Cube Critic: 'Straight Outta Compton'
by Euan Kerr
August 14, 2015
Cube Critic Euan Kerr stops by The Current's Morning Show to talk to Jill Riley and Sean McPherson about a new film that tells the story of the formation of the hip hop collective, N.W.A. The film stars Aldis Hodge as MC Ren, Neil Brown, Jr. as DJ Yella, Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E, O'Shea Jackson, Jr. (Ice Cube's son) as Ice Cube, and Paul Giamatti as music manager Jerry Heller. The film is directed by F. Gary Gray.
"Just like N.W.A., it is loud, it is angry and it is profane," Euan says. "It just smacks you across the face and then goes for two hours. It's really pretty intense."
Euan admits he didn't know a lot about N.W.A. going into the film. "I certainly learned a lot about the things that went into the formation of N.W.A., why they did what they did. It's riveting watching this."
As a music-related biopic, the film details what happens with a young band on the rise in terms of dodgy contracts, big money and other conflicts that arise.
"Part of the challenge of this film is that there was so much that went on," Euan says. "They do try to actually shoehorn a lot in. The film is actually two and a quarter hours long, and it did feel a little long."
Euan notes that the film tells the story about two of its executive producers, and that some of the edges may have been smoothed. That said, the film tells a powerful story and raises important questions.
"This is going to interest a lot of people, it's quite entertaining," Euan says. "There are echoes of our time now, concerns about community relations with police, the way we treat each other, and, frankly, a criticism of the way the media focused in on certain things and weren't' that concerned about digging in too deep."
Listen to Euan's complete review and hear his discussion with Jill and Sean by clicking the audio player above.
Straight Outta Compton is rated R and is playing at theaters everywhere.
MPR's Cube Critics, Stephanie Curtis and Euan Kerr, join The Current's Morning Show to talk about films every Friday at 8:30 a.m.