American film and music video director F. Gary Gray recently dropped out of contention for the directorship of the upcoming sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger (TMT Review), and considering his previous credits, is it any wonder why? Besides people who want to earn multiple boatloads of money (as opposed to the plebs who remain satisfied with their single boatload), what personal benefit is there in directing a cinematic circle jerk of patriotism, whose central character was initially conceived as a facilitator of propaganda? Oh no, as Friday, Law Abiding Citizen, The Negotiator, and A Man Apart have demonstrated, Gray is much more interested in less glamorous and stylized portrayals of American life than he is with metaphorically humping the American flag.
In accordance with that sentiment, Gray is in serious talks to direct Straight Outta Compton, a biopic of influential West Coast rap group N.W.A. According to a press release, the project has been in the works since 2009, with Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez being tasked with co-producing via the film company, Cube Vision. Likewise, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Eazy-E’s widow, Tomica Woods, is also producing. Obviously, assuming Gray does end up directing, this would mean a professional reuniting of him and the frozen Friday star, who has all but abandoned the lifestyle, shall we say, that he exhibited during the late 80s and early 90s. Is Ice Cube capable of objectively portraying the demise of the group, which was decidedly contentious? Will he, instead of offering useful, producer-like advice, devolve into a repeater of Coors Light slogans? Time will tell.
• F. Gary Gray: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336620
• Cube Vision: http://www.icecube.com
More about: N.W.A.
