekkhi Phiffer stars as Future, the DJ of the battles.

As all movies do, this one too has its high and low points, but overall 8-mile is a fairly good film, taking critics and moviegoers all over the country by surprise. Eminem proves he actually has acting ability and shows he doesn't qualify to be put into the "singer trying to act" category. He shows depth and emotion in his role with a performance that goes far beyond his otherwise annoying self. Kim Basinger also nails the role of the mother, giving a truly great performance in the film. The film is mostly dramatic but also contains comedy with a few strong, humorous lines delivered throughout. Some downsides are the excessive amount of vulgarity, seeming like every other word out of every characters mouth is a swear word, as well as some pointless scenes in the film that should have been left on the cutting room floor. If vulgarity is hard on your ears, stay as far away from this film as you can. However, an unexpected but highly energetic ending seems to make the whole movie worthwhile.

The film goes beyond most people's expectations of what they believe it would be, showing talent as well as a solid plot. The movie is a must see for Eminem fans and anyone who enjoys rap music or entertaining, high intensity films.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Eminem impresses even a non-fan, November 6, 2002

By 

Kyle R. Pierson "WVFN.com" (El Paso, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

After believing that Eminem's 15 minutes were up about two years ago, I was incredibly impressed to see just how good his performance was in 8 MILE. Being the only person on the planet that doesn't like his music, I thought that the only place that 8 MILE was headed was a Dead End. I stand corrected. Not only was the film extremely well acted, but it is very entertaining, as well. It takes a bit to get used to the street lingo, but I think fans will have a field day with it, nonetheless. As for whether or not you should bring the kids, DON'T! Three sex scenes, a few fist fights, one shooting, and all the foul language that you have come to expect from Eminem. The only nudity, however, is Eminem's rear. (That should sell a couple tickets, as is!) Although definitely not a film for everyone, the film showcases a new talent for Eminem that many will enjoy. The film is clever and fun. I will certainly be looking forward to his next project, and prefer it be a movie as opposed to a CD.