Straight Outta Compton Review

2.0 Stars

Straight Outta Compton is the story of five black Americans from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California who formed the rap group NWA in the late 1980's using their rhymes and beats as a way to bring light to the dire situation in America's inner cities.  Gang violence between the Bloods and the Crips was tearing the city apart and the Los Angeles Police Department was under fire for their abuse of power aimed at the black minorities.

If the point of Straight Outta Compton was to tell the story of five young black underprivileged Americans who fought from nothing to have the opportunity to make a difference in the world by raising their voices across the world about the violence and racism plaguing Compton, the movie was a success.  Unfortunately, they squandered the opportunity they were given.  Their graphic lyrics incited more violence from their listeners: both those who supported their work and those who opposed them.  Their voices were heard, but they were not on a mission to actually do anything about it.  They themselves resorted to violence within their own group with disputes over contracts and money.

One of the group members was actually invited to the White House to meet with the President and the movie barely addressed it.  Twice, members of the group were seen watching the beatings of Rodney King by the Los Angeles Police Department, infuriating them, yet not inspiring them to take action to prevent it from happening again.  There is even one scene during the riots that erupted after the police were found not guilty that showed two black men walking towards a line of police, one holding a blue handkerchief and the other a red one (the colors of the rival gangs).  The handkerchiefs were tied together, as if to say, even with their differences, they can agree that what was going on was wrong.  At the same time, NWA was at odds with each other, splitting into different recording labels, hurling insults at each other, having elaborate parties with girls and drugs and alcohol.  

Straight Outta Compton was two hours and twenty-two minutes long and it felt like it.  When I think of movies that run that long, I think of epic movies like Gladiator or Saving Private Ryan.  This movie could have been just as easily told as a VH1 or MTV "where are they now" documentary rather than a full studio production.  I think a more compelling, interesting and infuriating movie would have been one that dealt with the beating of Rodney King and the trial that ultimately found the police innocent of any wrong doing.  I felt no compassion for the characters and it's a shame they were given such a public platform and had the attention of millions, yet they couldn't affect any positive change, in their country, in their city, even in themselves.

I initially predicted a 3 star rating, but I dropped it down to 2 stars.  Maybe this would have been worth a matinee pricing.  It's a decent rental or just wait for it to come out on cable.  For me, once was enough and it will not be in my permanent collection.  So, what movie will be on my mind next?  We shall see.

Straight Outta Compton Preview

In the 1980's, many were enjoying the thrills of neon colors, big hair, upbeat rock music from Def Leppard and Journey, TV shows like Who's the Boss and Full House, and iconic movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Top Gun.  America was also home to one of the roughest, gang-ridden, violent places in the world: Compton in Los Angeles.  Gang violence was at an all-time high, the tension between black Americans and the Los Angeles Police Department was palpable, and the peaceful demonstrations of Martin Luther King, Jr. from just 20 years ago were lost.  Straight Outta Compton tells the story of a rap group, NWA, who also used their voice, though with a very different tone, to spread awareness of what they had to endure.

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, Straight Outta Compton follows the lives of five young men from Compton who were tired of the violence and oppression and were given a voice to speak out, in a very honest and very graphic way.  The group struggled to find success until a white manager Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti) takes them under his wing and believes they not only have a story that needs to be heard, but a talent for rhymes and beats that will sell.  They rose to fame and found that their message, though successfully bringing to light the dire situation in urban America, served as a catalyst for even more violence as their fans acted out in anger and authorities sought desperately to shut them down.

They were often accused of simply trying to shock their listeners with their graphic lyrics and profanity-laced raps, though they vehemently defended their music as a reflection of their world.  Later, they were accused of letting the fame and fortune get the better of them and losing their focus on their true agenda.  The trailer looks like an interesting look at the forming of this group considered by some to be civil rights leaders.   It also looks very violent and graphic, but that's what it was like for them in the late 80's.  I'm predicting Straight Outta Compton will be a solid 3 stars.  I think it will be a decent movie that is worth the money in the theatres, something I might catch when it makes its way to cable, but other than that would not find a home in my permanent collection.  So, am I right?  We shall see.