Straight Outta Compton

Controlling the Truth
The film Straight Outta Compton, a box office hit, was a well-depicted film that focused on the hard struggles of a California rap group called N.W.A. during the late-1980s to mid-1990s. However, audiences have questioned the reality of the film Straight Out of Compton, for omitting the incident in which former N.W.A. member Dr. Dre assaulted reporter Dee Barnes. Although, this altercation is factual, this was not the intended message the film was meant to portray.
For audiences who have seen the film it is obvious that history is repeating itself, as blacks during the late-1980s to mid-1990s were still dealing with dilemmas related to equality and law enforcement. Straight Outta Compton, however, was able to show its audience that even through oppression in the black community those who follow their dreams can still be successful in doing so. So if the brutal assault by Dr. Dre on Dee Barnes were to be included in the film, it would dilute the purpose of the film’s message. Also many viewers would not respond well to seeing a woman

being “slammed and kicked” (Barnes 2). After all this film was meant to also preserve rap group N.W.A legacy.
However, other audiences disagree and believe that the incident between Dr. Dre and Dee Barnes should be included in the film because the incident was apart of the rap group’s history (Kennedy 1). By omitting this incident it showed that the group’s story is in fact altered with hidden issues, but the truth is Dr. Dre is not perfect and made some mistakes that he regrets (Kennedy 4). Also the film did fail to recognize women associated with N.W.A.’s past, but as Ice Cube stated, “You can make five different N.W.A. movies… because there are so many things that you can add or subtract” (Kennedy 2). Regardless, there are going to be oppositions who think the wrong story was told in Straight Outta Compton, for leaving this incident and many others out if the film. However, it must be understood that it is all about perspective and the message a filmmaker want to get across to his or her audience.
Furthermore, audiences must consider the fact that there are numerous amounts of other events and scenes that were also left out of Straight Outta Compton due to the length of the film (Kennedy 2).

“Other scenes that were left out from earlier versions of the story: Dre being shot four times in the leg, his house catching fire, and a graphic flashback of his younger brother in the fight that claimed his life” (Kennedy 2). The matter of leaving the altercation between Dr. Dre and Dee Barnes can be grouped among these other incidents the filmmakers did not want to expose to the public. If all of these incidents were to be included in the film there would be too many side stories including the incidents that happened in the lives of other rap members in N.W.A. Dee Barnes even stated, “I didn’t want to see a depiction of me getting beat up” and “the truth is too ugly for a general audience” (Barnes and

Kennedy).
In conclusion, it is evident that the incident between Dr. Dre and Dee Barnes should have been left out of the film to preserve the message of the film and appeal to a general audience. So critics must keep in mind that glorifying films such as Straight Outta Compton are going to be more audience friendly in order to appeal to more people.