Producers: Tomica Woods-Wright, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre | (The writers worked with Tomica Woods-Wright, who was Eazy E’s wife.)
Cast: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Paul Giamatti, Aldis Hodge, Neil Brown Jr.
In the mid-1980s, the streets of Compton, California, were some of the most dangerous in the country. When five young men translated their experiences growing up into brutally honest music that rebelled against abusive authority, they gave an explosive voice to a silenced generation. Following the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton tells the astonishing story of how these youngsters revolutionized music and pop culture.
In the mid-late 80s, ‘Gangsta’ Rap was not my thing. Thanks to my brother and the pirates, I’d been fine-tuned on Hip Hop, British Soul, Rare Grooves, Jazz Funk and American House and Garage. So I knew very little about NWA. But when I received the invite to see the film, ‘Straight Outta Compton’, I cancelled my plans, sent my apologies and was in there like a shot
‘Why?’ you might ask? Well, one of my favourite kinds of film, is a film with a music theme! Doesn’t matter the music genre, the person, the group, or the circumstance – I find them enlightening, and inspiring, and it was no different with this film.
Straight Outta Compton is NWAs story, from foundation to current day, with Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Arabian Prince, The D.O.C., DJ Yella and MC Ren. You see how they started, their first record, and manager Jerry Heller. You hear the tracks, and see the live shows, and portrayals of Suge Knight, Tupac, and Snopp Dogg.
O’SHEA JACKSON, JR. as Ice Cube in Straight Outta Compton. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
N.W.A.
PictureHouse Central Screening
PAUL GIAMATTI as N.W.A manager Jerry Heller in Straight Outta Compton. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
JASON MITCHELL as Eazy-E in Straight Outta Compton. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
PictureHouse Central Screening
(L to R) Eazy-E (JASON MITCHELL) raps while Ice Cube (O’SHEA JACKSON, JR.), Dr. Dre (COREY HAWKINS) and DJ Yella (NEIL BROWN, JR.) listen in Straight Outta Compton. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
(L to R) Eazy-E (JASON MITCHELL) speaks with N.W.A manager Jerry Heller (PAUL GIAMATTI) in Straight Outta Compton. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
PictureHouse Central Screening
(L to R) DJ Yella (NEIL BROWN, JR.), Eazy-E (JASON MITCHELL), Ice Cube (O’SHEA JACKSON, JR.), MC Ren (ALDIS HODGE) and Dr. Dre (COREY HAWKINS) are harassed by the police in Straight Outta Compton. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
(L to R, facing camera) JASON MITCHELL as Eazy-E, O’SHEA JACKSON, Jr. as Ice Cube, COREY HAWKINS as Dr. Dre and director/producer F. GARY GRAY on the set of Straight Outta Compton. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
PictureHouse Central Screening
O’SHEA JACKSON, JR. as Ice Cube in Straight Outta Compton. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR UNIVERSAL PICTURES Dizzee Rascal and Ice Cube pose for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film ‘Straight Outta Compton’ in London, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision for Universal Pictures/AP Images)
PictureHouse Central Screening
I believed that I didn’t know NWA tracks at the start of the film, that I hadn’t really heard that many NWA tracks, I mean, I was an original hip hop girl. I moved, I changed, but original it was all about hip hop from the early 80s, but NWA? I’d missed that ship! I was wrong! I knew so many of the tracks, and it was a boon to hear them and make the connections.
There is not a dull moment in this film. Excellent acting, laughter, lyrics and tears! Yes, the film even had me crying – next level bawling…if I’m going to cry in the cinema, I like to keep it silent, no sound, just tears, but with this film, a sound escaped… that level of bawling! I left the cinema on a high! I felt blessed. I know I’m totally biased about music films, but this I enjoyed, I just enjoyed it right down to my toes. By that I mean, I loved every bit of it! I couldn’t recommend it high enough. This is worth seeing, a film you could watch again and again.
But remember, this is a film BASED on their story, it’s NOT a documentary. I’ll leave the required pinch of salt below. 😉 #YaHearMe
The programme for the BFI London Film Festival is now available. I had a pow-wow with film critic EC Forde, and between us, we’ve come up with a list of the Afrocentric films you can see at this years London film Festival.
8-19 October 2014.
248 films. 17 venues. 12 days. One festival.
The festival opens on October 8th with The Imitation Game, a film on the life of British mathematician and cryptanalyst, Alan Turing. It closes on Sunday, 19th with Fury, about a World War Two American tank crew who find themselves behind enemy lines.
Of the films listed below EC’s personal highlights would be, in no particular order:
We’ve almost certainly missed a few titles so definitely explore the festival site for yourself: http://www.bfi.org.uk/lff.
Check out our Schedule of when the films are, and download the PDF Schedule.
Tickets go on sale from Thursday 18 September.
(Priority booking opens at 10am for Cinema Members on 11 September and for Champion Members on 10 September.)
The programme for the BFI London Film Festival is now available. I had a pow-wow with film critic EC Forde, and between us, we’ve come up with this list of the Afrocentric films you can see at this years London film Festival.
8-19 October 2014. 248 films. 17 venues. 12 days. One festival.
Download our Schedule of these films over the festival.
Afrocentric Films
African Metropolis
African Metropolis An exciting journey across six African countries in six short films, highlighting the issues facing peoples seemingly worlds apart, yet with so much in common.
Oct 18, 2014 1:00 PM ~ Rich Mix Cinema, Screen 1
Oct 19, 2014 6:15 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT2
August Winds
August Winds
A sensual teen romance unfurls in a remote Brazilian village threatened by global warming in this haunting feature debut.
Oct 11, 2014 1:00 PM ~ Rich Mix Cinema, Screen 1
Oct 15, 2014 3:30 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT2
Beti and Amare
Beti and Amare
In 1930s Ethiopia, a young woman escapes Mussolini’s army and is almost attacked by bandits, were it not for the arrival of an otherworldly presence whom she befriends.
Oct 18, 2014 3:30 PM ~ ICA Cinema, Screen 1
Oct 19, 2014 6:15 PM ~ Ritzy Cinema, Screen 2
Dear White People
Dear White People
Channeling the early work of Spike Lee, this smart college campus comedy explores contemporary race issues in post-Obama America.
Difret
A young Ethiopian woman faces the death penalty for killing the man who raped her until a brave lawyer decides to take on her case.
Oct 18, 2014 2:45 PM ~ Vue West End Cinema, Screen 5
Oct 19, 2014 3:45 PM ~ Rich Mix Cinema, Screen 1
Fishing Without Nets
Fishing Without Nets
Tense, muscular filmmaking that tells the gripping story of a young Somali fisherman reluctantly caught up in piracy.
Oct 14, 2014 9:00 PM ~ Cine Lumiere Cinema
Oct 19, 2014 1:00 PM ~ Ritzy Cinema, Screen 2
Girlhood
Girlhood
Céline Sciamma’s triumphant third film is a beautifully observed examination of a young girl’s search for identity in the underprivileged suburbs of Paris.
Oct 16, 2014 9:00 PM ~ Odeon West End, Screen 2
Oct 17, 2014 2:45 PM ~ Vue West End Cinema, Screen 5
Oct 18, 2014 8:45 PM ~ Cine Lumiere Cinema
Hard To Get
Hard to Get
A compact, highly enjoyable and kinetic action thriller unfurls at breakneck speed in downtown Johannesburg.
Oct 15, 2014 6:15 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT2
Oct 17, 2014 6:30 PM ~ Ritzy Cinema, Screen 2
Honeytrap
Honeytrap
A Brixton-set drama about 15-year-old girl whose desperate need for acceptance leads her to take part in a tragic act of violence.
Oct 17, 2014 8:45 PM ~ Ritzy Cinema, Screen 2
Oct 18, 2014 3:15 PM ~ Vue West End Cinema, Screen 7
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams
Filmed over five years, Steve James’s classic documentary epic charts the fortunes of two boys hoping to make it as basketball stars.
Oct 17, 2014 8:00 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT2
Horse Money
Horse Money
Pedro Costa follows his Colossal Youth with a further showcase for Cape Verdean worker hero, Ventura – a haunting, poetic exploration of the night and Portuguese history.
Oct 16, 2014 3:30 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT2
Oct 18, 2014 6:15 PM ~ Cine Lumiere Cinema
I, Afrikaner
I, Afrikaner
A fascinating account of the life of a family of Afrikaaners who are attempting to cope with the dramatic changes that have taken place in their country over the last 20 years.
Oct 12, 2014 9:00 PM ~ Ritzy Cinema, Screen 2
Oct 14, 2014 3:30 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT2
Keep On Keepin’ On
Keep On Keepin’ On
Music bridges the generation gap in this poignant documentary about the friendship between two jazz musicians.
Oct 8, 2014 8:45 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT1
Oct 9, 2014 3:30 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT2
Oct 10, 2014 6:30 PM ~ Rich Mix Cinema, Screen 1
My Friend Victoria
My Friend Victoria
Adapted from Doris Lessing, Jean-Paul Civeyrac’s haunting drama explores race, class and identity in the story of two young, black Parisian women and their different destinies.
National Diploma
An account of life for young students in the Democratic Republic of Congo who face challenges beyond the curriculum.
Oct 11, 2014 8:30 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT2
Oct 15, 2014 1:00 PM ~ ICA Cinema, Screen 1
Second Coming
Second Coming
A family is shaken by an unexplained pregnancy in Debbie Tucker Green’s bold debut.
Oct 17, 2014 9:15 PM ~ Odeon West End, Screen 1
Oct 18, 2014 6:30 PM ~ Rich Mix Cinema, Screen 1
Oct 19, 2014 3:30 PM ~ Ritzy Cinema, Screen 2
Song From The Forest
Song From the Forest
An American musicologist’s life among the Bayaka pygmies is portrayed in this haunting documentary.
Oct 12, 2014 6:00 PM ~ BFI Southbank, NFT3
Oct 17, 2014 3:30 PM ~ ICA Cinema, Screen 1
Sunday Ball
Sunday Ball Campo de jogo The land of football, Brazil, and the love of this national sport is the subject of this passionate documentary, looking at the role it plays in the lives of ordinary Brazilians.
Timbuktu
In Abderrahmane Sissako’s stunning new film, residents of a Mali town struggle to cope with the imposition of Sharia Law by radical Islamist invaders.
We Come as Friends
South Sudan is the focus of acclaimed filmmaker Hubert Sauper, as he uncovers the avarice in the fight over the country’s rich natural resources
Veteran actor David Gulpili both co-wrote and stars in this powerful indictment of Australia’s treatment of Aborigines that is also a heartfelt character study.
Like a time capsule straight outta 1985, Hip Hop has arrived and 13-year old Rad Miracle is about to have the summer holiday that will change everything!
Oct 15, 2014 6:15 PM ~ Hackney Picturehouse, Screen 1
A tense British political drama about a secret nuclear protocol from the 50s that’s put through its paces in the back rooms of Parliament to test real-world scenarios.
Oct 13, 2014 6:00 PM ~ Vue West End Cinema, Screen 5
Tickets go on sale from Thursday 18 September.
(Priority booking opens at 10am for Cinema Members on 11 September and for Champion Members on 10 September.)
A willingness to champion a diverse programme is essential in London. Props to Sadler’s, V&A, NT, BFI and some local theatres (Albany, Stratford, Royal Court, Tricycle, Richmond)… Keep up the good work… and do more! 🙂
There’s a long list of arts organisations not mentioned – what are they doing? Let me stand corrected!
Years ago the Royal Opera House held some full on events and they were suprised at the attendance numbers! More support, without fear, needed. #getonit
Breakin’ Convention has been producing THE critically acclaimed International Festival of Hip Hop Dance Theatre since 2004 at Sadler’s Wells, featuring the very best, most influential artists from around the corner and around the world!
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