Review of Straight Outta Compton (2015) by Mcadzow — 13 Sep 2015

Despite having all the makings of a classic, Straight Outta Compton doesn’t quite deliver on the promise of its subject matter. The rags-to-riches narrative surrounding the self-proclaimed “world’s most dangerous group” plays out less like a gritty historical account and more of a Hollywood glorification of real events.

The film is bolstered by nostalgic performances from its actors. Each of the group's members are well cast, most notably Ice Cube (played by O'Shea Jackson Jr.), who bears a striking resemblance to the veteran rapper in his day. The best acting arguably comes from Jason Mitchell (as Eazy-E) and Paul Giamatti (as Jerry Heller), both of whom show good range and presence. The characters of MC Ren and DJ Yella are left to the background, which was to be expected and is justified from a directorial and writing standpoint.

It’s also worth mentioning the opening sequence, in which Eazy-E confronts a group of drug dealers who are indebted to him. Things gradually escalate, culminating in a raid by the L.A.P.D. which Eazy narrowly escapes. This perfectly sets the tone of the movie and makes for thrilling viewing.

Unfortunately, many events are either glossed over or misrepresented. The solo careers of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube are both included in the plot, yet Eazy-E’s is sorely missing - his diss track aimed towards Dr. Dre and Death Row Records, Real Muthaphukkin G’s, was a milestone for Eazy, as it revealed his individual abilities as a writer, and a landmark of the era. Instead, we are only shown the bitter end to Eazy’s relationship with Heller. Although this works in the scheme of the film, it also undermines its authenticity, and considering the high regard in which Eazy is held today, many will see this as a cop out.

One scene depicts Dr. Dre - apparently having lost his temper at Suge Knight - get into a high speed chase with police. This is based on an incident that happened in 1994, however Dre was actually arrested for drunk driving. Following Dre’s departure from the group, Eazy-E is shown tearfully admiring a billboard for Dre’s album The Chronic, when in fact the album featured many tracks that dissed Eazy, and the two were in a well-publicized feud at the time. While the film’s writers are allowed some artistic license, these unnecessary alterations give a distorted impression of real events and a disingenuous portrayal of the characters.

The movie is further weighed down by uneven writing. When Ice Cube is introduced, his school bus is held up by gun-toting Crenshaw Mafia gang members. The leader tells the kids to “gangbang them books” and avoid getting caught up in the gang lifestyle, which comes off as preachy and ridiculous. Another scene where Dr. Dre learns of his younger brother’s death while on tour with the group is also rather melodramatic and doesn’t serve any real purpose in the plot.

It’s entertaining for the most part, but Straight Outta Compton lacks the authenticity and scope of a great biopic.