STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
Director : F. Gary Gray
Year : 2015
Genre : Drama
Rating : ****
Before I review 'Straight Outta Compton', I must say that my personal musical taste is about as close-minded as that of a Britain First member at a Ramadan celebration. Having only ever listened to Queen, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Rush and Led Zeppelin, what I know about rap music couldn't even fill the back of a packet of brown sugar. So it is with great pleasure that the N.W.A biopic 'Straight Outta Compton' turns out to be an incredibly engrossing and deeply affecting film that has wonderful performances and interesting things to say about a musical genre I have no prior knowledge or even interest in whatsoever. The Summer season may now be over but 'Straight Outta Compton' ends it on a great high.
Chronicling the rise and sudden fall of the controversial but hugely influential rap group N.W.A, 'Straight Outta Compton' follows the story of Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Ice Cube (O' Shea Jackson) and Easy E. (Jason Mitchell) who stirred the broken spirits of the demonised black inhabitants of California with their often violent and very often anti-authoritarian lyrics. With the help of their scrupulous and litigious manager Jerry Heller (wonderfully played by Paul Giamatti), N.W.A becomes the most beloved group in urban California but things start to collapse when the FBI begins to investigate the group for inciting violence and police hatred. What follows is a physical and emotional battle as the band begins to fall apart due to contractual and personal differences.
From the film's opening seconds, director F. Gary Gray places us in a horrifying world of hatred and prejudice. We are shown numerous scenes of hideous police brutality, burning buildings and almost apocalyptic poverty and they serve as the perfect backdrop to the lyrics and messages of N.W.A's volcanic writings. But while this atmosphere is brilliantly captured in the cinematography and mood of the first twenty minutes of the movie, 'Straight Outta Compton' unfortunately follows the traditional beats of a standard music biopic. We see reconstructions of the making of key recordings, the meeting of various people who we now know are stars in their own rights and of course, we are treated to multiple scenes of loud, boisterous concerts which help to deify the importance and popularity of the band and because of these standard tropes, 'Straight Outta Compton' does feel a bit formulaic at times.
However, these conventions are thankfully camouflaged by unanimously great performances and Gray's continuously inventive direction. The actors playing the band all feel genuine and every single one puts their everything into their performances. Giamatti is a particular highlight as Heller while O' Shea Jackson is simply uncanny as his volatile father Ice Cube. 'Straight Outta Compton' may follow certain biopic traditions but it is far more interesting than a large majority of the musical dramas that have come out over the past few years and as someone who couldn't care less about rap music, I am overjoyed to say that. I may not be a rap convert just yet but I can now certainly see it's nihilistic appeal and, more importantly, cultural significance.
From the film's opening seconds, director F. Gary Gray places us in a horrifying world of hatred and prejudice. We are shown numerous scenes of hideous police brutality, burning buildings and almost apocalyptic poverty and they serve as the perfect backdrop to the lyrics and messages of N.W.A's volcanic writings. But while this atmosphere is brilliantly captured in the cinematography and mood of the first twenty minutes of the movie, 'Straight Outta Compton' unfortunately follows the traditional beats of a standard music biopic. We see reconstructions of the making of key recordings, the meeting of various people who we now know are stars in their own rights and of course, we are treated to multiple scenes of loud, boisterous concerts which help to deify the importance and popularity of the band and because of these standard tropes, 'Straight Outta Compton' does feel a bit formulaic at times.
However, these conventions are thankfully camouflaged by unanimously great performances and Gray's continuously inventive direction. The actors playing the band all feel genuine and every single one puts their everything into their performances. Giamatti is a particular highlight as Heller while O' Shea Jackson is simply uncanny as his volatile father Ice Cube. 'Straight Outta Compton' may follow certain biopic traditions but it is far more interesting than a large majority of the musical dramas that have come out over the past few years and as someone who couldn't care less about rap music, I am overjoyed to say that. I may not be a rap convert just yet but I can now certainly see it's nihilistic appeal and, more importantly, cultural significance.
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