Universal Pictures; Getty ImagesThis was a big weekend for Straight Outta Compton. Huge.
Not only did the movie release to some pretty rave reviews, but it straight up killed at the box office. The biopic, which follows rap group N.W.A.'s rise to fame, blew the competition out of the water with a $56.1 million haul. That's pretty good for a movie that doesn't have a single big name in its starring lineup. You go Straight Outta Compton.
But perhaps the most glowing review of all came from Compton hometown hero herself Ava DuVernay. The Selma director and much-lauded African-American activist hasn't been shy about voicing her support for the flick before its release, tweeting excitement and even interviewing Compton's director F. Gary Gray. Of course, this was all ahead of seeing the final product, so this weekend she decided to make good on her hype and head to the movie theaters herself.
And it turns out she was more than happy to pay admission price and sit in the theater with scores of non-industry folk (despite having most likely had the opportunity for free screenings). After the credits rolled she was so blown away by the film that she was moved to write a spur-of-the-moment movie review—on Twitter, of all places.
She delivered a whopping 18-tweet monologue on what Straight Outta Compton meant to her, sharing everything from what the movie got right about the group's beginnings and how certain scenes transported her back to her own Compton upbringing. Even if you haven't seen the flick, it's hard not to be blown away by the sheer emotional value of her messages.
But that's enough from us—we're going to let DuVernay tell the rest in her own words. Enjoy.
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