If it wasn't getting rave reviews, or if it wasn't taking the box office by storm, I admit I never would have seen this movie. That would have been a mistake. It is, in my view, the best movie of the summer by far, and a very good movie indeed. It doesn't matter that you may have no taste for Gangsta Rap. Neither do I. But if you love music and music history, you can't dismiss this well told story of the origins of Gangsta Rap in the late 80's, which basically changed the face of all pop music that followed in a major way. The story centers on the beginning of NWA and includes a host of characters you all know and recognize including Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Easy E and others, with the addition of other minor characters such as Snoop Dog and Jimmy Iovine as the story progresses chronologically. It beautifully weaves the music with the social climate of the time (i.e. Rodney King and the LA riots). A testament to the caliber of the movie is that it held my attention for 2.5 hours and I didn't look at my watch once. Paul Giamatti as their original manager Jerry Heller is superb. Let me be very clear. This is not a move about Gangsta Rap for Gangsta rap audiences. Main stream audiences have responded just as enthusiastically. Don't miss it.
