Grade: B

Verdict: A milestone for Eminem (and, yes, he can act).

Details: Starring Eminem, Brittany Murphy, Kim Basinger and Mekhi Phifer. Directed by Curtis Hanson. Rated R for strong language, sexuality, some violence and drug use. 111 minutes.

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Review: There's no middle ground with Eminem. You either marvel at his enormous talent and uncanny knack for selling millions of albums while offending just about everyone on the planet, including gays, women and even his own mother. Or you simply dismiss — and detest — the incendiary lyrics and brash style that have made him one of the music industry's most dynamic performers.

Though it's obvious his Eminemence has conquered the hip-hop universe by channeling his anger into music, can he conquer the big screen, too? That's the challenge of "8 Mile," a coming-of-age urban drama about a streetwise rapper with big dreams of escaping his bleak Detroit existence by becoming a hip-hop star.

Sounds like "The Eminem Show" by way of "A Star Is Born," doesn't it?

Well, it should, since the film, artfully directed by Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential"), is loosely based on Eminem's real life.

But here's what you want to know: Can he act? Yes. Eminem is no Vanilla Ice.

He manages to command your attention every time he's on screen. Whether he's beating down his mom's (Kim Basinger) deadbeat boyfriend, tossing stinging rhymes or singing a quiet lullaby to his daughter, it's impossible to take your eyes off him.

He exudes both a wonderfully understated charm and boyish vulnerability that make his Jimmy Smith (street name B Rabbit) instantly likable.

Jimmy's the Rocky Balboa of rap. Just another white bum from the 'hood who wants to make good in an industry dominated by blacks while attempting to transcend the boundaries that have been placed on him.

That the cocky Eminem actually makes you believe that Jimmy struggles with confidence and rhyming skills is a major achievement.

And who knew Eminem had such big — and expressive — blue eyes?

But before we get too carried away, let's put it in perspective. Remember, he's not exactly doing Mamet and isn't stretching much by playing a version of himself.

As "8 Mile" opens, things aren't going well for Jimmy. He has a dead-end stamping factory job with a cranky boss who's always on his case. He broke up with his girlfriend (Taryn Manning). He lives with his hard-drinking mom and her freeloading boyfriend (Michael Shannon) in a ratty trailer park.

The only solace Jimmy finds is the time he spends with his daughter and his tightknit crew: best buddy Future (Mekhi Phifer), optimist Sol (Omar Benson Miller), activist DJ Iz (De'Angelo Wilson) and dim-bulb Cheddar Bob (Evan Jones).

When they're not shooting paint-ball guns as pranks or burning down abandoned houses where a little girl was raped, Jimmy's "Three One Third" posse spends most of the time in grungy hip-hop clubs. There, the city's best rappers battle — "dis" is more like it — on stage for 45 seconds with sharp put-down lyrics that are used like weapons.

"8 Mile" really comes alive during those battle scenes, which Hanson stages like championship prize fights in which the rappers snarl and stare each other down before competing.

It's obvious Jimmy has talent, but it takes a fellow dreamer and opportunist in Alex (Brittany Murphy) to help him realize his potential.

"8 Mile," though as predictable as Sunday following Saturday, is an uplifting, inspirational film that should leave you cheering, much like "Rocky" did 26 years ago. Scott Silver's heartfelt script is certainly a major improvement over his other stink bomb, "The Mod Squad."

Hanson and director of photography Rodrigo Prieto ("Original Sin") immediately underscore the grim setting of "8 Mile"' by shooting in mostly muted and dull colors that perfectly capture the Motor City's blighted urban areas. Storefront gun stores and seedy liquor shops never looked so grim. To add further authenticity, nearly two dozen Detroit natives and novice actors were hired for speaking parts.

Since "8 Mile" stars an unproven commodity in Eminem, Hanson was smart to hire veteran actors with bulletproof Hollywood credibility to lend support. As usual, Phifer smolders as Jimmy's biggest champion. (The dreadlocks add a nice touch.) An often haggard-looking Basinger, who worked with Hanson on "L.A. Confidential" and won an Oscar for her role, is effectively sympathetic as Jimmy's alcoholic mom.

And the pouty-mouthed Murphy ("Don't Say A Word"), who has an annoying habit of acting like she's the hottest thing going, does sizzle with her leading man — especially during a steamy sex scene in a factory.

"8 Mile" is one of those films that works hard to manipulate your emotions. Even though you know where it's going, you don't mind taking the journey — especially when someone as charismatic as Eminem is leading the way.

— Kevin D. Thompson, Cox News Service