The Film
The idea of a "gangsta rap" biopic is probably going to turn off a certain percentage of viewing audiences. After all, unless you're a fan, it's hard to sell a film based on a band whose biggest hit was "F--k tha Police." And that's a shame, because Straight Outta Compton is a wonderful film.
The film's title is taken from N.W.A.'s 1998 breakthrough album of the same name. If you're not familiar, the title track includes lyrics such as, "So what about the bitch who got shot? F---k her! You think I give a damn about a bitch? I ain't a sucker!" Not exactly a family film, is it?
Well, it depends on whose family we're talking about. At one point in the film, O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson (played by O'Shea, Jr., who is the spitting image of his father) says, "Our art is a reflection of our reality." The movie doesn't try to glamorize thug life, but instead tries to convey the story of N.W.A. and the tense surroundings of South Los Angeles during the time period.
The film opens in 1986, where we're introduced to the various members of the band. First, we meet Eric "Eazy-E" Wright (Jason Mitchell), a drug dealer who barely escapes a raid. Andre "Dr. Dre" Young (Corey Hawkins) is a young father and part-time DJ without a permanent place to live. Jackson is a student who spends his days writing lyrics while being bussed to school and nights performing with his DJ friend -- when he or someone else in his neighborhood isn't being hassled by police. One night, Eazy-E and Lorenzo "MC Ren" Patterson (Aldis Hodge) see Dre, Antoine "DJ Yella" Carraby (Neil Brown, Jr.), and Ice Cube perform at a club. The rest is history. Literally.
With Eazy-E as the main backer, the crew forms Ruthless Records and puts out a smash single. This catches the eye of Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti), who manages the band into a deal with Priority Records. From there, the film is basically a crash course in music history. Besides recreating the band's rise and fall, the film depicts the time period perfectly, from the look and sound to the feel.
Sex, drugs, and police confrontations play a heavy role here. Director F. Gary Gray (Friday) doesn't exactly make these guys look like angels, but there are more than a few chapters missing from this on-screen version of N.W.A.'s history book. (And there have already been plenty of headlines dedicated to that.) Of course, at 147 minutes, it would be difficult to slip much more into this movie.
I'm not sure Amadeus was 100-percent factual, but I do know it was a good movie -- an Oscar-winning movie. Straight Outta Compton is just as worthy. Besides having an important story to tell, it's filled with tons of interesting details, excellent acting performances, and awesome music.
Want the extended version? Check out Joe Lozito's theatrical review of Straight Outta Compton.
The Picture
Despite the dark clothes, dark clubs, and different scenes that take place at night, Straight Outta Compton is like something straight outta the demo room. The 2.40:1 image is a sharp one, with excellent contrast and deep black levels. The film isn't bursting with bright colors, but it is every lifelike. Plus, there are plenty of outdoor shots and party scenes that do give the palette a nice boost on occasion. The detail is also excellent throughout and most noticeable on faces, clothing, caps, and even close-ups of interiors and ground shots. It's hard to find anything to complain about on this one.
The Sound
While I think Straight Outta Compton should have gotten a 7.1 mix, this is just me being greedy. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is downright awesome. In the first few seconds, the track sends all sorts of sounds through the soundfield. From there, it's a pretty active mix. Through the sounds of barking dogs, battering rams, broken glass, screeching tires, party-goers, and cheering crowds, the dialogue is always crystal clear. Of course, the music is like a main character in Straight Outta Compton and it's phenomenal here -- and not just when N.W.A. is performing. The soundtrack includes Run DMC, George Clinton, Tears for Fears, Cherrelle, Grand Funk Railroad, and others. That said, when the band performs, it's electric. The speakers explode with sound and bass is booming, but sharp. It's hard to imagine this track sounding much better.
The Extras
Straight Outta Compton comes with the theatrical version of the film, as well as a Director's Cut with an additional 20 minutes. Besides that, one of the highlights here is definitely the commentary track with Director F. Gary Gray. It's quite detailed about the production and downright interesting. It's also bursting with information that's not featured elsewhere in the special features. What you do get in that crop is a colleciton of six deleted scenes, one deleted song, a piece on casting, another about the production, and a way-too-quick entry with cast, crew, and members of N.W.A. discussing the group's impact. Gray also gets highlighted in another short where he talks up the riot scene, with another dedicated to working in Compton and recreating the time period. And finally, there's a really interesting featurette dedicated to the Detroit concert scene.
Final Thoughts
If you think the buzz about Straight Outta Compton not getting a Best Picture nod is just a bunch of crybabies, you obviously haven't seen Straight Outta Compton. It's a wonderful film, filled with excellent performances, an engaging story, and kick-ass music. The audio track is as big of a star as anything on-screen here, but the visuals make for a nice match. To quote N.W.A., "Damn, that s--t was dope!"
Product Details
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