Hustle & Flow (USA) (MTV/Paramount) (2005) ****Year: 2005iMDB
Director: Craig Brewer Cast: Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji Henson, DJ Qualls
There are many ways in which a movie like Hustle & Flow can go terribly wrong. We've seen numerous attempts at movies that tell a story from the hood, the story of someone that goes against all odds to make a name from themselves and escape the poor life that they were born into through music or sports or etc. They all have a major happy ending where everyone around them sings and dances and they seem to send the message that being poor is just a test and that anyone can make it out of the hood if they only want to.
In Hustle & Flow it's not that simple...Djay (Howard) is a pimp. And while he is the hero of the movie and is basically a likeable character, he is no saint. He is a pimp and drug-dealer and he knows exactly what he's doing. He also doesn't hesitate to kick out of his/their house a woman (one of his prostitutes) and her young child when she decides to have a stupid argument with him. And yes, the movie seems to have a happy ending. But if you think about it, it's not really such a happy ending... It is perhaps more sad than we first realize since Djay does seem to have fulfilled one of his dreams, yet it's not clear that will get him anywhere...
Terrence Howard is fantastic as Djay, leading an equally strong supporting cast. If you like rap music or want to understand a little about how some apparently strong lyrics that you hear in rap songs are born, watch Hustle & Flow and you may gain a better understanding.
Posted by TheCasualCritic on January 27, 2006 12:51 AM