Customer Reviews

Hustle and Flow [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I'm not much of a rap fan but I picked this one up on a lark after hearing some of the good things that have been said lately about Terrence Howard. I can honestly say it is one of the best movies I've seen in a while and I think Howard is on his way to becoming a top-tier Hollywood actor.

The story centers on a pimp and drug dealer named Djay, played by Howard. Djay is sleepwalking his way through life until fate taps him on the shoulder. He is given an old Casio keyboard for a dime bag of pot and he runs into an old buddy of his who is now a recording studio technician. The two things light a spark in Djay and he decides to take a shot at being a rapper. Using egg boxes to soundproof a room in his rundown house and using his whores for backup singers, Djay creates magic.

The movie manages to make a pimp into a sympathetic character, which is an accomplishment on its own right. But the movie isn't really about pimps any more than it's about whores or drug dealers. In fact, it's not even about black or white. The only two white characters in the movie are one of Djay's whores and a geeky keyboards guy and they are both shown in a fairly positive light. The movie is about realizing one's dreams and how the drive to do can bring meaning to even the most dismal situation. It's an old story but one I never get tired of.

Pimpin' ain't easy and this pimp is as realistic a pimp ever portrayed on film. Free of Blaxsploitation/glorified stereotypical pimps, Terrence Howard shines as DJay a man with a big dream and even bigger determination.

Craig Brewer brings the South to front with a raw and inspiring film about dreams. Brewer did an excellent job with the soundtrack which featured memorable sounds of the present and future south sound. Terrence Howard is amazing and even raps his own tunes! Supporting cast members also brought a fresh and personal feel to the movie. Taraji P. Henson as Shug was a warm and beautiful character that holds Djay's heart. Also Anthony Anderson plays a good straight character as Key.

All in all a surprise and very well written and acted movie!

I usually avoid like the plague anything related to hip-hop/gansta rap, but I always say "If a movie's good, it's good" and this one was. It made me laugh out loud and also tear up a bit. For adults only because the language is ultra-filthy with a few explicitly sexual images (though no nudity), and much glorification of pot-smoking.

4.5 stars. We've all seen this story before. A gangster, or a pimp as it is in this story, sees a chance to crawl out of the nowhere life he is seemingly trapped in and achieve some sort of redemption and/or trancendency through music. It's easy to root for the nobody reaching for the brass ring against all odds in the dim hope of becoming recognized as a greater human being than anybody thought possible. But most of these type of films fall flat due to poor writing and second-rate acting. "Hustle & Flow" is a surprising exception. The acting, all around, is often astonishing. Terrence Howard leads the way with a dominating performance which reminded me of the fine work of Benicio Del Toro, where both actors completely lose themselves in the role and we all believe the character actually exists somewhere out there in the world. The dialogue is superb, and with so many good actors drawn to this film, the words reach extremely high levels of literary sharpness. The biggest surprise for me, however, was that I thoroughly enjoyed all the music throughout the movie. I despise most Rap, but in "Hustle & Flow" the rapping is smooth and enveloped with soul, thus achieving much more depth of emotion in the final summation. Once again, an independent film shows up all those over-hyped, over-budget Hollywood films that we are force-fed each year. This is the first DVD in months where, as the credits began to roll, I eagerly hit the menu button and scoured the special features section for more "Hustle & Flow." Except for the familiar plotting, which is the only thing even slightly generic about this movie, the end result is phenomenal, all-around excellence.

Hustle & Flow is a masterpiece of tension. It walks us through a world constantly on the edge of violence and surprises us with gentleness coiled within the pain and fear. After a while, I didn't even hear the cursing because the characters set up a drumbeat in my heart. There are no apologies here for bad choices and bad behavior, but you'll hope the characters triumph over themselves. This is a powerful movie because it dares to show we are all human beings. Every performance was transcendant. The music was inspired. Don't miss Hustle & Flow. It deserved its nominatons and awards and then some.

I was a little apprehensive about this film because I'm not keen on anything that either glamorizes or tries to legitimize anything as heinous or disgusting as pimping, but being a Terrence Howard fan and taking into account his best actor nomination, I put all pre-conceived notions aside and watched it. The movie blew me away. This is very much a universal film in that, ultimately, it's about our hopes and our need to create something extraordinary as a testament of our sojourn here. Realizing that he is the same age as his father when he passed away, low level pimp and drug dealer DJay decides, with the help of an old school buddy, now gospel producer, to pursue his long-time ambition of becoming a rapper, following in the footsteps of local-guy-made-good Skinny Black (played by Ludacris). What made this a very moving experience was that Craig Brewer didn't attempt to either praise nor condemn his characters but rather create wholly credible people, warts and all, that resonate within everyone because, in the end, it's about wanting to better yourself, to realize a dream, to achieve something extraordinary, to be respected and to leave your mark on the world, regardless of how insignificant it may seem to everyone else. None of these characters may come across as necessarily likeable but dang if they aren't believable and it's due to that that their personal trials and misgivings impact the viewer. The character of Nola was, for me, the living, heartbreaking embodiment of lost youth, desperation and wasted innocence; a person knowing they were meant for greater things but not knowing what that is and how to escape the drudgery of her existence and be part of something special. We see how she practically glows with self-confidence when in her small way she contributes to DJay's dreams. Terrence Howard delivers a nuanced, heartfelt and eloquent performance as DJay, with Taryn Manning as Nola, bringing a profound humanity to a country girl caught in her own life. Taraji Henson is perfect as Shug, a weary yet confident reflection of D Jay's dreams and Paula Jai Parker is equally impressive as Lexus, the walking manifestation of bitterness and resentment, throwing her vitriol in the face of everyone's hopes. Anthony Anderson and D.J. Qualls round out the cast, as long time buddy/producer and a skinny white boy with rhythm and dreams of his own to spare, respectively.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this movie due to its subject matter. Prostitution is what it is but a movie with a pimp as the central character? I don't mind saying it on record that I hold nothing but contempt for the men who live off the earnings of the women they exploit.

But I'm a huge fan of Terrence Howard and had heard that the movie had won the Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and was even Oscar nominated (for best actor in a leading role and best original song). As we all now know, Terrence lost out on the former to Philip Seymour Hoffman but "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" shocked many by taking the golden statuette.

I decided to buy the DVD in the end because the movie didn't screen in my area, as far as I was aware, and my local video store wasn't holding it.

Well, I'm pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I'm really glad I bought it and look forward to watching it over and over again. I guess, as with the last movie I reviewed here, it just goes to show how a good script, good direction and good acting can make good art out of any story, infuse it with humanity and move us.

Yes, it's true, Djay is a pimp but he seems to be a pimp with heart. He not only takes care of his girls, he actually seems to care about them. They definitely care about him, especially the lovely Nola (played by Taryn Manning) who takes care of business when Djay finds himself behind bars, and ensures that his dream of becoming a successful rapper is kept alive and well. The story, probably from start to end was pretty predictable but thoroughly entertaining nevertheless. Howard brings complexity and magnetism to what could've been a cardboard cut-out role.

Good support from the always watchable Anthony Anderson and D.J. Qualls was mouth open wide astounding. I'd never even heard of him before this movie but will be looking out for him now.

And to round it all off the movie has a banging soundtrack. I may be a bit late but I'm definitely beginning to feel southern hip-hop. "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" deserved the Academy Award it won. The soundtrack CD is already on my wish list.

A brilliant portrayal of one man's struggle for redemption and inspiration, despite all the odds. Magic.

This movie really gets me. HUSTLE & FLOW, featuring a blazing turn from the enthralling Terrence Howard, is an unexpectedly wrenching movie that moves along at a beat just as pulsating as the music genre it centers around. The movie wraps you around it's finger with it's opening "calm before the storm" monologue where D-Jay (Howard) sits in his hot Chevy with Nola (Taryn Manning), his best prostitute, talking about the world. You can see this is a man doped up on some drugs while she is as well, but the artistic soul inside of him is clearly trying to push itself out of D-Jay in a way he can't yet grasp. And as soon as the audience sees the core reality and humanity of the character... the beat starts driving the film.

When D-Jay starts to rap, Howard shows you that this isn't a passion slowly coming out of him... it is a tidal wave of frustration, passion, talent, and desperation pounding against a wall of drugs, depression, and disappointment that he has built up for years. Yet, even in his childlike excitement over the new prospects in his life, he can never break free of the lifestyle and situations that life as a pimp has put him in.

This truly is a brilliant performance from Howard and he deserves the attention he has received from the Academy and other critics organizations. But it's also refreshing to know that this ensemble was recognized at SAG. It truly was some of the best ensemble work I've seen in a long time (far surpassing CRASH... which was an example of true ensemble work sure, but this is an example of true ensemble work on a superior level with the talent leaping off the screen). Taryn Manning was especially compelling in her role as D-Jay's "cheif investor". It's a shame no buzz developed around her for a Supporting Actress nomination.

I've read some reviews cite this film as ridiculous... but to me, the life of a Pimp is in some ways "ridiculous". Despite the terrible living situations and rough lifestyle... their lives are filled with over-indulgence in all the wrong things. Sex, drugs, and music. However, this movie never looks down on the struggle and dream of D-Jay... partially because of brilliant pacing, and very much so because of Terrence Howard's searing performance. After watching this film, you can't help but walk away from the TV singing "Whoop That Trick!"

This movie spun new life into overly-done whore with a heart of gold plot. This time it's a PIMP-- a soulful, 'nice' PIMP with dreams of becoming a rapper. He's no hooker punching, Superfly archtype! God bless Terrence Howard for avoiding Antonio Vargas-type pimp acting!

Before I start in on this review, I think I need to make a few things clear: 1) I don't watch MTV, and 2) I don't like rap music. Hopefully that will help put things in perspective for those who choose to read this because this isn't a tale about a rapper nor about music; it's the story of never giving up on one's dreams, a universal theme that takes on an entirely new scope in writer/director Craig Brewer's excellent film HUSTLE AND FLOW.

I didn't much care for BOYZ IN THE HOOD and I felt that 8-MILE was over-hyped, so I was hesitant to watch something with a similar sounding theme. But my worries were unfounded. Although what you've probably heard is true ("It's the story of a pimp and his whores"), chances are you're only getting a snapshot glimpse of this amazing character film by listening to such a basic definition.

Terrence Howard plays D'Jay the pimp, a good pimp, struggling to make ends meet by employing three women in his "crib". But a chance encounter with a music mixer whom he used to go to school with lifts his spirits and makes him feel as if he's having a mid-life crisis. D'Jay's attempts to cut his own music consume him, even to the point of using one of his employees' skills to obtain a $250 microphone (sparking off a rather heated exchange, I might add).

The fact that the story takes place in Memphis added a genuine sense of realism to the film, too (from the down-and-out neighborhoods and on-location shoots near bridges and underpasses).

The actors - without exception - reached deep down into themselves and pulled up some of the finest performances of 2005. Every single actor in the movie LIVED those roles. All of the Oscar nominated films in 2005 (although this one wasn't nominated for Best Picture) held a valid message, and I absolutely loved how different yet similar they were. GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, CAPOTE, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, CRASH and MUNICH all had amazing historical or cultural aspects littered throughout them, and HUSTLE AND FLOW is no exception; why it wasn't nominated in the Best Picture category ahead of MUNICH is a mystery to me, though.

Never giving up on your dreams ("By any means necessary") is both the message of the film and of the film-makers. Watching the extra features on the DVD, I learned that the producers shopped around Hollywood for financial backing but couldn't find any. Year after year and studio after studio, they got turned down. So, in the spirit of "let's go and do it ourselves", they put their own money forward (a measly $8 million sunk into it from pre- to post-production).

If you haven't seen this movie just because of what you've heard, you're cheating yourself out of an excellent night of entertainment. Just remember, you don't have to be young to enjoy the themes talked about here. This is dreaming at its ugliest and its best. And I still don't like rap music, but I may be buying the music track to this film.