Straight Outta Compton (2015), R, ★★★1/2

NWA are Straight Outta Compton.

I was not around and/or not familiar with the age of when N.W.A. came around in the mid-to-late 1980s-early 1990s and sparked a whole age of hip-hop music with such street poetry and sensitive topics in their lyrics to their songs. I have listened to a few of the songs, however, I am not a big hip-hop/rap fan but some of the songs had electricity and intensity to its lyric on how they feel in their society and in their lives. It sort of introduced a new genre and a new audience to the world but not without controversy. Also, this film is a highly entertaining biopic introducing the characters' rise of fame and fortune that brings a whole new genre into the world among a few riots within themselves and the nation. It is a riveting surprise.

We are to introduced to a young Easy-E, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube (Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins and O'Shea Jackson Jr.) as they all have different aspects of life they are dealing with. Easy-E was in the middle of a drug deal that goes bad as the LAPD raids the block and barely escapes. Dr. Dre has a DJ job but angers his mother because he missed a job interview. She wants for him to have a great future.  Ice Cube is writing different rhymes on the school bus as the kids taunt people in the car next to them and they get stopped by the Mafia.

Cube and Jinx (Cleavon McClendon) are making some beats and Cube comments that he was writing rhymes. Later at Doo-To's Club, Dre and DJ Yella (Neil Brown Jr.) are being happy and Lonzo hearing Cube's rapping, he hates it. But, MC Ren (Aldin Hodge) and E are at the club hearing it and loving it. Dre asks E to put his money on the music. Later, when there is trouble with the LAPD, Dre is in jail but E bails him out. But, they arrange to write Boyz N the Hood and NWA becomes the #1 song for six weeks.

NWA has hired manager Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti) and E tells the group he wants them wearing black because it's professional. Jerry has invited other record executives and only Bryan Turner from Priority Records (Tate Ellington) is attracted to them. The band records Straight Outta Compton in Torrance, California. During a break from the recording, they are harassed by the LAPD and that situation prompts Cube to write "F**k Tha Police". Then, the popularity gets them in their fame and then turns into some sort of fall amongst their band.

O'Shea Jackson Jr. as Ice Cube.

I will admit that the first two-thirds of the movie is great witnessing all the realism into crafting their lyrics and sanctify their words into the horrors of what they have witnessed or become victimized in an unfortunate event. We also are so involved in each of their personal stories as how the fame and fortune of music will do them as they need to take some risks and maybe play their own music. It is a great case when Detroit tells NWA to not play "F**k Tha Police" and Cube is not entitled to their rules and sings it anyway. NWA's arrest and decision provokes an ensuing riot and Cube says in a conference that the "art reflects their reality". They are singing the truth so we witness both flip sides of the coin from the rap side and the political side.

Nowadays, the music industry becomes predictable with their rhythms and lyrics because of the content regarding sex and drugs. Watching this movie made me realize how influential and poetic these artists as they pour their heart and soul onto their lyrics and express in their own pedigree as what they witnessed in their own lives. I mean we just hear lyrics regarding butts, getting high and getting drunk. It is a bit exhausting to listen. The question is: Is music today better than music back then? My opinion is negative but debate it amongst yourselves.

The performances are spot on with mostly some newcomers giving fantastic performances. O'Shea Jackson Jr., who is Ice Cube's son in reality, really captures his spirit with the way he reacts, the way he is speaking and the way he communicates with the other actors. Paul Giamatti again gives another good performance but sometimes the character gets a bit one-dimensional towards the third act.

F. Gary Gray, the director of The Negotiator, Friday (also starring Ice Cube) and Set It Off, gives some assured and confident direction regarding the history of NWA, the LA riots, the Rodney King decision and their fates. He is back in the game after a sour streak of movies but I think this is his best movie in his filmography because the movie celebrates the passion of music in a way Amadeus does. Even though the movie gets a bit fast-paced and the material dwindles, it is one of the best musical biopics in the genre. It is an appreciate movie in regards to the gangsta rap lifestyle and quite refreshing to have another good movie in August.

***1/2