A very serviceable lead role for Eminem in what amounts to a lightly fictionalised biopic (probably for legal reasons, knowing the writ-packed history of the Mathers family). Eminem's charisma survives intact and his blank-eyed stare is genuinely disturbing.
The problem is that what we want from the man is that combination of rhyming skills, wit, put-downs and breath control that have made him a world star. You don't really get that here until the final rap showdown when the invective lets rip and the film lights up: we could have done with a lot more rap and a lot less trailer-park moping.
8 Mile comes with great credentials: not only Curtis Hanson of LA Confidential as director but Amores Perros cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto too, making Detroit look as dirty and dangerous as it did in Blue Collar. Also, your chance to hear Eminem say: "enough of the gay jokes."
