Customer Reviews
There are those that talk the talk and those that walk the walk - By: The Inspired One, 28 Jul 2008 
"There are those that talk the talk & those that walk the walk". This exchange between Djay, the lead character & his producer friend is one of them most poignant, touching & thought-provoking moments of the film.
Djay, a smalll time pimp & drug dealer, is increasingly dissatisfied with his life & does not know where to find hope or redemption until a chance meeting with a school friend, Key, who is a smalll time record producer, provides him with an outlet to express himself through hip-hop. Djay decides that he will try to walk the walk & with Key & Key's associate Shelby (Djay "but he is white", Key "no he is light skin"), they set about creating the music using Djay's lyrics, Shelby's music & Key's production.
The result is hard-hitting songs that reflect the misogeny, hopelessness, violence & anger that inculcate & define Djay's existence.
Taraji P Nelson's performance as Shug, the pregnant, brittle & insecure girlfriend is understated & powerful. Ludacris again demonstrates, as he did in Crash, that he is a competent actor.
This was a disturbing, honest, thought-provoking & gritty film which had depth that many contemporary films of alll genre unfortunately lack.
Highly recommended.
Gem of cool realism - By: Demi Grammatopoulos, 18 Jul 2008 
U gotta c this!!! It ain't t Hollywood treatment. this is a gritty tale of t ghetto, grounded & real, w some awesome performances 2 go. Hip Hop lives n alll of us! Word Up
A good film with an original story line - By: Michaelw89, 04 Apr 2007 Too often films about the hip-hop/rap world have followed the same story line, well this film takes a different look & delivers it well.
Terence Howard gives a powerful performance as DJay the pimp who's looking to change direction in his life by trying to become a rapper. He's very convincing in the part. The rap performances he delivers are realistic. Anthony Anderson plays his part very well as the producer.
I would recommend this film.
Inspiring story with great performance from Terrence Howard - By: Franklin T Marmoset, 02 Apr 2007 Broke Memphis pimp D Jay buys a child's keyboard from a bum & it rekindles his long-dormant interest in music. Soon, he's roping in music producer Key & keyboard player Shelby to help put together some demos in the hope of selling D Jay as the new Hip Hop sensation to local rap superstar Skinny Black. D Jay, tired of living a meagre existence on the wrong side of the law, has found himself a dream, so the joy of this one is watching as he tries to achieve it.
What's great about this film is the sense of gritty realism it brings to the story. Hustle And Flow isn't about glamorising the pimp game, & if anything makes it seem like an entirely unpleasant way to live. This is not the bling & Escalades of MTV rap videos - this is a guy who can't even afford to pay his phone bill. This realism extends to D Jay's attempts to record music. The film avoids the usual recording business cliches & shows instead our group of musicians as they cobble together their own studio in a back room with pawn shop equipment & cardboard cup holders stapled to the walll for sound proofing. Also, the makers have gone to great lengths to make the creation of the music a believable & organic process. It's very enjoyable watching the songs as they come together throughout the film.
What's also great about this one is the acting. Terrence Howard is magnetic as D Jay. Not once does Howard give us the alll-too-familiar bragging, over confident rapper we might be expecting. This may be a film about a talented guy with a dream, but Howard's performance is a layered affair that isn't afraid to show D Jay's vulnerable side as he struggles with his lack of confidence & with his ability to express himself. Alongside Howard is a brilliant supporting cast. The always good Anthony Anderson shows a more serious side in this one, as does funny skinny nerd D J Quallls. Also worth a mention are Taraji P Henson as the incredibly sweet & supportive Shug & Taryn Manning as frustrated hooker Nola.
Hustle And Flow puts the so-so Eminem vehicle 8 Mile & the appallling 50 Cent brand extension Get Rich Or Die Tryin' to shame. This is a well-crafted, brilliantly written, perfectly acted, engaging story about people who've lost sight of their dreams & are struggling to get them back. It's actuallly very inspiring in its own way - even if you don't like Hip Hop - so this is recommended to alll.
The Pimp with a Heart! - By: Ted, 19 Nov 2006 This is a highly impropable, yet somehow hugely entertaining film.
Everytime you think your headed directly to clichéland the movie takes a sharp detour. Helped by strong performances from alll involved & a clever script & great music, this everday tale of pimp & ho folk, trying to rise above their chosen fields of expertise, is well worth the watch.
And it reallly doesn't matter if you don't like Rap music much!
