(Producer’s Review) Straight Outta Compton
Jonathan Herman
Andrea Berloff
147 mins.
Biography, Drama, Music
August 14, 2015
Rated R for language throughout, strong sexuality/nudity, violence, and drug use. (MPAA)
At its surface, gangster rap, a style of music known for both objectifying women and rebelling against the system, appears to be disrespectful, misogynistic, hateful noise. But like all music, this genre has a story. And F. Gary Gray’s “Straight Outta Compton” captures a piece of it.
Imagine walking out of a friend’s home after a night of studying and being harassed by police officers simply because they can. Imagine stepping out of the office for a break and having your drink knocked out of your hand only to be asked to lay on the ground for absolutely no reason. Imagine living in this environment every day and having no control – being harassed by the people who are supposed to “serve and protect.” This is the very reality that has sparked movements in the past and continues to spark them now.
“Straight Outta Compton,” named after N.W.A.’s first album, tells the story of N.W.A.’s group members, including: Easy-E, played by Jason Mitchell; Dr. Dre, played by Corey Hawkins; and Ice Cube, played by his real-life son, O’Shea Jackson, Jr. It shows how they came to form the group as a way to bring light to the injustices they were experiencing in Los Angeles during the 1980s. It also depicts how they made a better life for themselves and what led to the group’s eventual demise.
Its first scene is intense; it grounds you in the tension between the Los Angeles Police Department and LA’s minorities at the time. The lighting is dim, the shots are gritty, and the music adds to the intensity. This is the first of many chilling moments that will make your blood boil.
It’s not surprising that music plays a huge role in this film, and not only when the group is performing. It’s also used very well, might I add, to move the story forward and to add a level of depth to the film. I wasn’t very familiar with the origin story of N.W.A., so I throughly enjoyed watching the actors peel back the layers to allow us to peer into the history behind the music. “Straight Outta Compton” does a good job of condensing over 20 years of history into a nearly 2 1/2-hour film; it doesn’t feel as long as it is.
During its first New York screening, I was sitting next to a woman who was completely wrapped-up in the drama of it all. The “oooos” and “ahhhhs” coming from her spoke volumes about this film’s ability to connect with its audience: She wasn’t the only person with that kind of reaction.
However, “Straight Outta Compton” does have its flaws. One, in particular, is in regards to the depiction of Easy-E’s battle with AIDS. To this day, I’m still not sure why filmmakers consistently choose a lingering cough as the tell-tale sign that a person has the disease. While my fellow audience members seemed to have no problem with that (they were noticeably touched), I couldn’t help wondering why F. Gary Gray didn’t present a more nuanced depiction. Still, that depiction is successful overall.
On a positive note, the costumes and sets are well done. The thick gold chains, records, cassette tapes, and flip phones with antennas will take you back in time. Furthermore, the majority of the jokes work, and the scenes featuring the group’s studio sessions and live performances are truly exciting. I must note that the studio scenes with Suge Knight, played by R. Marco Taylor, are intense and disturbing. They’ll make you wonder what else went on in that studio that didn’t make it into the film.
Throughout its runtime, “Straight Outta Compton” is a blast. It’s like spending a day being a fly on the wall with some guys who just want to live life on their own terms, make a statement, cause a little ruckus, and still have fun in the process. After seeing it, I want to listen to Dr. Dre’s album, “The Chronic,” and rock out. I want to write some political poetry in response to what’s still going on in our country today. I want to use art as a weapon.
The music that N.W.A. made is still relevant. I’m not sure what that has to say about us as a society, but it definitely has inspired me to examine my life, share my story, and see what impact I can make in the world. If three poor black men came straight outta Compton with all the odds stacked against them and made a lasting impact, I know I can. So can you.
Verdict: It’s a good time. Watch it.
About: (Source: compton)
In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels—armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent—stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.
