Nick Walters Assignment 17

8 Mile is a movie about a kid in his 20s aspiring to become a famous rapper, along with 4 other friends. The main character, Jimmy Smith (who is played by Eminem) faces heartbreak, embarrassment, harm to him and his family, and violence between his rap group and the rival rap group, "The Free World". The movie covers the span of only a week of Jimmy's life, but it gives an accurate depiction of what life is like for many living in inner city Detroit during the late 1990s. It begins with Jimmy partaking in a rap battle at "the shelter", a common hangout spot for him and his friends. At this rap battle, Jimmy gets thoroughly humiliated and is forced off stage. The rest of the movie, we see him regain his confidence to rap and then he flames everyone in the rap battles at the end of the movie. I love how you can see the progression of Jimmy regaining his confidence, from being afraid to freestyle in front of about 15 people to winning multiple rap battles against the free world at the end. This movie also tugs at the heart with references to Jimmy dealing with a recent breakup, his mom dating one of his former classmates, and a new girlfriend hooking up with one of Jimmy's best friends. It also shows the concept of your closest friends always having your back. Overall, a great movie with some great lessons to be taken from it.