Straight Outta Compton Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Straight Outta Compton is not only a nostalgic throwback to the late 80s, retelling the rise of N.W.A., but it also draws comparisons to today’s relationship between the police and the Afro-American society in the US.

Genre: Drama / Music / Biography

Director: F. Gary Gray

Cast: Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Neil Brown Jr., Aldis Hodge, Paul Giamatti, Marlon Yates Jr., R. Marcus Taylor, Carra Patterson & Alexandra Shipp. 

Run Time: 147 min.

US Release: 14 August 2015

UK Release: 28 August 2015

German Release: 27 August 2015

As stated in yesterday’s review, today I will be focusing on the musical biopic Straight Outta Compton. This movie is not only worth a look for fans of the rap group N.W.A., but also is a treat for anyone who likes a good dramatic film. Apart from the immense media impact N.W.A. had on the music industry, the biopic also carries an important message. This is why this movie targets a larger crowd.

Straight Outta Compton received generally good reviews and was praised by critics for F. Gary Gray’s direction of the film, as well as the excellent performances of the actors, who were reported to deliver “strong, memorable work that transcends mere imitation.” The movie was described as one of the better musical biopics of the last two decades.

A biopic of the six founders of the rap group N.W.A., the film focuses on the three main members: Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre. Rising from the crime-ridden streets of Compton, California, the group uses brutally honest lyrics to express their rage and anger about police aggression against the Black population. They find an audience in a frustrated generation of young teenagers and men and rise quickly to stardom. But as money begins to tear the group apart, it’s their brotherly friendship that’s at stake.

The movie can also be classified as a political drama. It focuses on the subject of police brutality against minorities in the U.S., drawing comparisons to today’s issues and proving that, although almost 20 years have passed, not much has really changed. This is one of the points that makes Straight Outta Compton not only a good, but also an important film.

Another positive aspect is that this biopic refuses to apologise for what it is. These superstars were, and still are, an important musical influence, as well as the voice of the people from one of the most deprived areas of Los Angeles.

The first half of the film depicts the group’s passion for rap music, and that passion transcends through the big screen. The joy and engagement they have towards their art are addictive due to the fantastic performances. That makes it so much harder when, in the second half of the movie, the passion is destroyed by greed and power, which culminates in the loss of the group’s lifelong friendship.

The only thing I would consider a negative is that a lot was left out while telling the story. I can understand that Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, being producers of the film, intentionally left out specific parts of their lives that might have stained their reputations. Still, I was saddened by the fact that these tweaks had been necessary to make the group appear in a better light. But that was the only real issue I had with the film.

Straight Outta Compton has a strong emotional vein. I grew up with that music, listening to hip-hop since I was 12. I started with Eminem and Outkast and moved from there backwards in time, exploring Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Ice Cube, and N.W.A. For me, it was an emotional and nostalgic ride.

The performances in this biopic are more than spectacular - they are nominee-worthy at least! O’Shea Jackson Jr. was brilliant as Ice Cube. Being his son, he not only looks the part, but he also sounds and moves like Cube. Jason Mitchell was another great casting choice; like Jackson Jr., he talked and behaved like Eazy-E, portraying a character with so many different layers. The whole cast was great, including Paul Giamatti as the group's manager, Jerry Heller. The little cameos of actors portraying Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and Suge Knight all sounded and looked real, especially Tupac!

It felt surreal watching this movie and not thinking that I was actually watching a real documentary or being part of N.W.A’s history.

---

Verdict: Straight Outta Compton is an incredible biographical movie, telling the story of six troubled young men who came from one of the toughest places in L.A. This movie managed to capture their lives and struggles and followed them on their path to stardom. Even though not 100% accurate, Straight Outta Compton is still one of the better movies I have seen this year, and I give it an 8.5 out of 10. If you are thinking about going out in the next couple of days to catch a movie at the theatres, I highly recommend watching this film!

I will review Self/Less next and will be uploading it on Saturday. I will also start a review series of Wes Craven films. So what were your thoughts on Straight Outta Compton? Did you enjoy the film?