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Tyler Hirsch
Mr. Newman
English 101: Rhetoric
22 October 2014
...Meanwhile, In Detroit
Curtis Hanson is known for his suspenseful movies such as, The Hand that Rocks the
Cradle, and 8 Mile defies his typical movie. Although suspense is present, the influential and
indomitable will possessed by Jimmy Smith Jr., a.k.a. Eminem takes over 8 Mile and does
nothing less than impress fans and critics alike (Morgenstern). Starting from humble beginnings
in a trailer park, Smith starts from the bottom to follow his dream of becoming a successful rap
artist. Through daily challenges with his alcoholic mother and little sister, Eminem is doomed
from the start of his life but his, not so intelligent, friends guide him through some struggles until
he ultimately satisfies his rapping urges during his lunch breaks and at the rap battle central
shelter, which is also where the climax takes place, which displays the conflict of a white boy in
a black world.. The film possesses many different aspects of 8 Mile and Eminems everyday life
to display the real life struggles Eminem faced as a child. Denby and Morgenstern both
describe the autobiographical tendencies of the film while using different types of information to
describe it while focusing on different aspects of the film in their summaries.
Both Morgenstern and Denby find the film to be inspiring to young adults and the
common man alike, they tend to veer in different directions through their summaries in their
reviews. Morgenstern tends to focus more on aspects of Eminem, stating that the movie stands as
a type of biography to an already gaining momentum Eminem. He uses the cast of the movie

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to describe multiple instances in the real life Eminem. Morgenstern digresses through his
summary with comparisons between character in the film and real-life people in Eminems life.
Denby takes a turn with his summary. Still focussing on main familiar points, draws attention to
the most important aspects in Smiths life. He touches on the suffering-- recessive champ
who cares more about his family than anything else. Denby also hits on the training and
conditioning Jimmy puts himself through to attain the skills he needs to blossom as a rapper.
Most importantly, Denby focuses more on the behind the scenes aspects that correlate to the real
life Eminem as Morgenstern tends to focus more on the climactic biographical points.
Morgenstern describes the movie to convey the essence of Eminems early development
through the overcomings Jimmy Smith has towards the end of the film. The summary in the
Morgenstern article hits on these points more loosely to establish a stricter, more climactic
summary of the movie. As the reviews both entail great detail in their summaries, the outside
information they use to describe the film varies.
Denby turns the focus of his review to the director, Curtis Hanson. He says that his
thought on the director after just seeing the trailer was, confusing to say the least. Hanson
strays away from his usual suspenseful thriller, such as L.A. Confidential, and takes on a whole
new world with Eminem and 8 Mile. Denby says that this transition does not affect the quality of
the movie, but actually makes it stand out and more methodical. The only comment
Morgenstern makes about Hanson is that his reliability throughout every type of his films never
diminishes. Morgenstern uses more information on Eminem and the supporting characters in the
film saying that the people around him [Eminem] are impressive as well. He dedicates an
entire paragraph to information and opinion on supporting characters; proving difference
between the two reviews. Morgenstern also sets aside space in his review to give an in-depth

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look at Eminem and the characteristics his character portrays in the film, which is also tied to the
noticeable similarities between Jimmy Smith Jr. and real life Eminem. Outside information in
this review varies from jolts into Eminems albums and soundtracks while also touching on
Eminems fans and Hansons other films. Denby tends to focus on the white kid in a black
world aspect throughout his review while using his own pathos to drive the film into someones
mind as spiritual and appreciative. Both reviews outstandingly address all aspects of the film
while allocating different tendencies and using different information to describe the film as
biographical.
Jimmy Smith Jr. is the protagonist in 8 Mile and Morgenstern and Denby touch base on
him fully throughout their reviews of the film. Denby uses a more movie based approach to
reviewing the film while Morgenstern uses comparable insights such as musical albums and
other films throughout his. Both reviews agree that the film is out of the ordinary but nothing less
than extraordinary. They also agree on the biographical aspect of the film and a white kid in a
black world stance the movie takes on the rapping game in Detroit, 1995. Both Morgenstern
and Denby take chances with different types of outside information used to describe the film,
they both illustrate a bright picture for all readers.

Works Cited
Denby, David. Breaking through. New Yorker [New York] 11 Nov. 2002: n. pag. Print.

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Morgenstern, Joe. 8 Mile Transforms Rapper Struggle into Rousing Success. Wall
Street Journal [New York] 8 Nov. 2002: n. pag. Print.