Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Straight Outta Compton Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 10, 2016

Straight Outta Compton, Director F. Gary Gray's (Law Abiding Citizen) fantastic film about the rise of hardcore Hip-Hop and Gangsta Rap in the late 1980s, is not about music. Music plays central to the film to be sure -- from its soundtrack to the group's rise to stardom and beyond -- but the music is only the driving force behind a much more deeply rooted human interest story, the world in which the characters experienced life and from which they drew the inspiration for their music. As Ice Cube says in the film, "our art is a reflection of our reality." That's the center, the lifeblood, the beat of the film. Their music is sometimes a metaphorical representation of life, sometimes a vulgar and literal reflection of it, but it's all created from the passions and experiences of the journey. Certainly the commercial aspect of the music plays heavily into the film, too, but the success all returns to the roots, to a life of abuse at the hands of police, clashes on the street, and a mistrust of the social structure, all of which yielded a poetry of edgy lyrics and infectious beats, much of which was first scribbled down in a notebook before becoming the anthems of a generation of people and the soundtrack of an era.

"F*** the police."

Compton, 1986. Several would-be stars -- including Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), and Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins) -- come together to collaborate on their first single which takes off and gives rise to one of the most powerful Hip-Hop groups of all time: N.W.A. Their talent catches the attention of a manager named Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti) who is particularly infatuated with E's talents. They eventually sign with Priority Records and begin work on their first studio album, Straight Outta Compton, an album which would include the single F*** the Police, penned by Cube following the group's run-in with overstepping and abusive police, right outside the recording studio. N.W.A. finds quick success, but with that success comes a growing strain and shady business dealings that will fracture it as quickly as it rose to the top.

Straight Outta Compton never forces its narrative. The film evolves organically and believably. Never does it feel like a mere recreation of history. Instead, it comes across as a loving, though certainly raw and thematically gritty, portrait of the artists who changed the world by reflecting honestly on their life and the externalities that shaped it. While their story isn't unique at its most fundamental level -- it's the classic story of a rise from nothing to something, of making the most of talent, of making the best of a difficult life -- it is rather unique for its ability to stay true to the essence of the artists, to find the same level of poetic sophistication, groundbreaking novelty, and honest crudeness that made their music a success. Gray's direction stays the course, too, finding a thoughtful middle that doesn't glamorize or rebuke. The story evolves linearly and offers more a finely honed reflection than a messy, scattered, and overindulgent construction. Gray allows the music and the characters to speak, to push the story, to see it through its high and lows, which are sometimes overlapping or even one and the same, if one reflects on them in a certain way (consider what influenced Cube to pen F*** the Police and the resonance the song engendered afterwards). This is the music biopic done right. It's hard because has to be, and that edge gives it a legitimacy and an enthralling rhythm that helps shape a narrative that sparked not only a movement but gave rise to a generations of performers, highlighted the importance of lyrical honesty, and gave credence to an art form that's more than the sum of its admittedly crude externalities.

But what makes Straight Outta Compton truly great is its cast. All of the primaries dazzle in their roles, and each of them are far greater than the mere physical embodiments of the men they portray, which is itself awe-inspiring. The ability to fine-tune the essence of each individual and create not only a reproduction of a revered figure but breathe a life and mold a soul makes the movie a standout and its story all the more impactful. Tops amongst them is O'Shea Jackson, Jr., son of the real Ice Cube. Dressed and done up in his father's late-1980s threads, he truly passes for him externally. But he nails the mannerisms and character cadence, finding a depth beyond his years and an understanding that's not surprising given his intimacy with the real individual but a revelation nonetheless that propels the movie more than any of his supporting cast. Yet they're no slouches, either. Jason Mitchell and Corey Hawkins as Eazy-E and Dre, respectively, are terrific, as is Paul Giamatti as the group's manager.

Straight Outta Compton Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Straight Outta Compton arrives on Blu-ray with a fundamentally solid 1080p transfer. Image clarity is consistently strong. Faces reveal intimate little details. Clothing -- particularly ball caps with raised lettering -- shows the finest details of its heavy texturing. Urban concrete and home façade elements are intricately weathered and worn. Little equipment details on stage and in the recording studio come effortlessly defined. The color palette is attractively lifelike. Darker shades dominate, particularly on clothes, but splashes of color, such as swimsuits at a pool party, lights up on the stage, and record album jackets, enjoy natural and effortless presentation. Nighttime and low-light concert black levels are deep and pure, and they're accentuated by flashing blue and red police sirens and stage lights. Skin tones appear natural. The image, sourced from digital photography, offers no serious debilitating artifacts beyond the occasional trace of light noise or insignificant background banding.

Straight Outta Compton Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Straight Outta Compton's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack impresses across the board. Music is the obvious highlight. Score is well defined and boasts crisply detailed notes. Spacing is naturally wide across the front, surrounds are gently enveloping, and bass is deep and supportive. But it's the artists' beats that dominate the experience and prove most impressively authentic. Bass is potent yet balanced. Lyrics are crisp but raw and honest. The music richly saturates the listening area, resulting in a full-on immersive experience that, in the studio or overlaid atop the movie, is cleanly detailed and vigorous, while concert segments are marked with surrounding crowd noise that helps shape the moment but never lifts over the easily dominant music. Environmental details are terrific. Club beats feel a little more open and diffuse but naturally so. Sirens, buzzing overhead helicopters, and barking dogs dot the stage to help better define exterior environments. Party segments are a little more raw but no less immersive in the mixture of music, chatter, and varied other sounds. Dialogue delivery is clean and detailed with positive center focus, perfect articulation, and no problems with prioritization. This is everything a track supporting a movie if this nature should be; fans will be delighted and audiophiles will be left smiling, too.

Straight Outta Compton Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Straight Outta Compton contains a commentary track, deleted scenes, and several short featurettes. The disc includes two cuts of the film: an extended cut (2:46:44 runtime) and the theatrical cut (2:26:44). A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are included with purchase.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Into the Recording Studio (0:16), Funeral (0:21), Pasadena City Jail (0:26), Nicole Visits Dre (2:38), Reunited (1:23), and Dre Gets a Call (0:36).
• Deleted Song Performance (1080p, 1:28): A cut performance of Compton's N the House from an N.W.A. concert.
• N.W.A. The Origins (1080p, 3:49): Real N.W.A. members, and cast and crew, reflect on the group and its early works, and briefly discuss making the film.
• Impact (1080p, 1:35): The real members of N.W.A and cast and crew reflect on the group's work and cultural impact.
• Director's Journey (1080p, 3:22): This piece focuses on making the riots sequence and the real history behind it.
• The Streets: Filming in Compton (1080p, 6:03): A look at making and working in a key set piece featured early in the film and vehicles portrayed in the Crenshaw sequence.
• N.W.A Performs in Detroit (1080p, 4:54): Real N.W.A. members open the piece with a discussion of F*** the Police and the piece continues to look at the making of the Detroit concert sequence.
• Becoming N.W.A. (1080p, 8:30): A look at casting authentic actors and the qualities they brought to the film's key roles.
• Audio Commentary: Director/Producer F. Gary Gray delivers a deeply insightful and endlessly engaging track. He discusses history (his own and that featured in the film), technical details of the shoot, cast and performances, themes, music, and much more. A must-listen track.

Straight Outta Compton Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Straight Outta Compton is a terrific film that should be carefully considered for Oscar contention for many of the key awards, including Best Picture (though not everyone agrees). But considering the movie on its technical merits and the striking impact of its narrative excellence, it'll be a shame if it's not recognized with several nominations, if not wins. The movie should enjoy a broad appeal beyond fans and the Hip-Hop community, too. It's a terrific portrait of life, friends, the business world, and the cultural impact of music. The film tells a raw and honest human interest story about a rise to success through creative genius. The inevitable downfalls and controversies follow, but that's real life, too. The movie is every bit a captivating watch and one of 2015's best. Universal's Blu-ray release of Straight Outta Compton delivers excellent video and audio. Supplements are not completely thorough but they're well done and informative. Straight Outta Compton comes very highly recommended.