Fresh off of its Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, Straight Outta Compton has landed on Blu-Ray and DVD. The story of N.W.A.’s rise to power is as relevant today as it is when the film takes place, the mid-to-late 80s and early 90s. The film clearly resonated with audiences as the music biopic banked over $200 million at the box office and sat at the top spot on the box office charts for an astounding three weeks.
F. Gary Gray directed this terrific film with a firm grasp of the material. It is clear that Straight Outta Compton is as much a passion project for the filmmaker as it was for all those involved. Casting was key and in Gray’s film, they hit a home run with Ice Cube’s real son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., portraying him, and Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, Neil Brown Jr. as DJ Yella, Aldis Hodge as MC Ren and an Oscar worthy performance by Jason Mitchell as the late Eazy-E. Even having Paul Giamatti as their notorious manager Jerry Heller is a stroke of genius.
The story is quite faithful to what actually happened during those successful and tumultuous years, except some things are omitted. After all, this is a history lesson told by the winners – Cube and Dr. Dre are co-producers on the film. But, the trail of success from disenfranchised youths living in Compton to international superstars who changed the musical landscape forever… well, that is pure gold – as we explore further in our theatrical Straight Outta Compton review.
The reason to bring Straight Outta Compton home on DVD and Blu-Ray goes well beyond the fantastic and profound film itself. The bonus features are pitch perfect in their tone, as well as awesome additions to the whole package that only enhances the Straight Outta Compton experience.
Becoming NWA is a priceless gem. Watching these guys come together, after only meeting for casting purposes, and truly become “the most dangerous band in the world” is nothing short of a lesson in casting meets a born-to-do-this director. Gray had the guys re-record the band’s titular album that made them superstars. If nothing else, the experience bonded the cast to each other to reflect the tightness of the group in those early days. Watching five actors morph into notorious and gifted rappers on a mission of social justice (and a good time) is mesmerizing. You want to know why Straight Outta Compton works so well and was so successful beyond hip hop circles? Check out this featurette and it’s easy to see why. It’s transformative.
One of the reasons The Movie Mensch appreciated the film was that it did a fantastic job of portraying the societal and cultural landscape of the time. NWA wasn’t born in a vacuum. Exploring that further, brilliantly, is NWA The Origins. How these guys came together and what the elements were in the broader context of the world is a fascinating study in fate meeting talent merging with a cultural explosion that could not be ignored. For fans of the band and newbies to the world of NWA, NWA: The Origins is as much of a must-watch as the biopic itself.
With so many of Hollywood’s movies finding other locales to double for the streets of LA (whether it’s Vancouver or Atlanta), kudos to the producers and filmmakers of Straight Outta Compton for filming this uniquely LA story on the thoroughfares of Los Angeles, specifically the city of the movie’s title. The Streets: Filming in Compton shines a light on the community that gave birth to the men whose reach and influence over hip hop and music is as seismically huge as any California earthquake. Shooting in the streets is no easy task, and the featurette also adds to our astonishment at the talent of director Gray. The way he orchestrates his shoots and makes the streets of Compton a layer in the storytelling process is amazing.
And if there wasn’t reason enough to be celebrating Gray’s accomplishments with the film itself, the bonus feature Director’s Journey further shines a light on the gifts of Straight Outta Compton’s helmer. After this inside look at him, he’s become one of the rare filmmakers where if his name is attached, his film becomes a must-see.
There are also some fascinating deleted scenes and a deleted song performance that fans of the band will want to put on repeat. Also worth a visit is the director’s commentary. Gray gives insight during the viewer’s witnessing of the film that is, well… straight outta brilliance.
Film: B+
Extras: A