Straight Outta Compton

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Let me take you back to the Oscars of 2016. This particular ceremony may as well be referred to as the "White Washed Academy Awards". That's not to say that diversity wasn't had at all, but looking back, it can be seen as kinda cringe-worthy. Especially considering the actors/actress category was no better the year before. But, focusing on the 2016 ceremony, one of the biggest all-around snubs of the year was easily 'Straight Outta Compton'. Sure, it got it's nomination for Best Original Screenplay, but many felt it lacked, at the very least, recognition for it's actors, and even direction from F. Gary Gray.

In case it's not obvious already, 'Straight Outta Compton' is essentially the story of the creation and breaking away of rap group N.W.A., consisting of Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy E (Jason Mitchell), Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr - aka, Ice Cube's real son), MC Ren (Aldis Hodge), and DJ Yella (Neil Brown Jr.) Every one of these guys brought their A-game to their performances, and none of them (namely the first three) were recognized for it from the Academy that year. It's the acting and their performances that really suck you into the movie more than anything, and the whole underlying race issue that the film portrays; the whole reason N.W.A. was formed, didn't do the academy any favors that year from protesting viewers. It got to the point where many considered the 2017 Oscars to almost be an apology, where the nominations spanned a much more diverse selection of actors and actresses.

Anyway, this is turning into an article about Oscar white washing, and I'm here to recommend this movie as viewing material. Putting it all aside, it's just plain and simply a good, strong biopic story about one of the most influential rap groups of all time. One might not fully appreciate what these guys did for the industry until they see the end credits of this movie, showing clips of real rappers and other celebrities giving them thanks and praise for paving their way. Among them, huge names like the fairly obvious Eminem, and the perhaps not as obvious Tupac Shakur (who, himself, is often considered an "all-time greatest").

Perhaps what's most interesting to me about this movie is that it sort of resurrects the "Hood Movie", which was a sort of sub-genre of the late 80s and early 90s depicting the struggles of living in these bad neighborhoods with black on black crime on top of crooked cops who just feel like arresting you for being black on a Friday night. It kinda rams it home that those weren't just movies, but those situations were very real, and it serves as a bit of a reminder that there are still some problems to overcome.

If nothing else, by the end of this, you'll have a whole new appreciation for these guys, and wanna blast some N.W.A. music afterward, or even do a bit of research on the group on your own 'cause it really is an interesting story all-around. It doesn't matter what colour you are, it doesn't matter if you like rap music or not, this movie remains one of the more inspiring movies of the last few years, proving that with a little skill and a lot of determination, you can get things done.

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