Screenscenes

“8 Mile” Starring Eminem, Kim Basinger
Directed by Curtis Hanson 2 Paws

Producer Brian Grazer should be punished. The crime:
capitalizing on otherwise intriguing stories and talented
performers, hiring hackneyed writers, and creating serviceable,
cowardly pictures. And winning awards for it.

In the past year, the man with the caffeinated coif has produced
Best Picture Oscar-winner “A Beautiful Mind,”
“Blue Crush” and now the hotly anticipated “8
Mile.” But don’t be fooled: this fine Grazer product,
like its predecessors, is merely formulaic film candy.

“8 Mile” stars post-modern punk Eminem as Rabbit,
one of many young talents trying to get out of Detroit. Rabbit is
essentially an edgier Rocky, spitting rhymes instead of, well,
spit. The score effectively portrays Rabbit’s writing
process, and Marshall and the gang bring their A-game to the
battles, adding much-needed wit to “8 Mile.”

Eminem’s commendable performance adds heart to his lyrical
prowess and flagrant stage persona, but he alone cannot rescue the
film from predictability.

Previous urban dramas, like “Boyz N the Hood” or
“Menace II Society,” proved that these could be
entertaining and artfully done, with a genuine social conscience.
“8 Mile” fails miserably here, with its lackluster
screenplay that relies heavily on stereotypes: the big-boy
comedian, the preachy son of Africa, the hapless half-wit, and the
rock-solid Christian complete with blingin’ crucifix.

Do not be fooled by the profanity, the artsy lens, or the
stellar pedigree. This is just another Brian Grazer production:
entertaining at best, pedestrian at worst.

-Paul Mendoza

“Far from Heaven” Starring Dennis Quaid,
Julianne Moore Directed by Todd Haynes 4 Paws

Todd Haynes’ new film, “Far from Heaven,” is a
beautifully multilayered throwback to the domestic dramas of
Douglas Sirk.

Basking in the prosperity of post-war America,
“Heaven” centers upon a household where people say
things like “aw shucks” and “oh jiminy,”
and where “geez” is considered a slight obscenity.
Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) is the picture-perfect housewife.
She’s a loving mother, a caring homemaker, and she looks
delightful as an ornament on the arm of her successful and handsome
husband Frank (Dennis Quaid).

Then, Cathy stumbles upon her husband with another man, and her
entire world begins to turn upside down as many of the tensions and
emotions repressed begin to surface. Through this, Haynes explores
racism and homophobia. One of these themes would be weighty enough,
but Haynes ambitiously and masterfully examines both.

The movie doesn’t propose answers to all of the questions
it raises, but that may be the point. Haynes confronts the issues
of sexuality and race intelligently through good, well-intentioned
characters who had previously existed in an oblivious bubble of
bliss. “Far From Heaven” is a poignant, and intelligent
film and is so far one of the best this year.

-Ryan Joe