8 Mile (2002)

Director: Curtis Hanson
Starring: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy

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This movie was pretty much Saturday Night Fever except with cotton instead of polyester, headphones instead of hair, and Detroit instead of Brooklyn. The two films are otherwise frighteningly similar: both films revolve around the protagonist's ultimate worth being based on some kind of performance, both films' protagonists seem to be the only person in their group of friends that want something more out of their lives and actually act on it, both films even have the sad character that wants nothing more than to be a part of and respected within the group. Sadly enough, of the two movies Fever is the ballsier one. Take a look at the ultimate fates of the aforementioned sad outcasts in the respective groups, as an example. Also, we already know that Eminem's character's life has started to balance out even before the last freestyle contest. If his life is already looking up, why even have the final contest? Icing on the cake? So what? We already know he's going to be okay. I never thought I'd see the day that disco would beat out hip-hop. I suppose it's a consolation prize that Jimmy 'B-Rabbit' Smith, Jr. could beat the living hell out of Tony Manero.

July 6
apartment TV, early morning

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