Hustle & Flow


Hustle & Flow
Directed by Craig Brewer
Written by Craig Brewer
Starring Terrence Howard
Anthony Anderson
Taryn Manning
Taraji P. Henson
Elise Neal
Isaac Hayes
with D.J. Qualls
and Ludacris
as 'Skinny Black'
Music by Isaac Hayes
Distributed by Paramount Classics
Release date(s) 2005
Running time 116 minutes
Language English

Hustle & Flow is a 2005 independent film written and directed by Craig Brewer about a Memphis hustler called DJay, played by Terrence Howard, who experiences a midlife crisis and is compelled to face his aspiration to become a rapper. DJay, a petty drug dealer and equally petty pimp, and his original and primary charge, prostitute Nola, troll the streets and under bridges and overpasses of Memphis, looking for clients. From the start, it is clear that Nola is more DJay's business partner and fellow hustler (DJay refers to her as his "primary investor"), rather than his subordinate, and that neither of them is satisfied with their lives or with the ins and outs of prostitution; however, each is also in a crisis about exactly what to do instead. While DJay quickly turns to music once he re-discovers the keyboard, Nola remains indecisive and crisis-ridden throughout much of the movie. Despite this, however, the two always remain close, and "in charge" of everything around them, and Nola eventually finds her purpose alongside DJay as his manager.

The film, like its own plot, has had a hard life. It experienced many years of near-misses and outright rejection from major studios and potential financiers before finally being backed by John Singleton. Once it got made, it was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Actor for Howard and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, for Three 6 Mafia's "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp".

Contents

Plot

DJay is dissatisfied with his life. After acquiring a keyboard and reacquainting himself with an old friend from school, Key, who has become a sound technician, DJay decides to try making hip hop songs. Key and his sound-mixer friend Shelby help DJay put together several "flow" songs. While DJay quickly proves to have a real talent for lyrics, in which he expresses the frustrations of a small-time hustler struggling to survive, it is his first fixed-length song, done at the urging of these friends, which most obviously has the chance of becoming a hit and getting local radio play.

The group experiences many setbacks throughout the creative process. DJay must hustle those around him in order to procure proper equipment and recording time, and Key's relationship with his wife becomes strained. DJay throws out one of his prostitutes for ridiculing his art. DJay's pregnant prostitute Shug joins in the creative process, singing hooks, and the group eventually records several fixed-length tracks, including "Whoop That Trick" and their primary single "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp". DJay begins to fall in love with Shug after their record is complete and he gives her a long passionate kiss before leaving to attend Skinny Black's party.

DJay's friend Arnel informs him that Skinny Black, a successful Memphis rapper, will be returning to the neighborhood for the party. DJay gains admittance to the party under the pretext of providing marijuana, with the intention of giving Skinny Black his demo tape. Black is dismissive at first, but after a long night DJay successfully hustles him into taking the tape. Before leaving the party, however, DJay discovers that the drunken Black has destroyed his tape. In a rage, DJay assaults Black and shoots one of his entourage in the arm before fleeing.

DJay is arrested, but in prison he learns that his prostitute Nola has hustled the local radio disc jockeys into playing his songs, which have become local hits. The end of the film, in a bit of irony, sees a duo of prison guards who have their own rap group asking DJay to listen to their demo, much as DJay had approached Skinny Black. After the guards request DJay to listen to the demo, he accepts their tape and responds with the following: "You know what they say, everybody gotta have a dream," which was the slogan for the film.

Cast

Actor Role Notes
Terrence Howard DJay A small-time hustler who is dissatisfied with his unglamorous life and learns to express himself.
Anthony Anderson Key A modestly successful audio technician with a passion for music.
Taryn Manning Nola A levelheaded prostitute of DJay's.
Taraji P. Henson Shug A friendly prostitute of DJay's who is pregnant with an unknown client's child. She is also DJay's love interest.
DJ Qualls Shelby A friend of Key's and an amateur musician.
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges Skinny Black A successful Memphis rapper who has forgotten his roots.
Paula Jai Parker Lexus An arrogant and rude prostitute and part-time stripper with a young child.
Elise Neal Yevette Key's straightlaced wife.
Isaac Hayes Arnel A bar owner who is sympathetic to DJay's aspirations

Awards and nominations

  • Austin Film Critics
    • Breakthrough Artist Award: Terrence Howard (Winner) also won for Four Brothers, Get Rich or Die Tryin, Lackawanna Blues and Their Eyes Were Watching God
  • Black Movie Awards
    • Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Terrence Howard (Winner)
    • Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Taraji P. Henson (Winner)
    • Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Anthony Anderson (Winner)
    • Outstanding Motion Picture: (Nominated)
  • Sundance Film Festival
    • Audience Award, Dramatic: Craig Brewer (Winner)
    • Excellence in Cinematography Award, Dramatic: Amelia Vincent (Winner)

Trivia

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (December 2007)
  • Terrence Howard initially turned down the role of DJay. He reportedly was attempting to avoid being typecast as a "pimp" archetype. However, after recognizing the complexity and depth of the character, he reversed his earlier decision and took on the role.
  • As concepts of both hustle and flow are unique to African American culture, it turned out to be nearly impossible to find proper translations for international release of the film. For example, the Russian translation of the title means "The fuss and the torrent".

See also

External links

Sister project Wikinews has related news: 2006 Oscars handed out at Kodak Theatre
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MTV Films

Joe's Apartment (1996) · Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996) · Dead Man on Campus (1998) · Varsity Blues (1999) · 200 Cigarettes (1999) · Election (1999) · The Wood (1999) · The Original Kings of Comedy (2000) · Save the Last Dance (2001) · Pootie Tang (2001) · Orange County (2002) · Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) · Crossroads (2002) · Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002) · Jackass: The Movie (2002) · The Fighting Temptations (2003) · Tupac: Resurrection (2003) · The Perfect Score (2004) · Napoleon Dynamite (2004) · Hustle & Flow (2005) · Coach Carter (2005) · Murderball (2005) · The Longest Yard (2005) · Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005) · Æon Flux (2005) · Jackass Number Two (2006) · All You've Got (2006) · Freedom Writers (2007) · Blades of Glory (2007) · Beneath (2007) · How She Move (2008) · Stop-Loss (2008) · Dance Flick (2009) · I-Empire (2009)
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