Review of Straight Outta Compton (2015) by Orlando O — 17 Feb 2016

Straight Outta Compton is a strong biographical drama film that focuses on the rise and fall of NWA rap group in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The cast talent of Jason Mitchell, Oâ(TM)Shea Jackson, Jr., Corey Hawkins and Paul Giamatti gave impressive performances. Ice Cube having his son Oâ(TM)Shea Jackson playing himself when he was in NWA was not a bad choice. Oâ(TM)Shea nearly looked like Ice Cube, and was believable. Director F. Gary Gray kept the film engaging, showing the underground world of rap and their perspective of expressing how they feel about society. Especially, the filmsetting was taking place around the time, when police brutality was happening, and the Los Angeles riots.

The film begins in 1986, Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), and Ice Cube (Oâ(TM)Shea Jackson) form a rap group called NWA. Their group raises a lot of controversial issue with the police. Their recording agent Jerry (Paul Giamatti) also tries to aid them, in the long run of going on tours. Until, the fall out when they all went solo, from their disagreements towards each other.

I am not really a fan of NWA, the film did a great job in showing the hip hop group and how their music was a infliction to what they were going through, as they have been harassed by the police officers, and being cheated over by their music manager. The direction did a fantastic job in making these three characters backstory engaging, and watching them over the course of the movie as they slowly go different paths. As Ice Cube separates from NWA cause of Jerry delaying his contract and Eazy-E making more money in the group, he signs up with another manager and continues solo. Dr. Dre also leaves NWA, starting his Death Row Records with Suge Knight managing. For a biographical drama film, there was plenty of details, and there was never a dull moment. For a two and half hour movie, the film does slow down in the end, when Eazy-E is diagnosed with HIV. It does turn the sharp direction into a sentimental emotional ending, as Eazy-E was attempting to reunite Dr. Dre and Ice Cube to revive NWA again. Otherwise, Straight Outta Compton is one of the better biographical films, that highlights these three characters and their interaction with other hip hop singers known to date.