Straight Outta Compton

This was most definetely an above average musical bio-pic that focused on the rise and influence of the group N.W.A.  Much credit I give to director F. Gary Gray for his vision and seasoned professionalism in film and music videos (including Ice Cube's Friday).  He also manages to skillfully focus on the impoverished and violent conditions of the era in Los Angeles that were ripe for the outcry in protest from a group that symbolized that rage.  Most of the film stays on track, however it dissipates towards the end, I thought, a bit abruptly and perhaps unevenly in also chronicling the lives of MC Ren and DJ Yella, too. Much kudos is also given to the acting for being top notch. These elements all translate into a music bio-pic possessing heart, that gives real legitimacy and relevance to a group, especially rare in the genre of hip-hop.