Eminem’s semi-autobiographical 2002 film, 8 Mile, is a story about many things—blind ambition, dogged persistence, the inescapable trappings of systematic poverty. But above all, it’s a movie about handshakes.Across its 110 minutes, 8 Mile features a dazzling presentation of some of the most spectacular handshakes ever captured on film. While Eminem’s skills as a rapper had been firmly established prior to the movie’s release, 8 Mile allowed him to come into his own as a handshake artist. While each handshake is evocative in its own right, every palm-on-palm contact exists to serve the greater narrative of 8 Mile, as well as the complete oeuvre of Eminem.
Advertisement
Here is a ranking of every handshake Eminem’s character, Rabbit, gives in the film 8 Mile.Rabbit and Future share this handshake after partaking in the time-honored Detroit tradition of fixing a hooptie while singing an improvised version of “Sweet Home Alabama”—about as good a reason as any to share a hearty shake. This handshake loses major cinematography points, though, for cutting away right at the money shot.This is a greeting handshake between Rabbit and Wink, who has news regarding a rap career opportunity. The background trailers underscore Rabbit’s embarrassment that he is living in a trailer park with his mother, and that comes through masterfully in this handshake. Still, Wink lands a strong double-tapper with a back pat.Having heard Wink’s proposal, Rabbit realizes it sounds promising but that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t have to catch the bus to work. A solid shoulder-to-shoulder pull-in handshake here.Considering this is the first handshake of the movie, Rabbit doesn’t take much time to let it sink in. It’s a solid double-tapper on the move, though. The ol’ slap ‘n’ walk.
22. The Handshake Rabbit and Future Share After Fixing the Car and Singing “Sweet Home Alabama”
21. The Handshake Rabbit Gives Wink When He Shows Up at His House
20. The Handshake Rabbit Gives Wink When He Leaves His House
19. The Handshake Rabbit Gives DJ Iz While Rushing to the Rap Battle (The First Handshake)
Advertisement
18. The Handshake Rabbit Gets from Future After Dropping a Good Freestyle in a Parking Lot
17. The Handshake Rabbit Gives to Future at the Hospital After Cheddar Shoots Himself in the Leg
16. The Handshake Rabbit Gives to Wink After They Make Up
Advertisement
15 - 13. The Handshakes Rabbit’s Friends Give Him to Wish Him Luck Before the Rap Battle
12. The Handshake Rabbit Gets from Lil Tic After a Good Performance at the Rap Battle
11. The Handshake/Pound Rabbit Gets from the Bouncer in the Club
Advertisement
10. The Handshakes Rabbit Gives to Sol and DJ Iz After Advancing a Round in the Rap Battle
9. The Handshake Rabbit Has with Sol After Having a Moment of Paralytic Existentialism
8. The Handshake Rabbit Gets from a Co-worker After Winning a Rap Battle at the Food Truck on His Lunch Break
Advertisement
7. The Handshake Rabbit Gives to Paul When He Agrees to Cover His Shift at Work
6 - 3. The Handshakes Rabbit’s Friends Give Him to Console Him After He Chokes at the Rap Battle
2. The Handshake Rabbit Gives Future After Promising Him That He’ll “Flip the Script”
Advertisement