Who Else Loved 8 Mile?

[livius drusus]

You know, the underdog rapper faces his fear and prevails like a motherfucker movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298203/). I seriously love it. I think I could watch that final contest a thousand times without getting sick of it.

Eminem is both understated and fervent. Kim Basinger is genuine as hell. Mekhi Phifer is sexy, laid back, and an all-around cool guy. Brittany Murphy is charming, unapologetic without petulance, and at this rate, doesn't look like she's ever going to get a chance at a better character.

Anyone else loud and proud about digging the shit out of this movie?

[Crumb]

Never seen it. Should I?

[Ymir's blood]

I heard it was rather long. :wink:

[livius drusus]

Shit yes, Crumb. :poke:, Ymir's blood.

[LadyShea]

Pretty much ditto everything livius said. Dug the hell out of it all, and "Lose Yourself" is such a kick ass song.

[RevDahlia]

I loved, loved, loved it.

"8 Mile" is an extremely old-skool Hollywood movie. "A Star is Born" plotline + extremely charismatic star + also charismatic but slightly less so sidekick + cliched obstacles = time-honoredly gratifying movie. It's essentially an old-fashioned film, which is why I think it was so successful.

[Edit: Eminem is a fucking genius. The '00s have been damn desolate w/r/t musical geniuses, but he's certainly one of them. I'm sorry he says such horrible things, but he says them so damn beautifully....]

[livius drusus]

True, Rev, but I'd add that it's not self-conscious or overblown in any way, which, for example, "A Star Is Born" certainly was. It's a humble version of that ethos. If it hadn't been, it would have failed utterly.

[Crumb]

Fine, if I HAVE too. :rolleye1:

/me goes to look it up at the library...

[Ensign Steve]

I loved 8 Mile. But it bugged me when he would choke. I mean, sack up, pussy! But I guess he got over it eventually. I have the DVD, and what I want to know is how come in the extra music video we get full frontal nudity, but the radio edit of the lyrics? Weirdness. I like the scene where they bang at his work.

[RevDahlia]

True, Rev, but I'd add that it's not self-conscious or overblown in any way, which, for example, "A Star Is Born" certainly was. It's a humble version of that ethos. If it hadn't been, it would have failed utterly.
I agree that "8 Mile" isn't overblown or self-conscious, but it it is very aware of cinematic archetypes. We root for the hero, we boo the villains, we know the outcome of the film from the first frame. That is rare these days, when filmmakers (and/or marketing divisions) seek to make some kind of not-immediately-obvious, "postmodern" statement with movies.

It was clever of the filmmakers to create such a conventional film from such unconventional elements. The viewer has to be paying attention to get past Big Bad Eminem and all the foul language and Brittany Murphy getting reamed against factory machinery. That's the great thing about it. It's still old-skool Hollywood, and it still affects the conscious viewer for the same reasons.

[Roland98]

I love Eminem. I liked 8 Mile, but I hate, hate, hate Brittany Murphy. I can't watch anything she's in (well, except Clueless) without feeling the need to stuff her with sandwiches.

[viscousmemories]

I've only seen the movie once or twice, but yeah I thought it was very powerful and moving. I've always been a fan of Eminem and I've got that whole grew up on the wrong side of the tracks thing, though, so I'm definitely biased.

[Brimshack]

I couldn't bring myself to watch it. had a whole class full of students try and talk me into watching it one, but when I got to the video store, I simply couldn't bring myself to actually rent it. I just don't get that guy.

[Roland98]

I couldn't bring myself to watch it. had a whole class full of students try and talk me into watching it one, but when I got to the video store, I simply couldn't bring myself to actually rent it. I just don't get that guy.

What's not to get? He's actually quite intelligent and very much a self-made man, pulling himself up by his bootstrings and what-not. Have you heard his song "Mosh?"

[SharonDee]

Eminem. He's rap or hip-hop or whatever the kids call it these days, right? No, thanks. I can't look at the guy without thinking, "Vanilla Ice."

But then, it took me a while to have an appreciation for Marilyn Manson, too.

[Roland98]

Eminem is way better than Marilyn Manson.


And sadly, now I have "Ice Ice Baby" running through my had. Even more pathetic is the fact that I know all the words.

[Ensign Steve]

I don't think you need to be a fan of the music to appreciate the movie. I can't really be objective, as I am a fan of the music, but...

I liked Rocky, and I don't like boxing. And plus I loved the Howard Stern movie, even though I hate his show.

[SharonDee]

But doesn't his music play during the movie?

[RevDahlia]

But doesn't his music play during the movie?
Rabbit (the character played by Eminem) freestyles a couple of songs in the movie, but they bear no resemblance to any recorded works. (The freestyles in question were penned by Mr. Mathers himself, though... if his stylin' over "Sweet Home Alabama" doesn't convert you to the Church of Em, nothing will.)
I liked Rocky, and I don't like boxing. And plus I loved the Howard Stern movie, even though I hate his show.
:yeahthat:

[LadyShea]

Eminem is talented and I really like him. I am not a big rap or hip hop fan at all, and Vanilla Ice was a really sad one hit wonder gimmick. I dunno, Eminem just says what's on his mind and gets some pretty good tunes out of it. I don't think his collaboration with Dre hurts.

His political statements are right fucking on too...hell even my mother called me to tell me to watch his video just before the elections. My mother named both of her children something related to The Beatles, she is not a hip hop fan, but here she was all excited about Eminem.

[Brimshack]

I couldn't bring myself to watch it. had a whole class full of students try and talk me into watching it one, but when I got to the video store, I simply couldn't bring myself to actually rent it. I just don't get that guy.

What's not to get? He's actually quite intelligent and very much a self-made man, pulling himself up by his bootstrings and what-not. Have you heard his song "Mosh?"


Now listen hear youngster, I am not a crotchety old bastard!


...I mean, I dunno, maybe I've heard the song, maybe not. His music is hard to avoid, but I don't remember many of the particulars.

[slimshady2357]

I'm pretty much in line with liv's view. I loved the movie and I could watch the battle scene at the end a dozen more times :D

I was impressed with Eminem's acting, he was excellent for the most part. I already liked his music, I find him to be extremely talented. What he says isn't always to my liking, but how he says it almost always is. The man can rap, and I don't generally like rap.

It's worth seeing Brim :p

Adam

[livius drusus]

Brim, do as you're told and rent the damn DVD. Sheesh. I don't get Charleton Heston either, but that Soylent Green is some tasty shit. I'd expect you, of all people, to know that.

The same instructions go for Crumb and Sharon, too. Now git!

And a big :yup: to Rev, Ensign, Shea, Ro, vm and Adam.

[LadyShea]

Might I suggest "White America" as a good introduction to Eminem. This is the song that made me "get" him. Spot on commentary of the suburban-disaffected-youth-being-influenced-by-nasty-music witch hunts.

surely hip hop was never a problem in Harlem only in Boston, after it bothered the fathers of daughters starting to blossom
so now I'm catchin' the flack from these activists when they raggin', actin' like I'm the first rapper to smack a bitch, or say faggot
shit, just look at me like I'm your closest pal, the posterchild, the mother fuckin' spokesman now for...White America

[viscousmemories]

Eminem. He's rap or hip-hop or whatever the kids call it these days, right? No, thanks. I can't look at the guy without thinking, "Vanilla Ice."

But then, it took me a while to have an appreciation for Marilyn Manson, too.
Marilyn Manson is very cool, but I wouldn't make my worst enemy listen to his music.

Vanilla Ice was a rapper like Michael Jackson is a rock star. Not.

The only white people I can think of who ever really rapped worth a damn are Em and the Beastie Boys, and I've been a rap fan since the mid-80's... But as they've said, you really don't have to like rap at all to love 8-mile. Music is just not that prevalent in the film.

[LadyShea]

The only white people I can think of who ever really rapped worth a damn are Em and the Beastie Boys, and I've been a rap fan since the mid-80's... But as they've said, you really don't have to like rap at all to love 8-mile. Music is just not that prevalent in the film.


I guess I am somewhat a rap fan. I like some old school like Run DMC and I like the Beasties, and Eminem, and a few others. The gangsta rap is what turned me off...too violent and not pertinent to my life. I prefer party rap I guess.

[SharonDee]

Marilyn Manson is very cool, but I wouldn't make my worst enemy listen to his music.
Oh lord, no! I still don't like his music but I usually like to listen to what he has to say.

So Eminem is like that, then? Hmmm...
But as they've said, you really don't have to like rap at all to love 8-mile. Music is just not that prevalent in the film.
Well, in that case... I'm reconsidering my original opinion.

[viscousmemories]

Marilyn Manson is very cool, but I wouldn't make my worst enemy listen to his music.
Oh lord, no! I still don't like his music but I usually like to listen to what he has to say.
Oh thank god. You scared me!

So Eminem is like that, then? Hmmm...
He's not nearly as sharp or educated as Manson, in my opinion. But he makes up for it with deft, blunt social commentary and killer attitude.

But as they've said, you really don't have to like rap at all to love 8-mile. Music is just not that prevalent in the film.
Well, in that case... I'm reconsidering my original opinion.
Excellent! Now you have to watch it and report back. Perhaps if we can convert you we can eventually take over the world with 8-mile fanaticism!

[Crumb]

Relax liv, it is on hold at the library for me. ;) I am too cheap to fork over $3 for a movie. :)

[seebs]

Er, what about 3rd Bass? I like 3rd Bass. Although I admit I was rather surprised to find that they were white. I got very lucky and got a scratched but still perfectly playable copy of Derilects of Dialect for ninety-five cents!

Anyway, I've never heard any Eminem, but I just picked up the 2003 Weird Al album, which has a parody of Lose Yourself on it, and if the original is anything like the parody (only presumably not as funny), I would like Eminem.

[viscousmemories]

I've never heard of 3rd Bass. I'll look 'em up.

If you go to the 8 Mile site (http://www.8-mile.com/) and click "Enter Site", you can see a flash presentation that has the first part of the first verse of Lose Yourself.

The sample at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006LWSF/qid=1107542125/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl15/102-3333683-8894519?v=glance&s=music&n=507846[/url) actually has more of the rap, though.

[LadyShea]

Lose Yourself is a great song, though not really representative of all Eminem songs. His music varies quite a bit, actually. Some songs are just fun, like Just Lose It, some have biting social commentary like Mosh, some are very personal about his life like Cleaning Out My Closet.

[viscousmemories]

My favorite song is probably Stan. It haunts from several angles.

Seebs, I just listened to a bunch of 3rd Bass samples at Amazon and read a bit about them at Wikipedia. I'm really suprised I've never heard of them, considering the fact that I like the samples and I know and like almost every artist listed in the "Customers who bought this also bought..." section.

[seebs]

My favorite song is probably Stan. It haunts from several angles.

Seebs, I just listened to a bunch of 3rd Bass samples at Amazon and read a bit about them at Wikipedia. I'm really suprised I've never heard of them, considering the fact that I like the samples and I know and like almost every artist listed in the "Customers who bought this also bought..." section.

They're apparently mildly obscure. They made it into the Onion once, with a very funny article about Pete Nice updating the Gas Face list for 2001 or something similar.

I have all three of their albums. :P And now I'm gonna have to go get some Eminem, because it turns out I like him; just my luck to not have heard of him. (And yes, I also like Beastie Boys, but I don't have any, because we only had one album and Jesse lost the actual disc, leaving us with an empty case. I wep.)

[livius drusus]

Get The Marshall Mathers LP (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004T9UF/qid=1107544692/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-8611658-6521763?v=glance&s=music&n=507846), seebs. It's outstanding.

I have to say, though, I think there's a lot of rap in the movie. I don't want to coax Sharon into watching it on false pretenses. Eminem raps, his friends rap (I love that "10 Freaky Girls" one; it never fails to crack me up), his battle competitors rap, the soundtrack features numerous raps including the excellent Oscar nominated "Lose Yourself". It's just all fucking awesome is all, and it really isn't obnoxious in any way.

Give it a try, Sharon. Trust me.

[LadyShea]

including the excellent Oscar nominated "Lose Yourself"

Correction, Oscar winning.

[livius drusus]

Oh yeah! I kinda thought it had, but I was too lazy to look it up.

[viscousmemories]

Huh. Well I guess there is a lot of rap in the movie. Sorry Sharon, I forgot. :blush:

[JoeP]

Eminem. He's rap or hip-hop or whatever the kids call it these days, right? No, thanks. I can't look at the guy without thinking, "Vanilla Ice."

But then, it took me a while to have an appreciation for Marilyn Manson, too.
Marilyn Manson is very cool, but I wouldn't make my worst enemy listen to his music.

Post proof or retract.

Satisfactory proof: identify your worst enemies, out of all the communities you've been in (including here, HH, II, other big forums, your family, all your jobs, the places you've "stayed", the government, everyone else's government, etc). Identify the worst of these. Then state here "I wouldn't make <Lord Voldemort> listen to Marilyn Manson".

[viscousmemories]

Post proof or retract.

Satisfactory proof: identify your worst enemies, out of all the communities you've been in (including here, HH, II, other big forums, your family, all your jobs, the places you've "stayed", the government, everyone else's government, etc). Identify the worst of these. Then state here "I wouldn't make <Lord Voldemort> listen to Marilyn Manson".
Well that was an interesting thought experiment. I honestly can't think of any enemies. When I was in my late teens, early 20's I used to have a mental list of people from my past who I would like to one day round up and torture. I envisioned many elaborate schemes, but my favorite was the one where I had them kidnapped and imprisoned in solitary confinement in a dark dungeon under my mansion in the woods, where they were forced to subsist on bread and water for many years before I released them back onto the street without ever letting on who had done it or why. :yup:

But now I have no more animosity toward those people because I'm much more aware of my own faults and failings, and because I'm fairly certain that their offenses were the result of circumstances beyond their control or a response to my own behavior than any unjustified or inexplicable malice toward me.

There are people I don't trust, and some I don't like very much, but nobody I would call an enemy. So I guess unless someone steps forward and professes to be my enemy I won't be able to perform this demonstration.

[SharonDee]

Huh. Well I guess there is a lot of rap in the movie. Sorry Sharon, I forgot. :blush:
Whew, that was a close one! I came that close to putting the movie on my Netflix queue.

[JoeP]

vm, what if someone made you listen to Marilyn Manson? Would they qualify as your worst enemy? :D

[viscousmemories]

vm, what if someone made you listen to Marilyn Manson? Would they qualify as your worst enemy? :D
Now you're getting warmer. I actually have one of his CD's which I bought after reading his response to accusations that his music inspired the Columbine killers, but I wasn't able to get through the first track before I wanted to clean my own ear out with a .45. :eek:

[LadyShea]

Wow, I like his music. Have you listened to Dope Show?

[xouper]

I really do not like rap of any kind, and I especially dislike Eminem's music, so I never had any intention of watching his movie, despite that I was born and grew up in Detroit (literally within the city limits), have driven up and down Eight Mile Road a bazillion times (goes east-west, actually), and according to my sister, her husband's pickup truck was used as an extra in the movie.

But this thread has caused me to reconsider. Perhaps I'll watch it someday.

[seebs]

So, there's an odd coincidence. I picked up a Weird Al CD yesterday, and spouse and roommate both oohed and ahhed over how much one of the songs on it sounded like the original Eminem song. And I liked the song. So I went out wandering, and Target had three Eminem albums and 8 Mile, all reasonably cheap. So now I have an Eminem collection to listen to. :) We'll see how it goes over.

[livius drusus]

and according to my sister, her husband's pickup truck was used as an extra in the movie.

Cool! That's only 3 degrees of separation between you and Eminem. (I'm pretty sure vehicles count.)

[viscousmemories]

Wow, I like his music. Have you listened to Dope Show?
Actually it occurred to me as I was typing that I probably haven't listened to enough of his music to condemn it all. Dammit. And actually I have a vague recollection of liking Dope Show, though I can't remember what it sounds like.

[viscousmemories]

I didn't know you grew up in Detroit, xouper. I was born in Detroit but we lived in Dearborn. Only until I was seven, then we moved to South Lyon and then Ann Arbor a few years after that, where I spent most of my life until a few years ago.

[Roland98]

Now listen hear youngster, I am not a crotchety old bastard!

Methinks thou dost protest too much. And too red.


...I mean, I dunno, maybe I've heard the song, maybe not. His music is hard to avoid, but I don't remember many of the particulars.

Snippet of Mosh lyrics:

Imagine it pourin’, it's rainin’ down on us
Moshpits outside the oval office
Someone’s tryin to tell us something
Maybe this is God just sayin' we're responsible
For this monster - this coward that we have empowered
This is Bin Laden
Look at his head noddin’
How could we allow something like this without pumpin' our fists
Now, this is our final hour
Let me be the voice, and your strength and your choice
Let me simplify the rhyme just to amplify the noise
Try to amplify it, times it, and multiply it by sixteen million
People are equal at this high pitch
Maybe we can reach al queda through my speech
Let the president answer our high anarchy
Strap him with a AK-47, let him go fight his own war
Let him impress daddy that way
No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our own soil
No more psychological warfare to trick us to thinking that we ain’t loyal
If we don’t serve our own country, we’re patronizing our hero
Look in his eyes, its all lies
The stars and stripes, have been swiped
Washed out and wiped and replaced with his own face
Mosh now or die
If I get sniped tonight, you’ll know why
‘Cuz I told you to fight

Chorus:

Come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark that we need to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength
Come with me, and I wont steer you wrong
Put your faith in your trust, as I guide us through the fog
To the light at the end of the tunnel we gon' fight
We gon' charge, we gon' stomp
We gon' march through the swamp
We gon' mosh through the marsh
Take us right through the doors
Come on


(Um, Brim, I don't need to tell you what "moshing" is, do I?) :wink:


Anyway, I hated Eminem when he first came out, and openly mocked my brother for listening to him ('cause I also thought he was basically another Vanilla Ice, and the only songs I'd heard were where he was talking about bitches and ho's and stuff). But damn it, he's fucking smart and he raps about stuff that means something, not just "bling bling" or cars or booty.

[LadyShea]

Wow, I like his music. Have you listened to Dope Show?
Actually it occurred to me as I was typing that I probably haven't listened to enough of his music to condemn it all. Dammit. And actually I have a vague recollection of liking Dope Show, though I can't remember what it sounds like.


We're all stars now...in the Dope Show

Oh just go download it you goofball ;)

[xorbie]

The only white people I can think of who ever really rapped worth a damn are Em and the Beastie Boys, and I've been a rap fan since the mid-80's... But as they've said, you really don't have to like rap at all to love 8-mile. Music is just not that prevalent in the film.

If you're looking for others, I can give you recommendations.

I think most people on this forum would appreciate the Non-Prophets (even their name rules), and the MC is Sage Francis, who is white.

If you're looking for some EXTREMELY abstract, intellectual, wordplay, off the beat type stuff, check out Aesop Rock. Brilliant stuff, really cool sounding but a bit of an aquired taste.

[xorbie]

BTW, if you're all listing good, more meaningful songs by Eminem, don't forget "Sing for the Moment," which has a great beat (sampled from some famous song back before my days). Lyrics:

They say music can alter moods and talk to you
Well can it load a gun up for you and cock it too?
Well if it can, and the next time you assault a dude
Just tell the judge it was my fault, and I'll get sued
See what these kids do is hear about us totin pistols
and they want to get one cause, they think the shit's cool
Not knowin we really just protectin ourselves
We entertainers, of course the shit's affectin our sales
You ignoramus, but music is reflection of self
We just explain it, and then we get our checks in the mail
It's fucked up ain't it? How we can come from practically nothin
to bein able to have any fuckin thing that we wanted
That's why we, sing for these kids who don't have a thing
except for a dream and a fuckin rap magazine
Who post pin-up pictures on they walls all day long
Idolize they favorite rappers and know all they songs
Or for anyone who's ever been through shit in they lives
'Til they sit and they cry at night wishin they'd die
'Til they throw on a rap record and they sit and they vibe
We're nothin to you - but we're the fuckin shit in they eyes
That's why we, seize the moment try to freeze it and own it
Squeeze it and hold it, cause we consider these minutes golden
And maybe they'll admit it when we're gone, just let our spirits live on
through our lyrics that you hear in our songs and we can...

[xorbie]

Or Square Dance, come to think of it. Some lyrics:

Let your hair down to the track, yeah kick on back (boo!)
The Boogiemonster of rap, yeah the man's back
with a plan to ambush this Bush administration
Mush the Senate's face in, push this generation
of kids to stand and fight for the right to say somethin
you might not like, this white hot light
that I'm under, no wonder I look so sunburnt
Oh no I won't leave no stone unturned
Oh no I won't leave, won't go nowhere
Do-si-do, oh-yo-ho, hello there
Oh yeah, don't think I won't go there
Go to Beirut and do a show there
Yeah you laugh till your motherfuckin ass gets drafted
While you're at band camp thinkin the crap can't happen
'Til you fuck around, get an anthrax napkin
Inside a package wrapped in Saran Wrap wrappin
Open the plastic and then you stand back gaspin
Fuckin assassins, hijackin Amtraks, crashin
All this terror, America demands action
Next thing you know, you've got Uncle Sam's ass askin
to join the Army or what you'll do for their Navy
You just a baby, gettin recruited at eighteen
You're on a plane now, eatin their food and their baked beans
I'm twenty-eight, they gon
take you 'fore they take me
Crazy insane, or insane crazy?
When I say Hussein, you say Shady
My views ain't changed, still inhumane, wait
Arraigned two days late, the date's today, hang me!

[Ensign Steve]

including the excellent Oscar nominated "Lose Yourself"

Correction, Oscar winning.

I loved the expression on Barbara Streisand's face when she opened the envelope. Priceless! :eek:

Wow, I like his music. Have you listened to Dope Show?

That's a wonderful song, and the video is amazing, too.
:rockroll:
:headbang: :rockingout: :pbjnana:

[RevDahlia]

From a couple pages back:
...hell even my mother called me to tell me to watch his video just before the elections. My mother named both of her children something related to The Beatles, she is not a hip hop fan, but here she was all excited about Eminem.
My mom loves Eminem. She says that if this were the twelfth century he'd be writing sestinas and villanelles, and I think she's right (and they'd be damn interesting sestinas and villanelles, too.) She is also crazy about NWA, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. She made me take her to see Manson at the Whiskey when I was fifteen. Afterwards, she said "My, what an interesting young man! I just loved him." Without a trace of irony.

Rebelling was quite a chore at our house.

[seebs]

I'm really liking Eminem. Haven't seen the movie yet; waiting for spouse to be in a watching-movies-with-people mood. But this guy's funny.

[Brimshack]

Brim, do as you're told and rent the damn DVD. Sheesh. I don't get Charleton Heston either, but that Soylent Green is some tasty shit. I'd expect you, of all people, to know that.

The same instructions go for Crumb and Sharon, too. Now git!

And a big :yup: to Rev, Ensign, Shea, Ro, vm and Adam.


SOILENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!!!!!


...Okay, point taken.

Could you tell these youngsters to turn the damn racket down though, especially Tara. I can't hear myself think!

[JoeP]

From a couple pages back:
...hell even my mother called me to tell me to watch his video just before the elections. My mother named both of her children something related to The Beatles, she is not a hip hop fan, but here she was all excited about Eminem.
My mom loves Eminem. She says that if this were the twelfth century he'd be writing sestinas and villanelles, and I think she's right (and they'd be damn interesting sestinas and villanelles, too.) She is also crazy about NWA, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. She made me take her to see Manson at the Whiskey when I was fifteen. Afterwards, she said "My, what an interesting young man! I just loved him." Without a trace of irony.

Rebelling was quite a chore at our house.
:giggle: :chuckle: :biglaugh:

[Crumb]

OK, I watched 8 mile. Great Flick! Thanks for encouraging me to see it. Downloading eminem music now... :user:

How is the reading coming LD?

[livius drusus]

That's great, Crumb. I glad you liked it. I haven't started my reading yet, but I will, I promise. (as soon as you stop calling me LD. ;))

[Crumb]

Oh come on, you know I only do it 'cause I luv ya! :kisshand:

[livius drusus]

Uh huh. That's what daddy said when he beat me.* So knock it off, young man. :hit:



*Said purely for effect since daddy never laid a hand on me and I totally adore his hopelessly Republican ass.

[Crumb]

:sniffles: Yes...eh..um..er...Liv... :hmph:

[livius drusus]

Attacrumb. :hug:

[Crumb]

:lovey: