HUSTLE & FLOW (2005) - Movie Review

Director: Craig Brewer
Starring: Terrence Howard, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson, Anthony Anderson, DJ Qualls, Paula Jai Parker, Ludacris, Isaac Hayes
Genre: Crime, Drama, Music
Writer: Craig Brewer
Runtime: 116 min
Rated: Rated R for sex and drug content, pervasive language and some violence
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), 4K Ultra HD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

DJay is a Memphis hustler who spends most days in a parked Chevy philosophizing about life while Nola (Taryn Manning), turn tricks in the backseat. He's not very good at pimping, but he can hustle almost anything or anyone and makes enough to keep himself and three girls satisfied and housed in his shotgun home. DJay however is in the midst of a midlife crisis; he quietly harbors dreams of becoming a respected rapper. When he learns from a local club owner, Arnel (Isaac Hayes), that rap mogul Skinny Black (Ludacris), is rolling through town, DJay decides to record his flow with the hopes of slipping his demo to Skinny. With little help from his friends and "family" DJay sets in motion the hustle of his life, and galvanizes the lives of those around him as they learn that "Everybody's gotta have a dream."

Review:

Written and directed by Craig Brewer ("Black Snake Moan", "Coming 2 America"), "Hustle & Flow" is a hip-hop drama that takes the ages-old inspirational rise-to-fame formula, and gives it a gritty makeover that works surprisingly well. In a career-defining Oscar-nominated performance, Terrence Howard stars as Djay, a pimp in his late 30s, hustling on the streets of Memphis, but barely getting anywhere. A chance encounter with an old friend who works as a sound technician (Anthony Anderson) rekindles forgotten dreams and aspirations of becoming a hip-hop star.

While the film is definitely an uplifting and emotional story about the redemptive power of music, it never shies away from the harsh realities of ghetto life. This is after all a story that revolves around a pimp and his small stable of prostitutes, and Brewer doesn't force any kind of sanitized morality, keeping it as authentic as possible. That being said, if you can't be open-minded and non-judgemental about the kind of life and social environment depicted in this movie, you probably won't enjoy it much.

As Djay and co. get to work on laying down some tracks, we get some of the movie's most exciting scenes that perfectly capture the magic of creating something special from the ground up. The songs are great, and "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" even went on to win the Oscar for Best Original Song, becoming the second hip-hop song to win an Academy Award after Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from "8 Mile".

Howard delivers a genuine and compelling performance. Djay is a complex character that you find yourself rooting for in spite of his unsavory ways. Underneath his hardened exterior hides a sensitive and perceptive soul. He yearns for more, for something different, a chance to get out of the ghetto and do something meaningful with his life. The movie also boasts fantastic supporting turns from Taraji P. Henson and Taryn Manning as DJay's loyal prostitutes, who prove instrumental in helping him achieve his dreams, but are not just Hollywoodized sidekicks. Both are layered and well written, providing a lot of the movie's heart.

"Hustle & Flow" is an edgy and surprisingly original music drama that avoids the "rags-to-riches" cliches and packs a powerful emotional punch withouth sacrificing authenticity. Give it a try, and you might just discover your new favorite movie.

SCORE: 8/10