In the streets of Compton, California in the mid-1980s, a group of young, black men had a vision. A vision that would take them from the crime and drug-ridden streets of their home to both nationwide fame and infamy throughout America. A vision that would pave the way for rapping legends such as Snoop Dogg, Tupac and Eminem. A vision that would bring out such commercial successes like Friday, Boyz in The Hood and Dre Beats. That vision was the rap group known as the N.W.A. and the film Straight Outta Compton is the story of their rise, eminence, and fragmentation.
At first you may expect the film to be an origin story, perhaps an insight into the lives of all the individual group members and how they got into music in the first place. But instead it’s a biography of the group itself, from its creation, to its peak and finally the friction that led to its end. I personally think this was a better approach to the plot, since it allows the characters to be more fleshed out, motives and personalities changing along with their fortunes.
If I was to sum up Straight Outta Compton in one word, it would be sharp. Razor-sharp. It is a very emotionally charged film, each line spoken or sung dripping with potency designed to hit the viewer as hard as possible. Your emotion are taken on a ride with this film, as it paints a very distinct picture of just how revolutionary this new genre of music was, up to the point that the FBI themselves have to send a letter to the group criticising their music. This in fact did happen, with Milt Ahlerich, the assistant director of the FBI at the time was pushed by the group Focus on the Family to send this letter to them saying: “advocating violence and assault is wrong and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action.
Fun Fact: The original cut of the film was 3 hours, 30 minutes, plus there was a point when the script called for a scene where Eminem is first discovered by Dr Dre. Although Ansel Elgort was invited to play him, the script was changed and the scene was never shot. Oh, and Dr Dre has released his newest album after 16 years, Compton: A Soundtrack on August 7th 2015, crowning it his ‘grand finale’. Good luck trying to download it anywhere other than iTunes though.
Even now, it would be hard to support or even agree with everything done and said by the N.W.A. From the references to some of the main characters belonging to the Bloods and Crips, to Ice Cube’s ties with the Nation of Islam and the apparent anti-Semitism in one of his tracks. In fact, I do remember one criticism being how so many successful films primarily featuring black people have to be about slavery, segregation or gang culture. That it was somewhat embarrassing, even a little racist, in implying that they are the only themes associated with black people to have commercial success. For example, the owner of Gatwick Airport is black; why not make a film about him?
All I can say to that is, whether a good experience or a bad experience, it’s still someone’s experience. It’s the same with history, and in both cultural and musical history, we cannot deny that N.W.A. established themselves as a prominent figure. Even they have said themselves that they are not role models. Besides, can we say we would have thought any different had we been in their shoes?
Fun Fact: Of all the group members o the N.W.A., only Eazy-E and MC Ren were part of a street gang, being part of the Kelly Park Compton Crips, and were friends before the group actually formed. It puts a scene in more light when Suge Knight refers to Compton as ‘Bompton’, implying heavily that he part of the Bloods, a rival gang whose enmity for the Crips is so great, that they will say words beginning with the letter ‘C’ as if it starts with ‘B’ instead.
But enough of the soapbox, let’s talk about the music. What else can I say about it? Brutally honest, holding no punches, “if it isn’t hard, then it’s weak!” There are moments when you can tell that the original tracks are dubbed in over the actors while they are singing. Although some would accuse it of being lazy, I think it’s a good choice. It would be more effective to hear the real thing rather than a remaster.
As for the characters, to be honest the three actors that really stood out to me was Corey Hawkins as Dr Dre, O’Shea Jackson Jr playing as his father Ice Cube and Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E. Its funny how at first, O’Shea Jackson Jr felt like he couldn’t possibly fill in the role of his father. But seeing him as Ice Cube, it’s as if there was no-one more suited for the role, displaying the volatile persona that Ice Cube would have had. Corey Hawkins as Dr Dre is almost perfect, since being the producer of the music, you would expect Dre to be more reserved, smart…the thinker of the group. And Jason Mitchell is great as Eazy-E, especially up to the third arc of the film as everything start to unravel.
Fun fact: At first, O’Shea Jackson Jr felt uncomfortable playing his own father Ice Cube when cast. But given the training and coaching, eventually he said that only he should portray his father in the film. Eazy-E’ son Lil Eazy-E also wanted to fill in the role of his father however it didn’t work out, according to Ice Cube. Lil Eazy would then coach the actor Jason Mitchell, who got the role of Eazy-E.
And as a small note, I love the small cameos of big rap stars like Snoop Dogg and Tupac. I ‘am slightly miffed they didn’t add Eminem, perhaps as a cheeky addition to the end, but no big deal.
As for criticisms, the few I can think of is that Jerry Heller in particular, I feel like his role got screwed over towards the end, especially when in the beginning he goes to such extraordinary lengths to protect and help the group. Although it is built up, the revelation still feels like it came out of nowhere and without reason. It’s unsurprising that the real Jerry himself wasn’t happy about his portrayal, but refused to elaborate on what really happened stating himself that “Eric isn’t here to tell his side, so why should I?”
There are also the other members of N.W.A. who are pretty much reduced to side characters and comic relief, particularly MC Ren who in reality wrote the majority of the lyrics for the group. In particular, the film does tend to bump up Dr Dre a little too much, not up to Mary Sue levels, but enough to be felt.
In the end, I give Straight Outta Compton 7 out of 10. If stretched, it can be called a vanity project, but it’s a well done vanity project. Everything about it, both good and bad is sharp and potent: The music, the performances both acting and musical, and the volatile atmosphere that broods over the whole film is designed to cut deep. Of course, it will cut deeper for some than others, and not everyone is going to like this film. In that regard, it fits the biopic for the N.W.A perfectly.
Words Create Worlds 