Of all the recording artists who have ever tried their hand at acting, Eminem's debut performance is among the best. It could be argued he doesn't have much serious competition, but that may not be giving him enough credit. Although it helps that the film, though not a straight autobiography, is based on his life, he has an on-screen presence that is not just based on him being a star but also on the strength of his performance.

Set in mid-1990s Detroit, the title refers to 8 Mile Road, a street that is a racial and economic dividing line in Detroit. Eminem is Jimmy Smith Jr. who by day works at a car bumper factory and has had to move back in with his mother (Basinger) and her new, younger boyfriend, but by night is Bunny Rabbit, talented lyricist and aspiring rapper.

Although the film opens with him losing his nerve at a rap battle (an event in which rappers trade barbs and are judged by the crowd response), his friends still believe he has what it takes. One of them, Future (Phifer) is the host and encourages Jimmy to stick with it and enter the upcoming battle for a showdown with their rival crew. Jimmy has to fight through his overwhelming home and work situation, his fear of failure, and his rival's scare tactics to make it to the big event.

It is perhaps unlikely that the film will bring new fans to rap, but 8 Mile is less reliant on the music, and offers more than films such as Saturday Night Fever and Purple Rain. It's an oft-told story of "getting back in the saddle," but despite this familiar format the film feels fresh, partly because of the well-drawn, stereotype-defying characters and partly because of Curtis Hanson's gritty direction and striking cityscape images.

Much of it is due to Eminem's performance, full of honest, real emotion. Though parts of the film can seem too much like a long litany of fights with his mother, her loutish boyfriend, his rival crew and even his friends, Smith's anger is recognisable as the rage of inner-city struggle. Further, there are some affecting tender moments between Jimmy and his younger sister, who he longs to give a better life to, and nice humour in some of the scenes between Jimmy and his diverse group of friends. The relationship between Jimmy and aspiring model Alex (Brittany Murphy) is passionate and not a standard love interest story, being untidy and, well, real.

It's good to see this group of people from a depressed urban area who are not disaffected but purposeful in their own way, are tough out of necessity but genuinely care about each other, are angry at the shortcomings of their surroundings but draw inspiration from it. And the climactic battle scenes, in which Jimmy brings the house down, are as thrilling, redemptive and triumphant as the best Rocky Balboa fight.