Directed by Curtis Hanson
Sceenplay by Scott Silver

Eminem .... Jimmy Smith Jr/ Bunny Rabbit/ B-Rabbit/ Rabbit
Kim Basinger .... Stephanie Smith
Brittany Murphy .... Alex
Mekhi Phifer .... David Porter/Future
Eugene Byrd .... Wink
Omar Benson Miller .... Sol George
Taryn Manning .... Janeane
Brandon T. Jackson .... Chin Tiki Club Goer/Rapper
Evan Jones .... Chedder Bob
Anthony Mackie .... Papa Doc
Michael Shannon .... Greg
De'Angelo Wilson .... D.J Iz
Xzibit .... Hassan

Produced by
Carol Fenelon .... executive producer
Gregory Goodman .... executive producer
Brian Grazer .... producer
Curtis Hanson .... producer
Jimmy Iovine .... producer
Paul Rosenberg .... executive producer
James Whitaker .... executive producer

Original Music by
Dr. Dre (songs)
Eminem (original music)
Eminem (songs)
Jay-Z (songs)
Nas (song)
Rakim (song)
Kid Rock (songs)
Xzibit (songs)

Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto

Film Editing by Craig Kitson and Jay Rabinowitz

Rated R for strong language, sexuality, some violence and drug use.
Runtime: 110 min
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM, and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG

8 Mile (Deluxe Limited Edition)
Various Artists - Soundtracks - 2002, Eminem

No matter where we live, no matter who we are, we're all bound by borders ... some real, some imagined. Many of us are content to live within these borders. Others are forced to. But some of us need to break out, burst through, even if what lies on the other side is both frightening and unknown. 8 Mile is a story about these boundaries that define our lives, and a young man's struggle to find the strength and courage to transcend them.

The people of Detroit know 8 Mile as the city limit, a border, a boundary. It is also a psychological dividing line that separates Jimmy Smith Jr. (Eminem) from where and who he wants to be. "8 Mile" is a provocative fictional examination of a critical week in Jimmy’s life, starring multi-platinum recording artist Eminem in his first leading role in a feature film, along with Kim Basinger ("L.A. Confidential") as Jimmy’s mother, Mekhi Phifer ("O," "Shaft"), Brittany Murphy ("Don’t Say A Word") and Eugene Byrd ("Dead Man").

8 Mile captures the excitement, exhilaration and intensity of freestyle battles. It takes you to that dingy, smoky spot where hungry MCs and hip-hop enthusiasts dwell. You can feel, hear, taste and smell it. This film will take its audience to a place where true hip-hop lives: the underground. Most people only ever see BET and MTVs versions of hip-hop: flashy, materialistic, pornographic. But hip-hop is a subversive music and culture, and this film really illustrates this. And many people will not understand the nature of battling; it's been referred to negatively in several reviews already. Freestyle battling isn't just about hurling insults, expletives and what have you, at the opposing MC. It's about cleverness, creativity, competition and having fun. It's not to be taken personally, and those on the outside looking in will most likely misunderstand it.

Eminem is good as Bunny Rabbit, the Detroit MC who gets booed off the stage at the beginning of the film after being introduced by friend Future (Mekhi Phifer) as a genius. He stands on stage speechless, staring out at the merciless crowd in terror. He's got talent but he's afraid. Things aren't really going that well for him. He just broke up with his girlfriend and has nowhere else to go but back to his mother's trailer home, where she lives with her skuzzy boyfriend, Greg, who hates him. But Jimmy is determined to make something of himself, determined to transcend his negative surroundings. And perhaps this sounds somewhat cliché, but, again, it's not a film about an incredible talent who gets discovered and subsequently gets big, or rich. Success for Jimmy Smith is immaterial.

Jimmy Smith works at a stamping plant during the day, and spends his evenings driving around with his friends getting into trouble, not serious trouble, but trouble nonetheless. They get into fights, shoot signs, buildings and even a police car with a paint gun, burn down an abandoned house and talk about what they are going to do when they make it big. But Jimmy isn't interested in "making it big." He just wants to rhyme, do something he loves, and turn things around.

Eminem plays a caring, empathic, often tender character, and hey, maybe this is the "real slim shady." He has a younger sister, Lily, who adores him, and a circle of friends who are all concerned and loving. Future is interesting. He hosts the freestyle battles at "The Shelter" and is always talking about getting right with the Lord. Cheddar Bob, one of Bunny's friends, is socially inept, but Bunny accepts and genuinely cares for him. Playing this character may not have been a huge stretch for Eminem, but he shows talent, unlike other rap artists, whose performances are contrived and utterly painful to watch.

Curtis Hanson ("LA Confidential," "Wonder Boys") really shows his versatility as a director by painting an accurate picture of the underground hip-hop scene. I really like the gritty, almost monochromatic appearance of this film. It looks and feels right. And the battle scenes are the most authentic I've ever seen in a film. I felt like I was there. They had the spontaneity and energy of an actual battle… I wanted to get up and cheer at times.

It's great to see films about hip-hop culture, and in the past couple months we've seen two films that accurately examine hip-hop's polarities: Brown Sugar, a more polished looking film, looks at the business aspect of the genre, while 8 Mile looks at the gritty side. And these two films may end up being two of the more important movies about hip-hop, helping define the genre, just as films like "Wild Style" and "Beat Street" did in their day. And I'm not saying it's the most important, but 8 Mile is probably the best film about hip-hop thus far, inasmuch as it is the best written, acted, directed, shot, etc. And where Brown Sugar went wrong, charismatic MC Mos Def gives a not-so-charismatic performance to a bunch of stiffs in suits, 8 Mile hits the right note with Eminem performing in a hole-in-the-wall club to a raucous crowd of hip-hoppers.

Whether or not you like Eminem, or his music, is irrelevant. This isn't a film about "Eminem," although there are many parallels between him and his character--freestyle battling is how he initially made a name for himself. Eminem is offensive to a lot of people, and I'm sure this will hinder them from checking this film out, and this is unfortunate, because 8 Mile shows that no matter who you are, or where you're from, you can turn things around.

Jimmy (EMINEM) and Alex (BRITTANY MURPHY) both want more from life. Jimmy and Alex both plan to break through the boundaries that have shaped their lives. Jimmy and Alex both have big dreams.
Lesson: Dream big. Why not? "Without a vision people perish" as the Bible says.

Jimmy Smith, Jr. is broke and low on options.
Lesson: You have the gift of your own existence. Even in the worst state of affairs, God has been good. You exist!

Future (MEKHI PHIFER) tries to keep Jimmy focused on his possibilities despite his grim reality.
Lesson: Value positive friendship. Friends that stick like brothers are Christ-like.

Jimmy confronts a co-worker (XZIBIT) with a rap to defuse a volatile situation.
Lesson: Handling conflict in creative ways is better than guns and knives. Talk it out.

Jimmy struggles to keep his day job.
Lesson: Dreams are future realities, not present pay checks. Work hard for your dreams. The best connection between now and then is hope and prayer.

Jimmy's mom Stephanie (KIM BASINGER) and sister (CHLOE GREENFIELD) live in a trailer park.
Lesson: Your family is your family, is your family,

Jimmy and his mom Stephanie are often frustrated with their lives - and each other. Jimmy's mom Stephanie sees few opportunities for herself. Jimmy is broke and lives at home with his mom.
Lesson: Openness! Thank God for your family, no matter how that might be for you. Jimmy was ashamed of his family, "I don't live here." His power came when he admitted who he was, who his family was and where he lived. Openness is a powerful tool.

Big-talking Wink (EUGENE BYRD) says his connections can get Jimmy a deal.
Lesson: Promises, promises are sometimes no more than that.

Jimmy and members of the Three One Third crew - (left to right) Future, Chedder Bob (EVAN JONES) and DJ Iz (De'ANGELO WILSON) take a ride in the Motor City.
Lesson: Friends are good. Cultivate them.

Jimmy Smith, Jr. lives in the hope of "getting that big deal soon."
Lesson: Hope is so very important. Never let it go. The world ends when you are hope-less.

The Three and One Third crew - (left to right) DJ Iz, Sol (OMAR BENSON MILLER), Jimmy , Chedder Bob and Future - on the streets of Detroit.
Lesson: Street level -a good place to be. Why do "goodie two shoes" Christians resist the street? Stay street level.

Jimmy stares down his opponent in a freestyle rap battle.
Lesson: The culture has had a shift. Welcome to Creative Age where creative rap is highly valued.

Members of the Three and One Third crew (left to right) - Sol, Chedder Bob, Jimmy and DJ Iz have created their own kind of family.
Lesson: In the Creative Age we create our own families. I like the idea of the Three and One Third family/crew: "A three fold cord is hard to break" the Bible says.

Future has big dreams for Jimmy and the Three and One Third crew.
Lesson: Value people of passion and vision. They are the seeds of the future. Make em part of your family.

DJ Iz, Chedder Bob and Sol go crazy as Jimmy's freestyle rap decimates the competition at The Shelter.
Lesson: Where is your Shelter?

Jimmy finds his voice in a showdown with rival rapper, Lotto (NASHAWN BREEDLOVE).
Lesson: Creativity is highly valued.

Riding the bus to his factory job, Jimmy wonders if things can ever get better.
Lesson: Take time to think; To plan; To dream; Never let fear and disappointment rule. You can make it, and especially with the help of God.

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