I’m pleased to report that it succeeded on both fronts: “Straight Outta Compton” is an informative, timely, hugely entertaining, moving tribute to the musical group and a celebration of the gangsta rap movement. It isn’t solely a musician biopic (N.W.A. was short-lived) but a portrait of a cultural revolution, too.
In 1988, five guys — Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ice Cube’s real-life son), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), DJ Yella (Neil Brown Jr.) and MC Ren (Aldis Hodge) — came together. They took their harsh experiences growing up in crime-infested Compton and translated them into a new kind of music that directly addressed the contemporary climate of frustration and unrest.
N.W.A. (and the subsequent side ventures that came after the group broke up) helped establish the gangsta rap subgenre, which would go on to influence an entire generation of hip-hop artists and continues to influence artists today.
It’s an amazing story for which Gray gives a rich and sprawling treatment that it deserves. At a daunting two and half hours, the picture covers three significant time periods: life in Compton before N.W.A., the yearlong period that N.W.A. was together under the management of Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti, fast-talking, nervous and supportive, with a hint of slimy) and the post-N.W.A. period in which Ice Cube launched his solo rap career, Eazy-E continued to work with Heller and Dr. Dre cofounded Death Row records with Suge Knight (R. Marcos Taylor, doing a spot-on impression — he’s almost as intimidating as the real Knight).
“Straight Outta Compton” is enthralling to watch. From brutal street violence and police brutality, to the brotherly affection felt between the young artists and the tense feuds that develop in the post-N.W.A. period, Gray captures this hectic revolutionary atmosphere with energetic authenticity.
Matthew Libatique’s (“Black Swan”) fluid hand-held cinematography immerses the viewer in this world. His camera constantly tracking in and out parties, studio recording sessions and electrifying concerts (reminiscent of the camera work in the American sagas made by Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson or Robert Altman) makes the film pop.
Where “Straight Outta Compton” excels the best is in the story and character development; the overall evolution from tightknit tribe to dispersed rivals is well-defined. In the first two sections, Gray takes great care in establishing the bond between the five members. A lot of time is spent on the smaller, intimate moments.
One of the things I appreciate most about the film is the way it takes intense and dour situations and makes them into positive experiences. This strong sense of persistence and brotherhood makes their eventual falling-out all the more devastating because we’ve come to know them as a unit. But as is often the case, fame alienates them and instills a rivalry.
Dre is the most ambitious of the group, feeling more at home producing music, and so it’s not surprising to see him break off from the group and cofound his own record label. Meanwhile, Cube is more short-tempered and skeptical from the beginning of Heller and the record deal N.W.A. signs and decides to launch his solo career. E’s arc is perhaps the most interesting and tragic: He goes from being reluctant to even get in front a microphone to the leader of N.W.A. and eventually allows himself to be taken advantage of. As for the remaining two: MC Ren and DJ Yella function more as secondary characters. Even a two-and-half-hour running time isn’t long enough to fully develop five different characters.
Thankfully, however, Cube, Dre and E (the prominent members of N.W.A.) evolve into well-rounded characters; they’re likable underdogs. but at the same time. their flaws are prominently displayed. The actors playing them give raw, impassioned performances, and the fact that they’re relatively unknown actors gives the movie another layer of authenticity, as young and hungry performers trying to make a name for themselves.
Gray also makes good use of the actual N.W.A. songs beyond simply live concerts. The director portrays just how much the music is intertwined with their surroundings. The songs are inserted organically into the movie, helping to drive the narrative forward and develop the characters.
Some material does gets glossed over, and there are abrupt shifts in tone, making things feel melodramatic at times. But “Straight Outta Compton” is an engrossing and important film that should be seen immediately. It tells a significant story about significant musicians, and it’s relevant, with the Black Lives Matter movement. I don’t think a movie needs to be relevant to be good, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
(Rated R for language throughout, strong sexuality/nudity, violence and drug use.)