Themes, lessons, and metaphors in 8 Mile

As research for my novel, I watched Curtis Hanson's 8 Mile (2002) for the first time in my life. Therefore,

welcome to our new series where RK finally watches the movies that everyone else has already seen.

If I understood correctly and the movie isn't some genius metaphor for something quite else, 8 Mile is about a blue-collar white trash young man who tries to fit in the predominantly black hip hop underground culture in 1990's Detroit. Everyone he hangs out with dreams about getting signed on by a record label, but out of a sense of duty towards his young little sister, he doesn't have that luxury.

Here are my first thoughts:

The movie is outstanding. Though I have seemingly nothing in common with any of the characters, the themes, such as responsibility, honor, and taking care of your family, are universal.
I kept forgetting that Eminem isn't a "real" actor the way all the other characters are played by "real" actors; he gives the impression that he's been acting for a long time.
The movie is a genius metaphor for something quite else, which is revealed in the "7.30 in the morning" scene.

I adore also how the obvious message of the film seems to be that you have to own up to who you are and what flaws you have and not be ashamed of anything to win the rap battle - and in life in general, too.

Also also, the amount of self-sabotage going around with every character is astounding. I don't understand how anyone could live like that. Maybe it's a form os escapism, though.