Director Gary Gray explores origins of ‘Straight Outta Compton’
Fans of a fact-based hip-hop movie that became a critical and commercial smash will have more to see and hear on “Straight Outta Compton: Unrated Director’s Cut,” which arrives Tuesday in a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital DVD version.
O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., Aldis Hodge, Marlon Yates Jr., R. Marcos Taylor, Carra Patterson, Alexandra Shipp, Keith Powers and Paul Giamatti star in this origin-story drama. Directed by F. Gary Gray (“Friday”), the bio-drama details how five rap artists put their street experiences into rap music, formed N.W.A. in South Central Los Angeles, California, and generated a music revolution.
The 147-minute film delivers a balanced picture of how Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren formed N.W.A. in 1988, a time of racial profiling, rioting, police brutality and gang violence.
In the Dec. 9 issue of the Hollywood Reporter’s Awardsline magazine series, the 46-year-old Gray talks about his affection for the material and his hunger to bring the history of rap to the screen.
“‘Straight Outta Compton’ is the story that’s been brewing in me since I was a boy, and the movie that I was born to make,” Gray says in the trade publication. “When I look at the faces of the actors in the film, I see the kids from my streets 30 years ago.
“From my first short (film) to this film, I feel like I’ve come full circle and am honored to tell our truth.”
“Straight Outta Compton” proved a domestic box-office smash. According to Box Office Guru, the title grossed $161.1 million just in the U.S. and Canada.
According to Hi-Def Digest, some of the extras with “Straight Outta Compton: Unrated Director’s Cut” include:
A featurette (“N.W.A. : The Origins”); “Director’s Journey” (a look at F. Gary); a making-of featurette (“The Streets: Filming in Compton”); a concert offering (“N.W.A. Performs in Detroit”); a feature-length audio commentary by Gray; and deleted scenes.
Recent releases
The following titles either have been or soon will be released on Blu-ray Disc:
“Bound For Glory,” with David Carradine in director Hal Ashby’s acclaimed PG-rated biopic (1976) about the early years of political activist/folksinger Woody Guthrie.
“The Condemned 2,” with Randy Orton, Eric Roberts and Wes Studi in an R-rated action tale about a bounty hunter who becomes the target of a game involving hunting humans.
“The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” with Bel Powley, Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgard in an R-rated graphic look at a girl sexually attracted to her mother’s boyfriend. It’s based on the book by Phoebe Gloeckners.
“Everest,” with Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin and Kiera Knightley in a PG-13 disaster epic about an attempt to climb the world’s tallest mountain that goes very wrong. It will be available in 2-D and 3-D.
“From the Terrace,” with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodard in director Mark Robson’s big-screen soap opera (1960) based on John O’Hara’s novel about an ambitious man who marries in order to have a Wall Street career.
“Gilda,” with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford in a film-noir favorite (1946) about a triangle consisting of a casino owner, his beautiful wife and a bitter henchman. The vintage tale is most famous for Hayworth’s suggestive delivery of the song “Put the Blame on Mame.” The black-and-white title is being released as part of the prestigious Criterion Collection.
“The Guardian,” with Carey Lowell in an R-rated chiller about a couple who must deal with a live-in babysitter with supernatural powers. William Friedkin (“The Exorcist”) directed.
“Hawaii,” with Julie Andrews and Max von Sydow in director George Roy Hill’s epic adaptation (1966) of the James Michener novel about an American missionary and his wife in Hawaii of the 1800s.
“Inside Llewyn Davis,” with Oscar Isaac in the acclaimed R-rated Joel and Ethan Coen ers’ film about a musician on the outskirts of the folk scene in Greenwich Village.
“The Intern,” with Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro in the PG-13 hit comedy about a 70-year-old retiree who lands an intern position with a young woman from the fashion world.
“Jem and the Holograms,” with Aubrey Peeples in a PG-rated fantasy about a girl whose life drastically changes when she assumes a secret identity inspired by her music.
“The Last Detail,” with Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid and Otis Young in director Hal Ashby’s R-rated favorite (1973) about two Navy members who want to show a good time to the young sailor they’re escorting to prison.
“Of Mice and Men,” with John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Sherilyn Fenn and Joe Morton in a PG-13 adaptation (1992) of the John Steinbeck novel about an ill-fated migrant worker.
“Woodlawn,” with Sean Astin, Jon Voight and Sherri Shepherd in a faith-based PG-rated tale that’s set in 1973 and concerns the spiritual awakening of a high school football team.
Sources include: High-Def Digest, Google, imdb.com, filmratings.com, rottentomatoes.com, Leonard Maltin’s “Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965,” Box Office Mojo.