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poster of Hustle & Flow
Rating: 7.106/10 by 382 users

Hustle & Flow (2005)

With help from his friends, a Memphis pimp in a mid-life crisis attempts to become a successful hip-hop emcee.

Directing:
  • Craig Brewer
  • Ilene Pickus
  • Van Hayden
Writing:
  • Craig Brewer
Stars:
Release Date: Fri, Jul 22, 2005

Rating: 7.106/10 by 382 users

Alternative Title:
Hustle and Flow - US
Nyomulj és nyerj - HU
Hustle und Flow - DE
饶舌歌王皮条客 - HK
川流不息 - MO

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 56 minutes
Budget: $8,000,000
Revenue: $23,563,727

Plot Keyword: drug dealer, career, baby, rap music, hip-hop, midlife crisis, rapper, biting, blunt, shocking, desperate, anxious, egotistical, derogatory, foreboding

Ludacris
Skinny Black
Bobby Sandimanie
Yellow Jacket
John Still
Shop Owner
Jay Munn
Prison Guard
Jerome Toles
Police Officer
Jennifer Bynum Green
Choir Lead Singer
Kelvin Birrus
Choir Singer #1
Tiran D. Boyland
Choir Singer #2
H. Renee Cogar
Choir Singer #3
Brandon Seiferth
Choir Singer #4
Terrence Brown
Piano Player
T.C. Sharpe
Arnel's Drunk
Free Sol
Bathroom Kid
Clarence Mabon
Police Officer #2
Mark Goodfellow
Pawn Shop Owner
Latasha Texas
Stripper #1
Tracy Davis
Stripper #2
Erica Miller
God Bless America Girl
Josh Driver
Bar Tender (uncredited)
Dennis Phillippi
Self (voice) (uncredited)
Jeff Pope
Trick (uncredited)
Kenon Walker
Crystal Palace Party Attendant (uncredited)

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.


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