August 28, by The Forgetful Film Critic. Straight Outta Compton dir. The filmmakers have to hone in very carefully on important episodes that will convey the essence of the people and times the film covers, to audiences that might not have context for any of it. By that standard, Straight Outta Compton is a frustrating disappointment. Stylish and gritty, Straight Outta Compton will surely become the definitive visual history of the musical revolution set off by artists Easy-E , Dr.
Director F. The problem with the film is that the winners, specifically Dr. Dre, got to write their own history. Dre was among the producers for the film, and his character is written as undeniably heroic. Unfortunately for him, we live in an era when the people stepped on by the winners can still have their say.
She describes seeing the film, and her reaction to realizing that the events of January 27th, were completely left out. On that night, Dre savagely beat Barnes in retaliation for a news item she worked on that Dre felt disrespected him. Especially when those subjects make their own biopics. The film mostly portrays N. Liberals and conservatives alike criticize Gangsta Rap for its misogyny and degradation of women.
Sure, some women rise above that distinction, but the men get to decide who they are in both their songs and now in their life story. By ignoring this complication to the narrative, which is exacerbated by the Dee Barnes incident, Straight Outta Compton rings hollower than it otherwise would. The explicit misogyny present in some of N. In fact, aside from a mother doling out tough love to Dre, a few girlfriends in the background, and the nameless babes baring their breasts at wild parties, women are virtually nonexistent in the movie.
Knight enjoys himself outside the recording studio while members of his crew terrorize a man with a vicious dog. Neither scene has the same impact when you know that Dre beat a woman so brutally that she still gets migraines to this day. Straight Outta Compton missed an opportunity to give the fictional Dre a satisfying character arc by including his violent past and having him grow and change over the course of the film.
