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Long before Dr. Dre made headphones and Ice Cube played the captain in 21 Jump Street, there was N.W.A., the group that sparked controversy with their enraged but honest lyrics about life in one of the country’s most dangerous neighborhoods. Now, more than 25 years later, director F. Gary Gray tells the group’s story in Straight Outta Compton.
This musical biopic takes a look back at the passion that brought the members of N.W.A. together and the disputes that tore them apart. Growing up on the streets of Compton, California, where drug busts and police harassment were everyday occurrences, Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.), and their friends used music as their escape, writing rhymes about their experiences. With the help of manager Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti), they become one of the most talked-about groups of the late ‘80s. But jealousy and greed soon turned old friends into bitter rivals.
Straight Outta Compton is an absorbing but over-long drama about a bunch of kids whose lyrics shocked the nation, angered the authorities, and opened people’s eyes about the realities of life in the ‘hood. By writing what they lived, they became a cultural phenomenon, changing the face of the music industry in the process. That’s not to say that the film makes them out to be straight-laced musical geniuses (well, other than Dr. Dre, that is). Instead, they’re just a bunch of guys who are looking for a better life. Especially in the beginning, they joke around, they enjoy what they do, and they laugh off the criticism and threats. And while their rise to fame makes for an interesting story, the youthful characters and their often good-natured camaraderie makes it entertaining.
Still, it’s not all about the fortune and fame. After all, the group began to fall apart almost as soon as it was formed. And the majority of the film focuses on the downward spiral: the shady business deals, the suspicions, and the other problems that turned them against each other. But even through the fighting, the faults, and the failures, the cast is so charming that you can’t help but like the characters.
Of course, with two of the original members acting as producers, you’re not going to get the whole story. The film does briefly touch on Eazy-E’s drug-dealing past—and, like any recording artist biopic, it offers glimpses into the wild parties. But the uglier details have been left out. For the most part, the group’s members come off as almost irreproachable—just a bunch of great guys using their rhymes and beats to try to fight their way out of Compton. They’re the ones witnessing the violence, being used for others’ gain, and simply reacting to their environment. But while the story may not be comprehensive, it’s still both eye-opening and entertaining.
Loaded with musical history and cultural context, Straight Outta Compton tackles everything from race and censorship to the perils of the music industry. Although it tells the story that the key players want you to see, it’s still a pretty significant story.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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