Terrence Howard

Anthony Anderson

Taryn Manning

Taraji P. Henson

DJ Qualls

Ludacris

Paula Jai Parker

Elise Neal

Isaac Hayes

Juicy J

William Engram

Bobby Sandimanie

Haystak

Claude Phillips

Josey Scott

John Still

Jay Munn

Michael Hooks Jr.

Jerome Toles

DJ Paul

Al Kapone

Jennifer Bynum Green

Kelvin Birrus

Tiran D. Boyland

H. Renee Cogar

Brandon Seiferth

Deborah Manning Thomas

Terrence Brown

T.C. Sharpe

Lindsey Roberts

Free Sol

Clarence Mabon

Mark Goodfellow

Latasha Texas

Tracy Davis

Erica Miller

Helen Bowman

Josh Driver

Dennis Phillippi

Jeff Pope

Kenon Walker

John Singleton

Craig Brewer

Billy Fox

Amy Vincent

Stephanie Allain

Ilene Pickus

Kimberly Hardin

Keith Brian Burns

Dwight Williams

Scott Bomar

Shie Rozow

Daniel J. Leahy

James Azizi Penny

Brian W. Jennings

Marvin R. Morris

Paul A. Simmons Jr.

Preston L. Holmes

Greg Hedgepath

Michael C. Casper

Frank Smathers

Betty Chin

Nathan Black

Paul Stewart

Michael Camello

Fred Stafford

Frayser Boy

Stephanie Flack

Bobbi Banks

Susan Kurtz

Van Hayden

Darian Corley

Joni Wheeler

Alexa Marino

Paul Hackner

James McMillan

Crime

Drama

Music

Hustle & Flow

MTV Films

New Deal Productions

United States of America

CinemaSerf

Terrence Howard really does put his heart and soul into this gritty story of an aspiring man who wants to leave his pimping days behind him and become an hip-hop MC. Living in Memphis, the city has an huge musical tradition but his own personal baggage threatens to drag him down at every opportunity as he tries to attach himself to visiting superstar "Skinny Black" (Ludacris). He knows that this is likely to be his last opportunity to escape the cycle of hopelessness he faces, but can he stay focused, on-course and away from crime long enough to prove his worth? The main characterisation of "Djay" is strongly portrayed here with guts and a degree of viscerally plausible credibility that really works at times. Sadly, though, the bulk of the rest of it resorts to more aggressive and would mouthed stereotyping that reinforces so many pejorative views of how African American men treat each other and the women (and children) in their lives. It's that very sad predictability that rather ruined the potency of Howard's effort here, and by mid-way through I can honestly say I couldn't have cared less whether he succeeded or not. Too many lives had already been ruined by his previous behaviour, so why should he escape the consequences of a vicious circle he had quite an hand in creating? There's plenty for fans of the musical genre to get their teeth into as that offers a boxing-like conduit for those without academic credentials to use their more creative talents to escape their torpor and find hope. It may well resonate more in the USA, but elsewhere it can come across as a story of an unlikeable man who played in the dog-eat-dog world until it no longer suited him, then tried to escape being eaten himself.

English

Jordan 'Juicy J' Houston | "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp"-Hustle & Flow | Behind the Oscars Speech

Hustle & Flow (2005) Original Trailer 1 [FHD]

Hustle & Flow - Trailer

"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" Wins Best Original Song | 78th Oscars (2006)