Call it the Ferguson factor.

“Straight Outta Compton” conveys the zeitgeist of African-Americans.

“Straight Outta Compton,” named after N.W.A.’s 1988 debut Ruthless Records album, is about the group and its members, including Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Ice Cube’s son), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins) and the late Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell); its alleged unscrupulous manager Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti in yet another fine performance); rivalries (“beefs,” “battle raps”); physical threats allegedly by Suge Knight (R. Marcos Taylor); “baseball-bat morality,” and “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll,” or in this case, hip hop. Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur got their start with this crew. N.W.A., for its part and in its genre, was as important as The Beatles.

Ice Cube went on to success as an actor in films from “Boyz N The Hood” to “Ride Along.” Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment signed Eminem and 50 Cent and sold Beats Electronics to Apple Inc. for $3 billion.

The film begins in 1986 in Compton, Calif. There’s drugs. There’s police. There’s violence. It came to the fore in the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles in 1992.

Some of the lyrics that can be quoted go something like this: “They have the authority to kill minorities.” Did the gangster rap songs and lyrics of N.W.A. worsen relations between inner-city residents and police? Dr. Dre claims, “I’m a journalist. Just like you. Our music is a reflection of our reality.” This is not your Beach Boys’ California.

Millions were made by musicians, producers, record firms and entertainment companies by exploiting the frustration and anger, including the film, “Straight Outta Compton.”

“Straight Outta Compton” is well-directed by F. Gary Gray (“Law Abiding Citizen,” 2009; “The Italian Job,” 2003; “Friday,” 1995), well-edited by Billy Fox (“Hustle & Flow,” 2005) and Michael Tronick (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” 2005), well-lensed by Matthew Libatique (“Black Swan,” 2010; “Iron Man 1, 2”) and well-acted by the featured players.

If you can put up with the expletives not deleted and want to learn more about what has become America’s music, then head straight to “Straight Outta Compton,” which captures the energy, anger and creativity of a musical era.

See “Straight Outta Compton” on its own terms. It’s one of the most uncompromising films ever.

“Straight Outta Compton,” MPAA rated R (Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian.) for language throughout, strong sexuality-nudity, violence, and drug use; Genre: Biography, Drama, Music; Run Time: 2 hrs., 27 min.; Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Straight Outta Compton” was filmed in Los Angeles and Compton, Calif.

Box Office, Aug. 28: It’s three weeks straight at No. 1 for “Straight Outta Compton,” $13.2 million, $134.1 million, three weeks, keeping “War Room” opening at No. 2, with $11 million;

3. “Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation,” $8.3 million, $170.3 million, five weeks; 4. “No Escape,” $8.2 million, $10.3 million, since Aug. 26, one week; 5. “Sinister 2,” $4.6 million $18.5 million, two weeks; 6. “The Man From U.N.C.L.E,” $4.4 million, $34.1 million, three weeks; 7. “Hitman: Agent 47,” $3.8 million, $15.2 million, three weeks; 8. “The Gift,” $3.1 million, $35.9 million, four weeks; 9. “Jurassic World,” $3.1 million, $643 million, 12 weeks; 10. “Ant-Man,” $3 million, $169.1 million, seven weeks

Unreel, Sept. 4:

“The Transporter Refueled,” PG-13: The franchise is rebooted, starring Ed Skrein, Loan Chabanol, Ray Stevenson and Lenn Kudrjawizki in the crime-thriller.

“A Walk in the Woods,” R: Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson and Mary Steenburgen star in the adventure-drama about a man who hikes the Appalachian Trail with an old friend.

“Before We Go,” PG-13: Chris Evans directs and stars in the romantic-comedy with Alice Eve, Emma Fitzpatrick and Scott Evans about two New Yorkers stuck in the city for a night.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes