***
When I walked into the cinema, I really had no idea about N.W.A - I live Finland and really don't have a clue about hip hop culture. I had seen the trailer, and of all the given options it seemed the most interesting one to see - strong visuals that reminded of music videos, interesting themes, what's more to ask from?
It was powerful. It's overwhelming to take a look at the past, just to see that no significant progress has been made. I was on edge of tears for few times. Yeah, police brutality. We live in just that world, even though the movie is set in 1980-1990's. I loved the structure of the film, feeling like a river going on and on - even though the movie was long (2 h 27 min), I wasn't bored. Maybe it wouldn't have hurt making the movie a tad shorter, but the ongoing rhythm was at least for me really enjoyable. It made it feel realistic on the behalf of emotions - that's how life works, it keeps moving and there's nothing to do about it.
That said, the biggest problem to the movie was actually it being biographical. As a viewer, you had to keep that it mind to enjoy it. Among the producers there are some of the characters themselves - Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E's wife. They are not going to pay for a movie that would give them any bad light. Even though the characters in the movie make bad choices, they are the good guys. They are shown in a good light and there's no room for self reflecting or growth. They are the best, most likable versions of these young men that could be given.
The movie just forgot about the things it didn't want to include. For example, women. Women shown in the movie were groupies partying, and then there were glimpses of wives of the group. Even though their wives were shown with respect, they really didn't stand out for the plot. It felt like they were included as symbols of the growth of the characters - after banging the groupies they really learned to love a woman like a proper man! The whole picture is problematic. Here's a piece by Dee Barnes, who was beat up by Dr. Dre. I'm just going to quote her:
"That event isn’t depicted in Straight Outta Compton, but I don’t think it should have been, either. The truth is too ugly for a general audience. -- But what should have been addressed is that it occurred. When I was sitting there in the theater, and the movie’s timeline skipped by my attack without a glance, I was like, “Uhhh, what happened?” Like many of the women that knew and worked with N.W.A., I found myself a casualty of Straight Outta Compton’s revisionist history."On overall, I did enjoy the movie. Music and cinematography were really great, the gig scenes amazing and the flow good. Even though it's so understandable, it feels quite cheap that the women were so clearly cut out. Movie that addresses social problems leaves out the misogyny? Just stating that the cases could've made the movie even more powerful - and for a man to admit ones mistakes it's not the end of the world.
After all, the movie is "a great fusion of fantasy and reality" (Alonzo Williams) and should be taken as such. It states important things from our reality but leaves others out to show the heroes of the movie as heroes - and it truly is amazing to see a movie that doesn't star a white male lead in theaters for a change. I'm glad I saw this movie, but I'm glad I read further.
