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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
A service to our youth through you,
their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word


MAR22118
8 Mile (2002), R
Analysis Date: November 8, 2002
CAP Score: 20
CAP Influence Density: 9.59

MinMax: -100

8 Mile (2002) CAP Mini-thermometers




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NOTE: If you do not want the plot, ending, or "secrets" of a movie spoiled for you, skip the Summary/Commentary. In any case, be sure to visit the Findings/Scoring section -- it is completely objective to His Word and is the heart of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model applied to this movie.






SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:


If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary likely using a mix of KJV and NIV.


8 MILE (R) -- No less than 368 uses of some form of foul, vulgar language...

Production: Imagine Entertainment
Distribution: Universal Pictures, Universal Studios Inc
Director(s): Curtis Hanson
Producer(s): Carol Fenelon, Gregory Goodman, Brian Grazer, Curtis Hanson, Jimmy Iovine, Paul Rosenberg, James Whitaker
Written by/Screenplay: Scott Silver
Cinematography/Camera: Rodrigo Prieto
Music: Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nas, Rakim, Kid Rock, Xzibit
Film Editing: Craig Kitson, Jay Rabinowitz
Casting: Mali Finn
Production Design: Zane Weiner
Art Direction: Kevin Kavanaugh


No less than 368 uses of some form of foul, vulgar language in 105 minutes. Two-hundred and twenty were the most foul of the foul words. [Col. 3:8] Multiple instances of graphic intercourse [Gen. 34:7]. All for the eight year old boy in the audience -- with what looked to be his 18 or 19 year old brother. And for the ten year old in the audience. And the 12 year old. And the 13 and 14 year olds. And the....... [Luke 17:2]

Rabbit, a.k.a. Jimmy Smith, Jr. (Eminem) is not happy with his life. Once happy with his life, happy enough to get his girlfriend, Alex (Brittany Murphy) pregnant (which was brushed under the sinematic rug), Jimmy broke up with her and did the right thing by giving her his car. Now he's broke and has no place to live. So, he goes back home to mom, Stephanie (Kim Basinger) in her trailer with her live-in paramour who hates Jimmy. The only bright spot in Rabbit's life now is his little sister, Lily (IMDb gave no name for Lily). I wonder how long, in a real life, a little girl about eight years old would be a bright spot for anyone after such a lifestyle of wanton immorality, hate and violence with which she was living. Our Father warns us to not despise (regard as negligible) any of His little ones for each has an angel which beholds the face of the Father. [Matt. 18:10], Yes, He is watching. And denial of it because you don't like it will not make Him go away.

Jimmy is a rap artist. And he is white in a predominantly black area of art. Competition is severe but he is going to make it one way or another. With rap being born on the streets, Rabbit's life as a street urchin should serve him well. And a street urchin he was. All his life in the big city where the only grass was smoked. Yes, there is illegal drug possession and consumption and drug intoxication in this movie. His life has been spent on the poor side of 8 Mile, a boundary between rich and poor demography.

Jimmy's first attempt to audition for glory as a rap artist happens at the Shelter which appears to be an abandoned building sparsely renovated to permit stage shows. He fails miserably to outperform his opponent and freezes then "rabbits" offstage. It seems that this genre of rap is who can come up with the most vulgar and bitter insults of the opponent.

Setting his sights on winning the next battle, Jimmy bides his time and works as a stamping press operator. Trying to save up enough money to move out of his mother's trailer, Jimmy seeks extra shifts. But on one night during a second shift, his second chance to show his skills as a rap artist comes up at the Shelter.

The story is a good story well performed and is a moving and revealing tour in the life of one who is dissatisfied with his life trying to make it better. Genuineness, courage and sincerity were well portrayed as possible even in the bitter, back-stabbing world of the inner city life.

But the story is saturated with vulgarity, obscenity and filth. Maybe this movie accurately expresses inner city life but that inner city life is the way it is doesn't excuse emboldening, encouraging and perpetuating vulgarity, obscenity and filth in inner city life by presenting them in and as entertainment. Maybe this movie combined with thousands of others like it is one of the reasons inner city life is the way it is and one of the reasons such a lifestyle is propagated. Camaraderie in dissonance takes its toll on the observer. The "that's *my* story" planting of sympathetic behavioral templates is powerful, especially for the impressionable and the already embittered. Many health professionals and scientists agree with me and I with God [1 Cor.15:33] that *any* behavioral expression can be shaped by observation of behavior in entertainment, good or bad, whether acted upon or not, whether the behavioral influence manifests the same as the observed behavior or not. Maybe we should be trying use entertainment to move life away from bitterness, nihilism and hate. A very nice thought, but I don't believe modern filmmakers and screenwriters are good enough.

In addition to the 368 uses of some form of vulgar and profane language [Titus 2:6-8, Prov. 8:13, Prov. 22:11] were five separate graphic displays of intercourse. Sexual vulgarities seemed to dominate the rap songs as much as tales of killing, mutilation and suicide. Sexual immorality, both spoken and performed, homosexual insults and talk of immoral sex was rampant. [Mark 7:21] Drunkenness and drug intoxication were not often but were present [Gal. 5:19 - 21]. Foul quarreling with vulgar words and physical abuse were performed before a young child [Matt. 18:10.]. Let the listing in the Findings/Scoring section tell you all that was noted.


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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page.

  • Col. 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
  • Gen. 34:7 Now Jacob's sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter -a thing that should not be done.
  • Titus 2:6-8 Similarly, encourage the young men [and women] to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
  • Prov. 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
  • Prov. 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
  • Mark 7:21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ...
  • Gal. 5:19 - 21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this [unforgiven] will not inherit the kingdom of God.
  • Matt. 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

    *******Food for Daily Thought*******
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it]. [I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.
  • Jude 4 For certain men* whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change [warp, distort, falsely represent] the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto [or for] one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto [or for] me.
  • Luke 17:2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. [cause by teaching or example]
  • Ps. 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.


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    As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.
  • FINDINGS / SCORING:


    8 Mile (2002) CAP Thermometers



    Wanton Violence/Crime (W):
  • rap songs of killing, mutilation, suicide (with vulgar language) repeatedly
  • foul quarreling before a little girl
  • vandalism with paintballs, including a police car
  • firearm threat, once to the face
  • fighting, repeatedly
  • arson
  • gunfire injury
  • assault
  • beating, repeatedly, once before a small child

    Impudence/Hate (I)(1):
  • 162 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • 220 uses of the most foul of the foul words
  • facial piercing
  • hate rap
  • vulgar gestures
  • many foul words before a child
  • homosexual insults, repeatedly
  • vulgarities before a child
  • lying, repeatedly
  • son walking in on mom having intercourse with a live-in paramour in the living room of her trailer then she acting as though he invaded their privacy, trying to shift the wrongness of the situation on the son (the little girl was in the next room awake)

    Sex/Homosexuality (S):
  • vulgar suggestions
  • pregnancy out of wedlock
  • graphic intercourse with full nudity
  • suggestive eye movement
  • sex talk/comments/innuendo, some very vulgar
  • vulgar rap song words, repeatedly
  • dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure
  • gamming
  • vulgar dance moves
  • pornographic talk
  • cohabitation, implied and observed
  • vulgar sex talk to son
  • gaping face, licking kissing
  • stripping for sex
  • inappropriate touching
  • intercourse, graphic
  • additional intercourse, graphic
  • rear male nudity
  • vulgar self-touching, repeatedly

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • smoking, repeatedly
  • drunkenness, repeatedly
  • illegal drug consumption, repeatedly
  • drinking, repeatedly
  • booze, repeatedly
  • drug intoxication, repeatedly

    Offense to God (O)(2):
  • six uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive and five without
  • in essence, "I'll be a Christian on Sunday."

    Murder/Suicide (M)(3):
  • none noted



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    NOTE: The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse or for manufacturing of justification for aberrant behavior or imagery, or for camouflaging such ignominy with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example from the sinful display or the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. This is NOT a movie review service. It is a movie analysis service to parents and grandparents to tell them the truth about movies using the Truth.


    "There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our nearly seven years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings.





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    (1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impudence/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

    (2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name in vain is incorporated into the Impudence/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the four letter expletive is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication.

    (3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Portrayal of attempts to commit murder or suicide and deaths by police action or war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.





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